Football: USD Hosts Dayton in Key PFL Opener Sept 24

Football: USD Hosts Dayton in Key PFL Opener Sept 24

The University of San Diego football team opens its 24th season as a member of the Pioneer Football League this Saturday, hosting the University of Dayton in a 4 p.m. kickoff at Walter J. Zable Field at Torero Stadium.

While the start of league play would seem to be enough of a motivator for USD players, there’s quite a lot of history to suggest that this week’s opponent and this September game's outcome could have a drastic effect on each team's postseason aspirations.

"It's a huge game. Every single year they are a good team, they’re our conference rivals. They bring so much intensity, so much discipline and a good game plan, it's kind of like playing against ourselves," said senior cornerback Devyn Bryant when asked about Dayton this week. "This game has big time implications. Usually, one of these teams goes on to win the PFL championship."

Between Dayton and USD, they've won or shared the PFL title 19 times. Dayton has won 12 times since the league’s 1993 inception. The Toreros are next with seven. The head-to-head game series is 16-7 in favor of Dayton, including a 7-4 edge in games played at USD. However, the Toreros have won the last two home meetings. USD's seven titles have all been won since 2005. Dayton has four championships in the same time. Last year, Dayton and USD shared the title with 7-1 PFL records, but Dayton's 13-12 win over USD gave the former the tiebreaker for the PFL’s automatic FCS playoff berth.

Other recent USD-Dayton games include a double-overtime 45-38 Dayton home victory in 2013 and a 40-29 USD home win in 2014. Even in late July when the PFL preseason coaches’ poll was released, it too was close. USD has been picked as the 2016 PFL title favorite with 95 points out of a possible 100, including five first-place votes. Dayton had 94, but had six first-place votes.

“It’s a rivalry like no other I’ve been part of,” said senior wide receiver Brian Riley when asked about Dayton and preparations this week. “Since we came into camp, this has been the first game circled on our calendar. It’s the game our coaches talk to us about. ‘Get ready for Dayton. Get ready for Dayton.’ A lot of the time, especially in the last few years, the league title has gone through the two of us. We understand the importance of winning this game and what it means for our ability to go to the playoffs. That’s where we want to go and what we are working so hard for this season.”

The Toreros bring a 1-1 record into Saturday’s game. USD shut out Western New Mexico 27-0 in its home opener, but lost 38-16 at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo on Sept. 10. USD had a bye last week. Dayton (2-1) topped Central State, 31-19, and shut out Robert Morris, 13-0. The Flyers lost 34-20 to Duquesne on Sept. 17.

Both teams would like nothing better than to gain an early edge in the PFL title chase because even with several PFL games still ahead of them, respectively, Saturday's winner will be critical if another tiebreaker situation occurs.

“I think there has to be a heightened awareness of playing your best. They’re a very good team, they always come to play, they’re very well-coached and they’re very talented. It’s one of those games where you cannot afford to do anything but be at your best,” USD Coach Dale Lindsey said about Dayton. He has plenty of respect for all PFL teams but, quite simply, he’s not looking beyond Saturday’s game. “The only way you get to the playoffs is by winning the PFL. And, in our case, it starts with Dayton.”

Lindsey, Bryant and Riley agreed that last week’s bye was helpful.

“It was a chance to improve on some things we weren’t doing well and we got healthy,” said Lindsey, who has a 27-9 overall record now in his fourth year of guiding the Toreros, which includes an 18-2 overall home record and 12-0 in PFL home games.

Riley and Bryant indicated that having Dayton on the other side of the bye was an extra source of motivation. Bryant woke up early last Saturday to watch the Dayton-Duquesne game. Riley recalled that as a freshman, seniors and juniors would talk to the younger players about the importance of the Dayton rivalry. Now as a senior co-captain with Bryant and running back Jonah Hodges, that responsibility carries on for him with current first- and second-year Toreros.

“It’s exciting to have something to get up for, especially after a bye week. Playing against Dayton excites everybody,” Riley said. “We know what this game means, what it means for the Torero legacy we’re holding in our hands. We know Dayton is that way, too, so we’re excited and we’ll be ready to play.”

— Ryan T. Blystone

Video and photo courtesy of USD Athletics