Courtesy of Dayton Athletics
Six home games, including the first home night game since 2004 highlight the 2010 University of Dayton football schedule. All 11 games on the schedule will be played on a Saturday.
Dayton, who finished 9-2 overall and tied for first in the Pioneer Football League with a 7-1 mark, will open the year at home against Robert Morris on Saturday, Sept. 4 at 1:00 p.m. ET. After playing at Duquesne on Sept. 11, UD will begin the defense of its PFL championship with a home game against Morehead State on September 18 at 1:00 p.m. ET.
The Flyers’ last non-conference game of the year will also be the first home night game since the 2004 season, when Central State visits Welcome Stadium for a 7:00 p.m. ET kickoff on Sept. 25.
The remaining seven games of 2010 will be against PFL opponents. Dayton will host Valparaiso on October 2 at 1:00 p.m. ET, followed by a tough stretch of two road games at San Diego (Oct. 9) and Butler (Oct. 16). Dayton and Butler were last season’s Pioneer Football league co-champions.
UD will host Campbell on Oct. 23 at 1:00 p.m. ET, and then travel to Davidson on Oct. 30. The Flyers’ annual Senior Day will be against Drake on Nov. 6 at 1:00 p.m. ET. UD will close out the season with its first trip to Marist on Nov. 13. Marist is in its second year as a PFL member.
Dayton returns 14 starters from last season’s PFL co-champs. Ten of 11 starters are back on offense, including team MVP and PFL Offensive Player of the year at quarterback and Valentino’s top target, Justin Watkins. Defensively the team’s top two tacklers – Flyer James Vercammen and linebacker Joe Ries, and UD’s 2009 sack leader, Brandon Wingeier are back. Vercammen was a Sports Network Second Team FCS All-American and Wingeier is a two-time ESPN The Magazine First Team Academic All-American.