For the fourth straight game, the Dayton Flyers fell behind 7-0 in the beginning of a game, but for the fourth straight game they won the game, 35-14 over Campbell in Buies Creek, NC. Steve Valentino threw for 241 yards and ran for 114 yards and two rushing touchdowns. UD improves to 4-1 overall, 2-0 in the PFL.

The Fighting Camels scored on its opening possession as they drove to the Dayton 42-yard line and faced a third and nine. Rashard Brown ran 42 yards for a touchdown to give Campbell a 7-0 lead. After Valentino was picked off, the Camels went deep right away as Daniel Polk and Paul Constantine connected for 60-yard touchdown reception to extend Campbell's advantage to 14-0 with 8:33 left in the first quarter.

The Flyers came back on their next possession and drove to the Fighting Camels 14-yard line and Nate Miller's 31-yard field goal cut the deficit to 14-3 after one quarter.

Miller made his second field goal of the game in the opening minutes of the second quarter to get UD closer at 14-6. After a series of punts by both teams, Dayton had the football at their own 32-yard line with 5:27 left until halftime.

UD got a break on their first play when Valentino recovered an Andrew Zapinski fumble. Valentino threw five straight completions to move the Flyers to the Campbell three-yard line. Three plays later, Valentino used his legs to get into the end zone and Dayton trailed 14-12. After a timeout, UD went for the two-point conversion and Valentino completed to Anthony Papp to tie the game at 14-14.

Campbell had a chance to take the lead before halftime but Samuel Eberwein missed a 39-yard field goal and both teams went into halftime with the scored evened at 14 apiece.

Dayton got the football to start the second half and on the fourth play, Valentino ran a quarterback draw 64 yards for a touchdown to give UD a 21-14 lead. Campbell drove to the Flyer 18-yard line and Adam Willets made a 36-yard field goal to cut the Dayton lead to 21-17.

Near the end of the third quarter, UD got a big play from their specials teams. Matt Riddle blocked a Ted Moore punt and the Flyers took over at the Fighting Camels five-yard line. Zapinski ran into the end zone on the next play to give Dayton a 28-17 lead after three quarters.

On UD's next possession, they started at their own 18-yard line. Dan Jacob ran for 17 and 20 yards to Campbell's 45-yard line. Valentino threw a 16-yard completion to Anthony Papp to the 29-yard line. Three plays later, it was third and six, Valentino and Nick Collins connected for a 18-yard reception to the Camels seven-yard line for a first and goal. Two plays later, Jacob capped the drive with a five-yard touchdown run.

After trailing Campbell 14-0, Dayton was outgained 126-10 in total yards. For the game, UD finished with 453 yards of total offense; 241 yards passing and 212 yards rushing. The Flyers also outscored the Camels, 35-3 after being down 14-0.

Steve Valentino completed 23 of 39 passes for 239 yards and ran 13 times for 114 yards and two scores.

Dayton returns home to Welcome Stadium on Saturday to host Davidson. The Bud Light Pre-game show starts at 12:30 pm and 1 pm. Join Larry Hansgen and Mike McCall for all the action here on the home of the Flyers, AM 1290 and 95.7 FM, NewsTalk Radio WHIO.

by John Tisdell

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