Oct. 7, 2005

After five games, the University of Dayton football team remains undefeated and ranked first in all three NCAA Division I-AA Mid-Major polls. UD is on top of the Sports Network, Football Gazette and Dopke.com rankings, marking the fifth straight year the Flyers have been ranked No. 1 during some part of the season.

The UD offense is averaging more than 500 yards a game, and redshirt sophomore quarterback Kevin Hoyng was third in the country in passing efficiency. After five games, Hoyng has already bettered his 2004 (when he alternated at the position) numbers in touchdowns (running and throwing) and passing yards, and he leads the team in rushing. He was named PFL Offensive Player of the Week twice in September.

Two of Dayton's first three wins came by shutout. The Dayton D is led by senior linebacker John Hoppe, whose 44 tackles led the team by a wide margin. Hoppe was named the PFL Defensive Player of the Week after the Jacksonville win. UD is third in the nation in scoring defense, allowing just 9.4 points a game.

Dayton is heading into the meat of the schedule, taking on PFL North rivals (and two of the teams who defeated the Flyers last year) Drake and San Diego, in back-to-back weeks. The Flyers are at Drake on Oct. 8, and then return home to face USD on Oct. 15 at 1 p.m. The games between UD, Drake and San Diego will not only go a long way in determining the Pioneer Football League North winner, but also who win in the PFL Championship game and the Sports Network Cup, which goes to the Mid-Major national champion.