“The thing you didn’t want to do is come in and have a sloppy game,” Dayton head coach Rick Chamberlin said. “Be better than your opponent, but you want to execute. And that’s exactly what we did on offense and on defense.”
Saturday’s game was part of UD’s Family Weekend, and Chamberlin said having a crowd of 5,077 at Welcome Stadium gave his players a little more excitement heading into the game.
“It puts a little bit extra jump in their step when they have a big crowd here and they’re into it, and we come up with some big plays that get the crowd excited,” he said. “That just helps all of us and puts energy into the game.”
UD senior running back Robert Washington started the scoring with a 3-yard touchdown run with 6:58 to go in the first. After forcing a Valparaiso punt, Dayton added three more points with a 25-yard field goal by redshirt senior kicker Pat Sankovic.
In the second quarter, the Flyers pulled away from Valparaiso (0-7, 0-4).
Dayton redshirt freshman running back Connor Kacsor had an 11-yard touchdown run with 14:44 left in the second. On the next Dayton drive, redshirt senior running back Dan Jacob ran in from the 2-yard line. With 7:40 to go in the half, Washington busted free for a 46-yard touchdown run, giving the Flyers a 31-0 halftime lead.
Jacob finished with 155 yards rushing on 10 carries. Kacsor notched his third straight 100-yard game with 124 yards on nine carries. Jacob, Kacsor and Washington each ran for two touchdowns in the game.
With 1:55 to go in the third, Jacob ran for an 83-yard touchdown, the third-longest rush in UD history.
“It’s really an honor,” Jacob said. “I know there are a lot of great running backs in UD history and to be in the record books, my name with their names, is really an honor.”
Kacsor ended the scoring with a 77-yard touchdown run to open the fourth quarter.
Dayton’s defense forced 11 punts on the day and held Valpo to 164 yards of offense. The Crusaders weren’t able to get inside Dayton territory until the 3:00 mark of the third quarter.
“We pride ourselves on our defense, swarming to the ball,” said senior linebacker and safety Joe Janasek, who finished with a game-high 14 tackles. “I think today showed it.”
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