Dec. 10, 2005

The University of Dayton honored the 2005 Flyer football team today at its annual Football Awards Banquet. The banquet, held by the UD Flyers Club, was at the Kennedy Union Ballroom on campus.

The Flyers finished 9-1 overall, and 3-1 in the Pioneer Football League's North Division. UD had its school-record 29h straight winning season, extending the Flyers' school record. That ties Dayton with Florida State with the longest such streak among Division I football-playing schools. UD was ranked second in the nation in the final Sports Network NCAA Division and Football Gazette I-AA Mid-Major rankings.

The Flyers' only loss was to San Diego, the #1-ranked team in I-AA Mid-Major this season. Dayton is just one of five teams in I-AA to have just one defeat in 2005.

UD finished the 2005 campaign in the top ten in I-AA in seven major statistical categories. The Flyers were third in scoring defense (14.10), fourth in scoring offense (40.30), fifth in total offense (470.70), rushing offense (259.40) and passing efficiency (161.13), seventh in pass defense (152.60) and tenth in total defense (294.50). This was the sixth straight season Dayton was in the top ten in scoring defense.

Redshirt sophomore quarterback Kevin Hoyng (Coldwater, OH) was voted the recipient of the White-Allen Most Valuable Player Trophy. In his first year as a starter, Hoyng set a school record for total offense in a season (2,547 yards), and produced the second-best single season marks in passing yardage (1,989 yards) and passing efficiency (164.39).

Hoyng led UD in rushing (114 carries for 558 yards, 4.9 yards per carry, seven TD's), and completed 114 of 193 passes (.591) for 1,989 yards and 14 touchdowns. He finished seventh in I-AA in passing efficiency and 20th in total offense.

Hoyng's primary target, senior wide receiver Ryan Wrobleski (Northville, MI), received the Sheriff "Beno" Keiter Award, which goes to the senior for the most outstanding contribution to the program over his four-year career. Wrobleski set the Flyer career and single-season records for receiving yardage in 2005. He amassed 2,058 yards in his career, and gained 919 (in 52 catches) of them this season. Wrobleski's 117 career receptions were also the second-highest in Dayton history. Even though he played for the top rushing team in the PFL, Wrobleski led the league in receiving yards per game (91.9).

The Stan Kurdziel Memorial Trophy went to senior offensive tackle Ryan Winner (Greenville, OH). The Kurdziel Trophy goes to the team's top lineman. Winner was named First Team Sports Network NCAA Division I-AA Mid-Major All-America in 2005. The senior co-captain finished his career with 31 consecutive starts. Winner was a two-time First Team All-Pioneer Football League performer, and was also named Second Team Academic All-PFL this season.

Senior linebacker and co-captain John Hoppe (Northbrook, IL) was named the recipient of the Chief Toscani Hitter Award. The PFL North Defensive Player of the Year, Hoppe led the Flyers in tackles (86), solo hits (42) and tackles in the backfield (7.5) in 2005.

Senior defensive back Jared Frank (Massillon, OH) was named the recipient of the Emil Karas Memorial Award. The Karas Award is for the most inspirational leadership as chosen by his teammates. Persevering through an injury-plagued career, Frank saw action in six games in 2005 and was in on 34 tackles. A measure of his leadership ability is the fact that he is the first Karas winner in eight years who was not also a team captain.

The A.J. Cohen Flyer of the Year went to senior quarterback Tony Ball (Ottawa, OH). Ball ran the scout team for the last two years, never appeared on a two-deep and played in exactly one game in his career with no stats. But his positive attitude every day epitomizes the award, which is in memory of Cohen.

Senior tailback Brandon Godsey (Vandalia, OH) was the John L. Macbeth Memorial Scholar-Athlete Award winner. A 3.97 student majoring in Pre-Med, Godsey played in all nine games and carried the ball 25 times for 141 yards (5.6 per carry) with a touchdown.

This season's Most Improved Player Award went to sophomore defensive back Steve McDonald (Newark, OH). McDonald played in seven games, missing three games with a knee injury. He was in on 31 tackles, with an interception.

The ROTC Cannonball Award, which goes to the team's top newcomer, was presented to junior wide receiver Carlton McFadgen (Clayton, OH). A transfer into the program, McFadgen averaged 24.8 yards a catch in his first season at UD. He made eight of his season's 12 receptions in a five game stretch at the end of the season.

Freshman wideout J. Michael Jonard (Galena, OH) was named the Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year, and freshman linebacker Sean Heenan (St. Joseph, MI) was awarded the Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year.

One award had already been announced: The Lt. Andy Zulli Award was presented to senior quarterback Robert Dence (Huron, OH) at halftime of UD's final regular season home game vs. Valparaiso. The award, one of the most prestigious in the program, is for sportsmanship, character, and leadership.

Along with honoring the individual award winners and the players receiving letters, UD also acknowledged the players who received conference and national awards.

UD had 11 Flyers named All-Pioneer Football League. John Hoppe was named PFL North Division Defensive Player of the Year in a vote of the league's coaches. Joining Hoppe on the first team were Ryan Winner, junior cornerback Casey Klaus (Delphos, OH), senior offensive guard Ross Mroczek (South Bend, IN), junior punt returner Nick Ruhe (Ottawa, OH) and Ryan Wrobleski. Named to the Honorable Mention squad, which serves as the PFL's second team, were junior defensive tackle Chad Burton (Germantown, OH), junior tight end Matt Champa (Sagamore Hills, OH), sophomore safety Brandon Cramer (Toledo, OH) and Ryan Wrobleski.

Three Flyers were named to the Sports Network's I-AA Mid-Major All-America team-offensive tackle Ryan Winner, offensive guard Ross Mroczek and cornerback Casey Klaus.

Brandon Cramer was also a Second Team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America. Since the Academic All-America program began in 1952, UD has had 42 football Academic All-Americans. Among schools currently playing Division I football, only Nebraska (80) and Notre Dame (44) have had more.

In addition, five Flyers were named CoSIDA All-Academic All-District. The five Dayton players on the team were the most of any other school in the district for the fourth straight year, and included two first-team selections. Brandon Cramer and senior center Ryan McNulty (Cleveland, OH) were named to the first team. John Hoppe, senior tight end John Schmall (Columbus, OH) and senior tailback Steve Verhoff (Wellington, OH) were on this year's second team.

The University of Dayton also had the most players named to the Academic All-PFL team, with 11. Brandon Cramer was on of four unanimous selections. He was joined on the team by Chad Burton, junior placekicker Josh Heyne (Centerville, OH), John Hoppe, Kevin Hoyng, junior linebacker Brian Kelly (Cincinnati, OH), Ryan McNulty, John Schmall, Steve Verhoff, Ryan Winner and senior defensive end Scott Wintering (Columbus, OH).

2005 UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON FOOTBALL AWARD WINNERS White-Allen Most Valuable Player Kevin Hoyng Chief Toscani Hitter John Hoppe Sheriff "Beno" Keiter Award Ryan Wrobleski Emil Karas Inspirational Leadership Jared Frank Stan Kurdziel Outstanding Lineman Ryan Winner A.J. Cohen Flyer of the Year Tony Ball John L. Macbeth Scholar-Athlete Brandon Godsey Most Improved Player Steve McDonald Lt. Andy Zulli Memorial Trophy Robert Dence ROTC Cannonball Award Carlton McFadgen Scout Team Offensive Player of the Year J. Michael Jonard Scout Team Defensive Player of the Year Sean Heenan