Dayton opens 2022 football season beating Robert Morris, Coach Rick Chamberlin wins 100th game

MOON TOWNSHIP, PA — The Dayton Flyers began the 2022 season with a come from behind, 22-20, victory at Robert Morris Saturday afternoon at Joe Walton Stadium in Moon Township, PA outside of Pittsburgh.

The win was Rick Chamberin’s 100th as head coach.

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UD led, 6-0, after a pair of Sam Webster field goals. His first was from 36-yards out with 4:17 left in the first quarter and the second came with over 14 minutes remaining the first half.

The Colonials responded by scoring 14 unanswered points in the second quarter.

Parker Fetterman scored from two yards out to give them a 7-6 advantage and following a Dakari Cabell interception, Anthony Chiccitt threw a five-yard touchdown pass Devon Moody to increase the lead to 14-6 at halftime.

The Flyers began the second half with the ball and drove to the Robert Morris 12-yard line but were stopped on fourth down and turned the ball over on downs.

After forcing a Robert Morris punt, Dayton drove to the Colonial 25-yard line and Webster’s third field of the game, 42 yards, cut the deficit to 14-9.

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RMU went three-and-out and UD took over at their 37-yard line. On the next play, Luke Brenner ran 63-yards for a touchdown to put the Flyers ahead, 15-14.

Dayton’s defense stepped up again when Ben Schmiesing intercepted a pass and returned it 29-yards to the Robert Morris 2-yard line. Four plays later, quarterback Dante Casciola scored from a yard out and UD led, 22-14, after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, Robert Morris drove to the Flyer 35-yard line but was stopped on fourth down to turn the ball over on downs.

Dayton went three-and-out and the Colonials drove to UD’s one-yard line where Anthony Page scored to cut it 22-20. Robert Morris went for the two-point conversion but missed and the Flyers retained the lead.

After forcing a Dayton three-and-out, the Colonials drove to UD’s 48-yard line. But Jake Simmons’ pass to Demonte Martin fell incomplete and UD ran out the clock to win the game.

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In his first start at quarter, Dante Casciola went 10-19 for 89 yards and an interception. He led Dayton in rushing with 96 yards and a score. Jake Chisholm had 75 yards and Luke Brenner ran for 63 yards.

Dayton’s improves to 1-0 on the season and will be on the road in Youngstown to play Youngtown State at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 10.

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