In a nail-biting contest that came down to the final seconds, the University of Dayton Flyers triumphed over the Butler Bulldogs with a score of 21-14. This exciting Pioneer Football League matchup, held on Saturday, saw Dayton clinch the win thanks to a spectacular, game-winning touchdown catch by Luke Brenner with just 11 seconds remaining on the clock. The decisive play, a 33-yard flea-flicker pass from Drew VanVleet, capped off an impressive 93-yard drive, Dayton’s longest of the season, leaving fans on the edge of their seats until the very end. With this victory, Dayton’s record improves to 5-1 overall and a perfect 3-0 in the Pioneer Football League standings, while Butler falls to 5-2 and 1-2 in league play. For fans closely following Pioneer League Scores, this game was an instant classic.
Game Highlights: A Quarter-by-Quarter Breakdown
First Quarter: Defensive Stalemate
The game began as a defensive struggle, with neither team able to put points on the board in the first quarter. Butler received the opening kickoff and advanced into Dayton territory, but Flyers’ Jeremy Jonozzo intercepted a deep pass, shifting momentum and giving Dayton possession deep in their own territory at the 5-yard line. Despite the scoreless quarter, Dayton’s offense showed promise on the ground, outgaining Butler 78 yards to 39, with 71 of those yards coming from their rushing attack. Mason Hackett led the charge with 53 yards on 10 carries, while Dillon Fitzpatrick added 35 yards on just two carries.
Second Quarter: Flyers Draw First Blood
The second quarter saw both offenses battling around midfield for much of the time. A crucial turning point came when Butler muffed a punt, and Dayton’s Eli Kirk recovered the ball deep in Bulldog territory at the 10-yard line. Capitalizing on this opportunity, Dayton quarterback Drew VanVleet connected with Jake Coleman for an eight-yard touchdown pass with just over five minutes left in the half. Butler responded with a drive of their own, marching 60 yards to set up a 32-yard field goal by Ryan Short as time expired in the first half, narrowing Dayton’s lead. At halftime, Mason Hackett had already amassed 66 rushing yards on 17 carries, while VanVleet was a perfect 5-for-5 passing for 47 yards and a touchdown. The Pioneer League scores at halftime reflected a tight contest, with Dayton leading 7-3.
Third Quarter: Trading Touchdowns
The third quarter saw both teams find the end zone. After an exchange of punts to begin the quarter, Dayton put together a 10-play, 57-yard scoring drive. The Flyers successfully converted two fourth downs on the drive, the second being a 22-yard touchdown pass from VanVleet to Luke Brenner on fourth-and-seven, extending Dayton’s lead. Butler answered back with a 56-yard drive culminating in a 37-yard field goal by Short, keeping the game within reach. The Pioneer League scores heading into the final quarter showed Dayton ahead 14-6, setting the stage for a dramatic finish.
Fourth Quarter: Thrilling Finish
The final quarter was filled with drama and excitement. Dayton held possession for the opening seven plays of the quarter before punting to Butler, pinning them inside their own 20-yard line. Undeterred, Butler embarked on an impressive 81-yard, 12-play drive. Butler utilized their quarterbacks effectively in the running game during this drive, with Reagan Andrew eventually scoring an eight-yard touchdown run. Nick Howard then converted the two-point conversion, tying the game at 14-14 with just over five minutes remaining.
With the game on the line, Dayton began their final drive from their own 7-yard line after a penalty on the kickoff return. In a display of resilience, the Flyers orchestrated a remarkable 93-yard game-winning drive. Key plays included a 17-yard run by VanVleet on third-and-eight, a 37-yard run by Gavin Lochow on second-and-16, and a crucial fourth-down conversion by Hackett on the Butler 34-yard line. The very next play proved to be the game-winner: Hackett took a handoff and lateraled it back to VanVleet, who then launched a 33-yard pass to Luke Brenner in the end zone. Despite tight coverage from Butler’s Onye Onuoha, Brenner made a spectacular catch, securing the touchdown and regaining the lead for Dayton. Butler’s final attempt to respond ended when Dayton captain Ca’ron Coleman intercepted a lateral as time expired, sealing the 21-14 victory for the Flyers. This game will be remembered as a classic Pioneer League scores encounter.
By the Numbers: Key Game Statistics
- Total Offense: Dayton outgained Butler 320 yards to 260.
- Butler’s Offensive Output: The 260 yards were a season-low for the Bulldogs, who were held significantly below their season averages in both points (23 below) and yards (172 below).
- Defensive Standout: Ca’ron Coleman led Dayton’s defense with 7 tackles (6 solo), including two solo tackles while engaged with blockers. He also recorded one tackle for loss and recovered a fumble.
- Miller’s Impact: Logan Miller contributed 6 tackles (4 solo), a forced fumble, and Dayton’s only pass breakup.
- Hackett’s Rushing Prowess: Mason Hackett had a career-high 35 carries for 111 yards, marking his third consecutive 100-yard rushing game. His rushing total slightly exceeded Butler’s average rushing yards allowed per game prior to this matchup.
- VanVleet’s Efficiency: Drew VanVleet was highly efficient, completing 11 of 14 passes for 137 yards and three touchdowns. Two of his incompletions were due to dropped passes.
- Lochow’s Versatility: Gavin Lochow led Dayton in receptions with four catches for 37 yards and added 45 yards on two swing passes that were laterals.
- Brenner’s Scoring Touch: Luke Brenner led the Flyers in receiving yards with 57, and two of his three receptions were touchdowns, including the game-winner.
- Forcum’s Punting Precision: Logan Forcum averaged 36.8 yards per punt, with three punts downed inside the 20-yard line and no touchbacks, demonstrating effective directional punting.
Up Next: Home Game Against Morehead State
Dayton Flyers fans looking to continue following their team and Pioneer League scores will be excited to know the Flyers return home for their next game against Morehead State on Saturday, October 26th. This game is designated as both the annual Alumni Game and the Breast Cancer Awareness Game. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 Noon ET.
