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As far as PFL rivalries go, Morehead State and Dayton is as good as it gets.
The Eagles host the Flyers this Saturday at Jayne Stadium/Jacobs Field at 1 p.m. in a game sponsored by Buffalo Wild Wings. Fans will have a chance to earn free food and hats. The game is also the first part of a Saturday Eagle Doubleheader. Following the football game, MSU volleyball will play OVC opponent Southeast Missouri State at 5 p.m. Fans with a football ticket stub will be admitted to Wetherby Gym free to cheer on Eagle Volleyball.
MSU is coming off an overtime loss to Butler, 28-21. The Eagles sprinted out to a 21-0 first quarter lead, but eventually bowed to the visiting Bulldogs in overtime. After opening the season with a surprising loss against Division II Urbana, Dayton has had two key wins against FCS Northeast Conference opponents Robert Morris and Duquesne.
Morehead State is 5-9 all time versus Dayton, but the Eagles have won the last three meetings against the Flyers, two of those on the road. The last two games between the Flyers and the Eagles have been opposites. In 2007, a shootout that led to a combined total of 77 points with the Eagles winning the game 42-35. Last year, a more defensive battle with nearly as many collective punts (24) as points (27). MSU pulled ahead of Dayton with a late fourth-quarter touchdown to win,14-13.
Offensively the Eagles have been a first quarter team, scoring 58 of their 95 total points in the opening stanza. MSU’s leading rusher is
Jerrod Pendleton who has 34 carries for 150 yards and one touchdown.
Ronnie McDermott, who has 11 catches for 115 yards and one touchdown, heads up the Eagle receiving corps. The Eagles are led through the air by
Evan Sawyer who has 41 completions on 87 attempts and has thrown four touchdown passes. Freshman quarterback
Zach Lewis came in for Sawyer late in the fourth quarter and played in the overtime period. Lewis was 2-for-7, but was facing near impossible odds, trying to run game-winning drives with a heavy, rain-soaked ball.
Defensively, the Eagles had an all-star effort by safety
Derek Harkness who tied the school and PFL record with three interceptions versus Butler. He also had two pass break-ups to earn PFL Defensive Player of the Week. Harkness returned his first interception 63 yards to paydirt.
Wes McDermott, who led the Eagles in tackles last week with 13, also leads MSU in tackles on the season with 30.
Last week against Duquesne, the Flyers quarterback Steve Valentino completed 19-of-29 passes with one interception for 272 yards and two TDs. He also rushed for 76 yards on 20 attempts. Valentino plays a key role in the Flyers offense as the leading passer (33-58-2 with four touchdowns) and the leading rusher (41-134). Valentino, who started out the season as a wide receiver, also has five receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown. Dayton’s main pass catching threat has been Justin Watkins who has 241 yards and two touchdowns on 13 grabs.
Defensively the Flyers are led by James Vercammen with 41 total tackles, six tackles for loss and two sacks. Dayton is giving up an average of 14.7 points per game, the Flyers have given up an average of 167 yards passing and 87 yards rushing per game.
Saturday will mark the 15th meeting between the two rival PFL opponents, and a win for MSU will extend the Eagles winning steak against the Flyers to four games. The last three meetings between these teams have been decided by a total of 15 points.
