2018 Dayton Flyers football team

The 2018 Dayton Flyers football team represented the University of Dayton in the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by 11th-year head coach Rick Chamberlin and played their home games at Welcome Stadium. They were a member of the Pioneer Football League. They finished the season 6–5, 5–3 in PFL play to finish in a tie for fourth place.

2018 Dayton Flyers football
Conference	Pioneer Football League
2018 record	6–5 (5–3 PFL)
Head coach	Rick Chamberlin (11th season)
Offensive coordinator	Austin King
Defensive coordinator	Landon Fox (9th season)
Home stadium	Welcome Stadium (Capacity: 11,000)

2018 Pioneer Football League standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 25 San Diego $^		8	–	0					9	–	3
Stetson		6	–	2					8	–	2
Drake		6	–	2					7	–	4
Marist		5	–	3					5	–	6
Dayton		5	–	3					6	–	5
Davidson		3	–	5					6	–	5
Butler		2	–	6					4	–	7
Morehead State		2	–	6					3	–	8
Valparaiso		2	–	6					2	–	9
Jacksonville		1	–	7					2	–	8
$ – Conference champion ^ – FCS playoff participant Rankings from STATS Poll

Previous season

The Flyers finished the 2017 season 5–6, 4–4 in PFL play to finish in a tie for sixth place.

Preseason

Award watch lists

Lott Trophy – Sr. S David Leisring[1]

Preseason All-PFL team

The PFL released their preseason all-PFL team on July 30, 2018, with the Flyers having seven players selected.[2]

Offense Adam Trautman – TE Tucker Yinger – RB Ben Gauthier – OL

Defense Nick Surges – DL David Leisring – DB

Special teams Sean Smith – P Matt Tunnacliffe – LS

Preseason coaches poll

The PFL released their preseason coaches poll on July 31, 2018, with the Flyers predicted to finish in second place.[3]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	San Diego	81 (9)
2	Dayton	72 (1)
3	Drake	58
T–4	Butler	48
T–4	Valparaiso	48
6	Jacksonville	47
7	Marist	44
8	Morehead State	22
9	Stetson	19
10	Davidson	11

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 1	1:00 p.m.	Robert Morris*	Welcome Stadium Dayton, OH	Facebook Live	W 49–28	3,012
September 8	1:00 p.m.	at Southeast Missouri State*	Houck Stadium Cape Girardeau, MO	ESPN+	L 21–40	4,273
September 15	12:00 p.m.	at Duquesne*	Arthur J. Rooney Athletic Field Pittsburgh, PA	NECFR	L 26–31	1,534
September 22	1:00 p.m.	Davidson	Welcome Stadium Dayton, OH	Facebook Live	W 42–21	4,700
September 29	1:00 p.m.	at Marist	Leonidoff Field Poughkeepsie, NY		L 17–28	2,830
October 6	1:00 p.m.	Valparaiso	Welcome Stadium Dayton, OH	Facebook Live	W 53–20	2,592
October 13	5:00 p.m.	at San Diego	Torero Stadium San Diego, CA		L 36–34	2,997
October 20	1:00 p.m.	Drake	Welcome Stadium Dayton, OH	Facebook Live	L 17–28	2,168
October 27	12:00 p.m.	at Butler	Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl Indianapolis, IN	Facebook Live	W 38–28	1,992
November 10	1:00 p.m.	Morehead State	Welcome Stadium Dayton, OH	Facebook Live	W 63–20	2,325
November 17	1:00 p.m.	at Jacksonville	D. B. Milne Field Jacksonville, FL		W 34–7	1,492
*Non-conference game Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Eastern time

• Source: Schedule

Game summaries

Robert Morris

	1	2	3	4	Total
Colonials	7	7	7	7	28
Flyers	21	7	14	7	49

See also: 2018 Robert Morris Colonials football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
17–3	2017	RMU, 13–10

at Southeast Missouri State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Flyers	7	0	7	7	21
Redhawks	3	10	7	20	40

See also: 2018 Southeast Missouri State Redhawks football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
1–0	2017	DAY, 25–23

at Duquesne

	1	2	3	4	Total
Flyers	6	7	6	7	26
Dukes	14	10	7	0	31

See also: 2018 Duquesne Dukes football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
5–9	2017	DUQ, 28–23

Davidson

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	14	0	0	7	21
Flyers	0	14	21	7	42

See also: 2018 Davidson Wildcats football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
13–1	2017	DAY, 48–22

at Marist

	1	2	3	4	Total
Flyers	0	7	10	0	17
Red Foxes	7	7	7	7	28

See also: 2018 Marist Red Foxes football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
8–1	2017	DAY, 36–17

Valparaiso

	1	2	3	4	Total
Crusaders	7	6	0	7	20
Flyers	14	23	16	0	53

See also: 2018 Valparaiso Crusaders football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
23–3	2017	VALPO, 8–7

at San Diego

	1	2	3	4	Total
Flyers	7	7	7	13	34
Toreros	6	17	0	13	36

See also: 2018 San Diego Toreros football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
16–9	2017	USD, 23–7

Drake

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	7	7	7	7	28
Flyers	7	3	0	7	17

See also: 2018 Drake Bulldogs football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
26–8	2017	DAY, 20–10

at Butler

	1	2	3	4	Total
Flyers	14	7	7	10	38
Bulldogs	0	7	6	15	28

See also: 2018 Butler Bulldogs football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
30–12–1	2017	DAY, 27–22

Morehead State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	0	13	0	7	20
Flyers	21	21	14	7	63

See also: 2018 Morehead State Eagles football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
16–6	2017	MORE, 34–28

at Jacksonville

	1	2	3	4	Total
Flyers	3	17	14	0	34
Dolphins	0	0	0	7	7

See also: 2018 Jacksonville Dolphins football team

Overall record	Last meeting	Result
4–4	2016	DAY, 36–16

References

1. http://lottimpacttrophy.org/2018-watch-list/
2. http://www.pioneer-football.org/news/archives/2018/1361/twelve-first-team-all-pfl-returnees-highlight-preseason-all-pfl-team/
3. http://www.pioneer-football.org/news/archives/2018/1362/defending-champion-san-diego-edges-dayton-in-pfl-preseason-coaches-poll/