Monday, September 24, 2012

AHEAD IN WEEK 5
Saturday, Sept. 29
 Dayton at Butler, 1 p.m.
    Location: Indianapolis, Ind. (Butler Bowl)
    Series: DAY leads, 26-10-1    Streak: BUT, one win
    Last Season: Butler def. Dayton, 29-27

Drake at Campbell, 1 p.m.
    Location: Buies Creek, N.C. (Barker-Lane Stadium)
    Series: DRA leads, 4-0    Streak: DRA, four wins
    Last Season: Drake def. Campbell, 31-14

Marist at Jacksonville [RV/–], 1 p.m.
    Location: Jacksonville, Fla. (D.B. Milne Field)
    Series: JAC leads, 2-1    Streak: JAC, two wins
    Last Season: Jacksonville def. Marist, 21-9

Presbyterian at Davidson, 6 p.m.
    Location: Davidson, N.C. (Richardson Stadium)
    Series: PRES leads, 3-0    Streak: PRES, three wins

Off Week: Morehead State, San Diego, Valparaiso
 
All times Eastern.
FCS rankings in brackets prior to school’s name:
[Sports Network Poll/FCS Coaches Poll]

WEEK 5 PREVIEW
WEEK 5 HIGHLIGHTS: After a wild opening weekend of PFL action, Week 5 will be a quieter affair – at least scheduling-wise – as only three league games are on the slate. The week’s key contest will see Marist travel down the eastern seaboard for a contest at Jacksonville in a battle 1-0 PFL squads. Drake and Butler, who are both 1-0 after the opening week – will seek to maintain pace with the winner of that contest •  DAYTON will look to level its PFL record when it travels west on I-70 to meet BUTLER. The Flyers posted a season-best 388 offensive yards against Jacksonville in Week 4, but a kickoff return for a touchdown in the final two minutes spoiled their PFL opener.  Dayton’s normally stalwart defense continues to lead the way, holding opponents to 340 yards per game and ranking third among PFL defenses. Butler posted 400 offensive yards for the third consecutive game and boast the PFL’s No. 1 offense, averaging 441.8 yards per game. Running back Trae Heeter posted 204 yards in the Bulldogs’ PFL opener and leads the league with 100.0 yards per game • DRAKE will travel to CAMPBELL for only the second time in the brief history between the two teams. Quarterback Mike Piatkowski became Drake’s all-time leader in passing yardage (8,106 yards) last week against Morehead State and currently ranks second among the league’s quarterbacks with 294.8 yards per game this season. On the other side of the line, quarterback Dakota Wolf leads Campbell with 212 rushing yards in his first two games and would lead the PFL in rushing per game, but has not played enough games to qualify • JACKSONVILLE puts its FCS-best 15-game home winning streak on the line when it hosts MARIST. The opportunistic Dolphins own an FCS-best five defensive/special teams touchdowns this season out of their 11 touchdowns scored. The Red Foxes will take the PFL’s best defensive unit to D.B. Milne Field allowing PFL lows in points (15.0 ppg) and yardage (306.0 ypg). Meanwhile, Marist quarterback Chuckie Looney leads PFL signal-callers with 295.8 passing yards per game •  DAVIDSON steps out of PFL play when it hosts Presbyterian with both teams looking to end three-game losing streaks. The Wildcats have struggled in the red zone offensively, converting on just 3-of-7 chances, and is battling a turnover bug that has seen it post a minus-five in turnover margin through three games. Senior linebacker Patrick Moynahan posted an FCS single-game best 22 tackles in Week 4 and takes over the PFL’s tackles lead entering the new week.

NEWS & NOTES
WEEK 4 NATIONAL HONORS | Jacksonville’s Colby Walden picked up a pair of national honors following his game-winning 85-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at Dayton, Sept. 22. He was named one of The Sports Network’s FCS National Players of the Week and was tabbed the College Football Performance Awards National Kick Returner of the Week. In addition, eight PFL players received honorable mention recognition from the CFPA.
DOLPHINS DO IT ON DEFENSE AND SPECIAL TEAMS | Walden’s kickoff return for a touchdown was one of two touchdowns scored by Jacksonville’s defense and special teams (D/ST) at Dayton, Sept. 22. In fact, the Dolphins D/ST units have accounted for five of the team’s 11 touchdowns in the opening four weeks. Jacksonville has scored on two kickoff returns, two interception returns and a punt return. The Dolphins five D/ST touchdowns lead the FCS with Delaware and North Carolina Central close behind with four D/ST touchdowns. In fact, only three other PFL teams have scored a D/ST touchdown this season: Dayton (1), Drake (1) and Valparaiso (1).
400 AND COUNTING | Dayton extended its own NCAA record by scoring in its 400th consecutive game when running back Taylor Harris rushed two yards for a first-quarter touchdown in a Week 3 victory against Robert Morris. The Flyers have not been held scoreless since suffering a 9-0 loss to Marshall during the 1976 season… that’s right the 1976 season. For perspective, that year was the United States’ Bicentennial, Apple Computer Company and the band U2 were formed, the Ford Fiesta debuted and Jimmy Carter was elected President.
PAPER OR PLASTIC? | Drake enters Week 5 with an impressive 14 sacks in its first four games and a 3.50 sacks per game average that ranks sixth nationally. The Bulldogs have become regulars atop the FCS national rankings in team sacks, ranking among the top five in each of the last three seasons – 5th in 2011, 8th in 2010 and 5th in 2009 – all under the guidance of current head coach Chris Creighton.
PFL = PASSING FOOTBALL LEAGUE? | The PFL’s passers have enjoyed near record-breaking seasons through four weeks. The league’s teams are averaging an FCS best 246.6 yards per game, just below last season’s record 250.9 yards per game. Marist’s Chuckie Looney (295.75 ypg) and Drake’s Mike Piatkowski (294.75 ypg) is ranked seventh and eighth, respectively, among the FCS’ quarterbacks in passing yards per game. They are among five PFL signal callers ranked among the top 25 nationally.
WEEK 2 NATIONAL HONORS | San Diego’s Ernie Collins, Drake’s Kevin Marshall and Jacksonville’s Jordan Dewhirst and Terrance Bryant were recognized by the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) for their Week 2 performances. Collins was named the National Placekicker of the Week after converting field goals of 37 and 51 yards and was 4-of-4 on PATs against Western New Mexico. Marshall earned National Tight End Performer of the Week after making 11 catches for 100 yards against nationally-ranked Montana State. Dewhirst was the National Kickoff Returner of the Week after a 44-yard onside kick return for a touchdown against Charleston Southern. Bryant was the National Punt Returner of the Week following his 55-yard punt return touchdown against Charleston Southern. In addition, three PFL student-athletes received honorable mention recognition from the CFPA..
TURNING ON THE LIGHTS | Two Pioneer Football League teams experienced playing under the lights for the first time on their home turf in the season’s first two weeks. Butler added new lights to the Butler Bowl in 2011, but played under those lights for the first time in its Week 2 victory against Franklin. It was Butler’s first home night game since 1941. Campbell added lights to Barker-Lane Stadium during the summer and got the chance to use those lights in an opening week loss to Shorter.
WEEK 1 NATIONAL HONORS | Dayton’s Gary Hunter and Morehead State’s Rainer Duzan were recognized by the College Football Performance Awards for their Week 1 performances. Hunter was named the National Punt Returner of the Week after his FCS best 77-yard punt return for a touchdown against nationally-ranked Illinois State. Duzan was picked the National Placekicker of the Week after recording 13 points in the Eagles win against Southern Virginia. In addition, eight PFL student-athletes received honorable mention recognition from the CFPA.
PFL’s 20th CAMPAIGN | The Pioneer Football League is amidst its 20th season of play during the 2012 campaign. Founded prior to the 1993 season, the league has grown from the five members who played that inaugural season: Butler, Dayton, Drake, Valparaiso and San Diego. This season the PFL has 10 members spanning the nation from the Atlantic to Pacific Oceans. The league will continue to grow in 2013 with the addition of Mercer and Stetson and also will enjoy the promise of an automatic qualification spot into the 2013 FCS National Championship.