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StumbleuponFlyer QBs have 279 passing yards in 27-9 win
Sunday, October 12, 2008
DAYTON — Rob Florian spent much time examining defenses from the sidelines while waiting to become the starting quarterback at the University of Dayton, and the fifth-year senior found another stint on the bench beneficial against Drake (Iowa) on Saturday, Oct. 11.
Florian was yanked in the second quarter after throwing two interceptions and was still trying to unscramble his thoughts when his replacement, redshirt freshman Jeff Pechan, turned his first collegiate pass into a 58-yard touchdown.
But the spunky, 5-foot-9 Florian was back in the cockpit before the first half ended, and he brought with him a new resolve.
"I don't know what it was at the beginning," Florian said. "I wasn't seeing it and wasn't reading things right. I definitely was more settled down after that. I just said, 'OK, forget about it. Let's go play now.' "
Florian finally found his rhythm, leading two third-quarter scoring drives to help the Flyers turn a tight game into an easy 27-9 victory before 3,058 fans. He finished 15-of-30 passing for 168 yards and one TD as UD (5-1, 2-0 Pioneer Football League) stretched its home winning streak to 12 games.
"Flo just wasn't into it at that moment," UD coach Rick Chamberlin said. "He was a little flustered.
"The best thing to do is to get a guy off the field and have him stand back and see things from the sidelines. Now, when he goes back out, he's got a better feel for what they're doing."
The 6-foot-2 Pechan was 4-for-5 passing for 111 yards with one TD and showed oodles of potential while unleashing tight spirals.
"Throwing a touchdown on your first pass is pretty cool," he said. "I'm ecstatic right now."
And although Florian has 10 interceptions and just seven TD passes this season, Pechan waved off any talk of a quarterback controversy.
"It always was Rob's team, and it still is," Pechan said. "But we're set up good for next year."
UD applies pressure
The Flyers went into the game leading the PFL in sacks with 18 and added four more against Drake (2-4, 0-3).
Defensive tackle Sean Heenan led the way with one solo and two assists, while Scott Vossler assisted on a sack and had a spectacular interception, shedding a block and then making a one-handed grab at the line of scrimmage.
Furst, others honored
UD invited its football alumni back for a halftime ceremony, and more than 60 players attended.
Tony Furst, who lettered from 1937-39 and had a brief NFL career, was the most, uh, seasoned alum at age 90. He wears a bulky UD football ring, and it's a conversation starter.
"Whenever people ask me where I played, I say, 'The University of Dayton' and I say it with pride," Furst said. "I played with a lot of good people and a lot of good players."
Furst and his family have owned a North Dayton flower business for 103 years.
UD notes
• Starting cornerback Joe Castaneda, the PFL rookie of the year last season, had one tackle in his first action since suffering a shoulder injury against Robert Morris (Pa.) on Sept. 13.
• Versatile Steve Valentino had seven receptions for 94 yards, one rush for 14 yards and consistently provided good field position on kickoff and punt returns.
• The Flyers had two errant shotgun snaps that sailed over Florian's head, resulting in losses of 18 and 28 yards.
Next game
Who: Dayton (5-1, 2-0 Pioneer Football League) at Davidson (2-3, 1-2 PFL)
When: 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Richardson Stadium, Davidson, N.C.
Radio: WHIO-AM (1290), WHIO-FM (95.7)
