The Flyers didn’t waste any time getting on the scoreboard they took the opening kick right down the field, capped by Ryan Skibinski’s 9-yard sweep into the end zone for a 7-0 lead.
Dayton scored on its first six possessions in the first half. Cook threw a 34-yard touchdown pass to Tucker Yinger in the second quarter, and then went 60 yards to Kyle Butz for another score right before halftime.
It was the second time Butz found the end zone in the first half. The redshirt sophomore receiver also weaved through the Crusaders for a 51-yard punt return TD.
Dayton put up 37 points in the first half. That’s the most since they scored 42 at Stetson five years ago in a 49-20 win.
Running back Richie Warfield scored once in the first half and added two more TD runs in the third quarter before Flyers coach Rick Chamberlin emptied his bench.
What a difference from last year when Dayton lost at Valpo 8-7 in a driving rainstorm in the final game of the season. Saturday’s game was played in unseasonably warm weather with temperatures hovering in the upper 80s.
Along with a career day passing, Cook also led the Flyers rushing attack with 57 yards on five carries.
Dayton bounced back after a sluggish effort on the road last week when they lost to previously winless Marist. The Flyers rolled up 532 yards of offense and 27 first downs.
UD improves to 25-3 all-time against Valpo, but the job gets much tougher next week.
Chamberlin takes his team west to San Diego. The Toreros (3-2, 2-0) were the preseason favorites to win the Pioneer Football League title. San Diego won 51-24 at Morehead State on Saturday.
SATURDAY’S GAME
Dayton at San Diego, 5 p.m., AM 1290 and News 95.7 WHIO
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