Dayton’s 4th quarter touchdown wins game over Valparaiso

DAYTON — Jake Chisholm’s game winning touchdown run with 18 seconds left helped the Dayton Flyers beat the Valparaiso Beacons, 31-24, Saturday afternoon at Welcome Stadium.

The victory clinches a winning season for UD as they improve to 6-2 overall, 4-1 in the Pioneer Football League.

Quarterback Shane Hamm passed for 137 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 129 yards while running back Jake Chisholm ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns.

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The Flyers took an early 7-0 lead thanks to an 11-yard touchdown run by Jake Chisholm and Cole Hildebrand’s 30-yard interception return for a touchdown expanded it to 14-0.

The Beacons responded with a 67-yard touchdown pass from Mikey Appel to Soloman Davis and Braden Contreras’ 12-yard touchdown catch tied the game at 14-14 after one quarter.

Valparaiso had a chance to take the lead following Kohlton Sherman’s interception. The Beacons drove to Dayton’s one-yard line but were stopped on fourth and goal from the one and UD took over with 4:35 left in the half.

The Flyers drove to Valpo’s seven-yard line and Michael Denning’s 24-yard field goal reclaimed the lead, 17-14, at halftime.

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The Beacons took the second half kickoff and got a 19-yard touchdown run by Aaron Dawson to take their first lead of the game, 21-17.

Dayton had the ball with 7:16 left and drove 70 yards in nine plays capped by a two-yard touchdown catch by Kyle Hazell to go back on top, 24-21, after three quarters.

Brian Bartholomew’s 35-yard field goal for the Beacons tied the game at 24-24.

It stayed that way until UD’s final drive with 2:57 remaining. They drove to Valparaiso’s 28-yard line with 37 seconds left. Hamm hit Derek Willits for a five-yard completion to set up and third and one. On the next play, Chisholm ran up the middle 23-yards for the winning touchdown.

Dayton’s next game will be next Saturday, November 5, at Presbyterian in Clinton, South Carolina. Kickoff is at 1 p.m.

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