DAYTON, Ohio – Jacksonville University football dropped its Pioneer Football League opener 56-28 to Dayton at Welcome Stadium on Saturday.
The Dolphins (2-3, 0-1) rushed for 365 yards, but struggled to slow down the Flyers offense all afternoon.
"We struggled defensively getting off the field," said Head Coach
Ian Shields. "I thought offensively, there were a lot of good things, we just didn't get enough possessions in the second half."
The day started off with a bang for JU, as
Calvin Turner Jr. carried off right side and went untouched 72 yards into the end zone on the first play from scrimmage. It was Turner Jr.'s longest run of the year, and set the tone for his 169-yard day, his 10th 100-yard rushing contest of his career. He was named
Hodges Mazda Player of the Game for his efforts.
Dayton had a response early, tying it up in just three plays. The Flyer offense in the first half was the Jack Cook to Adam Trautman show, as the redshirt-sophomore quarterback found his senior tight end six times in the opening half, four of those resulting in touchdowns.
JU tied it at 14 in the second quarter when Turner Jr. carried in from three yards out to cap off an 11-play, 75-yard drive, but after Dayton took a 21—14 lead, the final five minutes of the first half snowballed against the Dolphins.
A fumble, the first since the opener at Richmond, was recovered by Dayton and led to a touchdown less than a minute later. JU turned it over on downs with under a minute to play in the half, and the quick strike Flyer offense struck again, going 52-yards in 13 seconds to make it 35-14 at the half.
JU scored on two of its three offensive series in the second half, both Turner Jr. runs, giving him four total on the day. Dayton continued to answer every time the Dolphins threatened to close the gap, scoring three more second half TDs.
Jacksonville returns home next week to host Morehead State for Military Appreciation Day, with kickoff at 1 p.m. at D.B. Milne Field.
