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MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Senior running back Taylor Harris rushed 28 times for 216 yards to help Dayton post a 30-28 win in Morehead State’s Homecoming football game on Saturday afternoon before a crowd of 8,464 at Jayne Stadium.
The Flyers improve to 5-3 on the season and 3-2 in the Pioneer Football League, while the Eagles fall to 2-6 overall and 1-4 in conference action play. UD also improves to 12-5 in the all-time series with its third straight victory over MSU.
Dayton compiled 386 total yards, including 317 yards on the ground. Harris became the first UD running back to surpass the 200-yard plateau since the 2000 season.
Morehead State cracked the scoreboard less than six minutes into the contest when junior quarterback Zach Lewis found junior Kevin Thomas for a seven-yard touchdown pass, but Dayton responded with 20 unanswered points to grab control.
The UD scoring spree included two field goals from senior Nate Miller, a 32-yard punt return from senior Tyler Hujik and a six-yard end-zone toss from redshirt freshman quarterback Will Bardo to junior wide receiver Jordan Boykin.
The teams then traded scores until Dayton put the game out of reach with 2:25 to play. Bardo helped the Flyers snag a 30-21 advantage with a strike to sophomore wide receiver Branden Johnson on 4th-and-5 from the MSU 26 yard line.
Morehead State attempted to rally late with a four-yard touchdown toss from Lewis to junior wide receiver Donte Sawyer, but Dayton covered up the ensuing on-sides kick en route to the victory.
Bardo completed only 7-of-26 passes, but threw two touchdowns without an interception. He also collected 63 rushing yards on 12 attempts.
Morehead State tallied 349 total yards, with 309 yards coming through the air. Lewis, who ranks 10th among all NCAA Football Championship Subdivision players in passing yards, finished with 304 and three scores on 29-of-43 through the air.
Senior halfback Ronnie McDermott led all MSU receivers with five catches for 59 yards, while Sawyer and Thomas also posted five receptions apiece.
Senior fullback Desmond Cox paced the Eagle rushing attack with 53 yards on 11 carries, while sophomore halfback Brandon Bornhauser gained 26 yards on five attempts and scored his first career rushing touchdown.
Junior halfback Blake Stanley added catches of 47 and 43 yards in the setback – the second leading to his only touchdown of the campaign.
A trio of Eagle seniors combined for 29 tackles. Linebacker Tony Bachman managed a team-best 13 stops, while defensive end Jerome Raymond added nine and defensive end Kyle Manley had seven.
Morehead State will enjoy its only bye of the season next weekend. The Eagles return to action on Saturday, Nov. 5, when they travel to Campbell for a 1 p.m. ET contest.
