Friday, October 14, 2016
by Cody Bush, PFL Media Relations

It's another five game week across the Pioneer Football League, with all three league unbeatens in action. League-leading San Diego, thanks to its 3-0 mark, heads to the midwest where it will face Drake. Marist, which sits one-half game back at 2-0, also is on the road in what promises to be an offensive shootout at Morehead State. Jacksonville, yet another half game back at 1-0, is the lone unbeaten team at home and will face a surging Dayton squad. Elsewhere, Valparaiso travels to Stetson while Butler heads east to meet Davidson.

Dayton at Jacksonville, Noon
Video: ESPN3

Setting the Scene: Jacksonville returns from a unexpected week off and will host a resurgent Dayton squad, Saturday. The Dolphins saw their scheduled Week 6 contest against Campbell canceled after Hurricane Matthew’s arrival. Meanwhile, Dayton posted its best offensive performance of 2016 in a home win against Morehead State. However, the Flyers hit the road where they have not won in 2016 and have lost three straight dating back to last season. Jacksonville saw its 12-game home win streak stopped with its Week 4 loss to Duquesne.

Dayton Matchup to Watch: After being held to 65 yards in a loss to San Diego, Dayton’s rushing game has exploded for 784 total yards and nine touchdowns in wins against Drake and Morehead State, averaging 7.84 yards per rush. It pairs up against a Jacksonville run defense that is allowing opponents 190.2 yards per game (8th in the PFL) and has permitted four 100-yard rushers in its four games.

Jacksonville Matchup to Watch: With two turnovers gained against Duquesne, Jacksonville continues to be the league’s most dangerous defense with 10 takeaways in its first four games. The Dolphins defense has recovered seven fumbles this season to help that cause. Dayton has committed nine turnovers – five fumbles – this season but opponents have scored only 26 points off those giveaways.

San Diego at Drake, 12:30 p.m.
Video: DrakeBulldogs.com

Setting the Scene: San Diego looks to continue forcing the pace atop the league standings when it travels to Drake. The Toreros have averaged an league-leading 43.3 points per game in PFL play, but more impressively have a 31.6 margin of victory in those three PFL contests. Drake returns home after ending its seven-game road losing streak with a win at Valparaiso. The Bulldogs return to Drake Stadium where they have won seven of their last eight contests. San Diego has posted four consecutive 7-1 records in PFL play, but each season it has seen its chance at a perfect record marred by a road loss, including in 2012 at Drake.

San Diego Matchup to Watch: The Toreros offense has posted a season-high in scoring each week in PFL play, posting 52 points against Davidson last week. San Diego also has upped its offensive yardage total each game, including a massive 640-yard outing against the Wildcats. Drake’s defense has allowed 400 or more yards in four of its six games this season, but held Valparaiso to 274 yards last week on the road – its best outing this season.

Drake Matchup to Watch: Running back Conley Wilkins became the first PFL rusher to gain 200 yards in a contest this season, finishing with 205 yards at Valparaiso. In Week 6, he threw a new trick into the bag when he also threw for the Bulldogs second touchdown of the contest. However, this week Wilkins will run into the league’s best run defense as the Toreros have held opposing PFL teams to just 72.7 rushing yards this season and allowed only one rushing score in three games.

Butler at Davidson, 1 p.m.
Video: DavidsonWildcats.com

Setting the Scene: Butler returns to North Carolina for the second time this season when it meets Davidson in a matchup of squads seeking their first PFL win. Butler hopes to evoke memories of its last trip to the Tar Heel State when  it rallied from a 10-point halftime deficit to force Campbell into an overtime affair before yielding. Davidson returns home where it nearly had its first PFL win when it led Stetson with 5:45 left, but surrendered a touchdown with 67 seconds left.

Butler Matchup to Watch: Butler wideout Pace Temple leads all PFL receivers with 606 reception yards, averaging a league-best 101 yards per game. He has two 100-yard receiving performances in PFL play this season, including his 128-yard outing against Campbell in his last visit to North Carolina. Davidson is 10th in the PFL in pass defense, allowing 264.8 yards per game, and has allowed a 100-yard receiver in each of its three PFL contests.

Davidson Matchup to Watch: The Wildcats will look to get back on track after running into a red-hot San Diego squad last week. The Wildcats had averaged 30 points per game in the four contests prior to last week’s visit to the West Coast. Davidson runs into a Butler defense that has permitted 30 or more points in its last four outings as opponents have scored nine of their 21 offensive touchdowns from more than 20 yards out.

Valparaiso at Stetson, 1 p.m.
Video: ESPN3

Setting the Scene: Stetson brings a two-game winning streak back to DeLand and will put it on the line when it hosts Valparaiso. The Hatters proved 30 was their magic number again in a nonconference tilt at Brown, improving to 3-0 when scoring 30 points. Valparaiso enters the Week 6 outing seeking to end a two-game losing streak after suffering a two-touchdown loss to Drake, its largest loss in PFL play this season.

Valparaiso Matchup to Watch: Valparaiso’s quarterback situation has been in flux during PFL play with junior Ryan Clarke and freshman Jimmy Seewald platooning in last week’s contest after Clarke was the only signal-caller in VU’s first two outings. It’s Week 7 matchup with Stetson may not be the best opportunity to iron out any wrinkles in the passing game as the Hatters rank fourth in pass defense (170.4 yards allowed) and pass defense efficiency (97.6) among PFL teams.

Stetson Matchup to Watch: Stetson turned to its ground game in the win at Brown last week, posting season highs for rushing yards (167) and rushing touchdowns (3) in the road win. Quarterback Gaven DeFilippo and running back Cole Mazza did the heavy lifting, combining for 164 yards and three touchdowns. Valparaiso has allowed 200 rushing yards in four of its six games this season and opponents are averaging 198.5 rushing yards per game.

Marist at Morehead State 1 p.m.
Video: OVCDigitalNetwork.com

Setting the Scene: Marist has opened PFL play with back-to-back wins and will look to keep its hot streak alive when it visits Morehead State. The Red Foxes escaped their trip to Indiana with a win after scoring 10 fourth-quarter points. Morehead State ran into a Dayton squad that had all its weapons at the ready for the first time in 2016 and remained winless on the road. However, the Eagles have won two straight at Jayne Stadium, including a narrow three-point win against Valparaiso in Week 5. While Marist’s win at Butler was its first road win this season.

Marist Matchup to Watch: The Red Foxes are the PFL’s most pass-dependent squad with 78.5 percent of their total yardage coming from the passing game. For that reason, quarterback Mike White’s development has been crucial in its two wins as he has completed 51.8 percent of his passes in PFL play after posting a 36.5 completion percentage in three nonconference tilts. White’s steady improvement will be put to the test against a Morehead State pass defense ranked third in yardage (122.9 yards allowed per game) and pass defense efficiency (93.4) in all games this season.

Morehead State Matchup to Watch: The same matchup is true as Morehead State’s offense has been pass-dependent, with 70 percent of its yardage coming from the arm of  quarterback Austin Gahafer. He was a bright spot in the loss at Dayton, passing for four touchdowns and 418 yards – the most by a PFL quarterback this season. Marist’s defense is similarly tuned in against the pass, ranking fifth in yardage allowed (185.6) and third in pass defense efficiency (95.4).