The UD football team takes its undefeated record on the road Saturday as the Flyers travel to Morehead State for a matchup of 3-0 teams.

UD has tallied wins over Tiffin, Wittenberg and Austin Peay while the Eagles have beaten Saint Francis, Newberry and Valparaiso this season.

The Flyers are coming off of a 46-0 romp against Austin Peay. The win was UD's second shutout of the season, and the Flyers are averaging more than 42 points per game while holding their opponents to less than eight.

Quarterback Kevin Hoyng, a redshirt sophomore, leads UD in both passing (214.7 yards a game) and rushing (66.3). Hoyng also leads the Pioneer Football League (PFL) in total offense with an average of 281 yards per game.

Senior wideout Ryan Wrobleski leads the PFL in receiving yards (106 per game) and is tied for the league lead with 17 receptions in 2005.

The Flyers come into Saturday's game ranked first in two NCAA Division I-AA Mid-Major polls. UD owns the top spot in the Football Gazette and the Sports Network polls, and the Eagles are ranked fourth and fifth respectively.

UD has an 8-2 record overall against Morehead State and has shut-out the Eagles the last three times these teams have met.

Morehead State head coach Matt Ballard says he is both surprised by and pleased with his team's 3-0 start. The Eagles are coming off of a 48-7 blowout of Valparaiso.

Dayton head coach Mike Kelly says Morehead is 'without question, the best team we've played this year.

'We're ready for a challenge like this,' said Kelly. 'We need a challenge like this to see where we are at this point [in the season].'

Big plays on offense have been the name of the game for the Flyers so far this season.

UD has scored touchdowns on plays of 20 yards or more six times in 2005. Four of those plays have been Hoyng touchdown passes, including a 65-yarder to Jack O'Dell in UD's win over Wittenberg. Wrobleski has the team's longest scoring run of the season, a 61-yard TD in the same game.

Coach Kelly does not expect Morehead to give up the big play easily, though.

'Against this team, you're not going to get any big chunk plays, as we call them,' Kelly said. 'We're gonna have to be more methodical [on offense].'

If the Flyers expect to get a win, they will need to limit turnovers and generate some takeaways of their own.

UD has lost the turnover battle in each of its first three games, turning the ball over six times while only forcing one turnover.

'We're last in the league in the turnover margin,' said Kelly. 'If you lose the turnover battle against a ball club like [Morehead State], you're going to be in trouble.'

Ballard points to his team captains as standouts for the Eagles this year. Defensive end Kevin Cristello and linebacker Vince Hinkle anchor Morehead's defense while fullback Casey McCoy is the team's leading rusher.

'He is a very good, blue-collar fullback,' Kelly said of McCoy.

Eli Parkes leads the Eagles with four touchdown runs, and Brian Yost has thrown for four scores as well.

Linebacker John Hoppe and the Flyer defense will try to keep Morehead State's offense in check. Hoppe leads UD with 28 tackles, including 14 solo, on the season. Three Flyers'Scott Wintering, Brandon Cramer and Casey Klaus'are tied for second with 14 tackles apiece.

For the Flyers, it will be a balanced offensive attack with a steady dose of Hoyng. UD's preparation and execution have even impressed the team's opponents.

'Dayton is the most disciplined football team I've ever seen in my life,' said Ballard.

One team will improve to 4-0, and the other will suffer its first loss of the season. The game is set for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff Saturday at Morehead State's Jayne Stadium.