The University of Dayton football team rallied in the final minute Saturday, beating San Diego 37-32 in an Alumni Day thriller at Welcome Stadium — the Flyers’ first win over the Toreros since 2015.
Dayton fell behind 10-0 early, answered with a 97-yard kickoff return touchdown by LeRoy Lewis IV, and built a 28-10 lead early in the second half on a 56-yard touchdown run by Gavin Lochow. A field goal stretched the margin to 31-17 after three quarters.
San Diego stormed back behind quarterback Dom Nankil, who threw for 471 yards. Adam Criter scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns, and a two-point conversion put the Toreros ahead 32-31 with 1:32 to play, capping a comeback from an 18-point deficit.
Dayton needed just 32 seconds to answer. A 34-yard catch by Michael Mussari set up Bryce Schondelmyer’s 14-yard go-ahead touchdown pass to Lochow with 57 seconds left. San Diego drove to the Dayton 30 in the closing seconds, but Emmanuel Hardrick broke up a Hail Mary attempt in the end zone as time expired.
Schondelmyer finished 26 of 38 for 259 yards and two touchdowns. Lochow caught 11 passes for 83 yards and two scores and ran for a third touchdown, accounting for three Flyer touchdowns on the day.
The win improved Dayton to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in the Pioneer Football League. The Flyers travel to Florida next, visiting Stetson on Saturday, October 31.