Jeske, who had spent the past two months rehabbing a broken bone in his foot, was cleared by team doctors and promptly led the Flyers out of a three-game losing streak with a 20-10 road win at Drake.
Dayton and Drake could only manage a field goal each in a rainy first half. Jeske shook off the cobwebs and ran 7 yards for a touchdown early in the third quarter.
Later in the second half, a Dayton drive seemed to stall thanks to a pair of penalties until Jeske lobbed a perfect pass over a defender into the hands of receiver Ryan Skibinski in the end zone.
“He threw that pass right where he needed to put it,” Dayton coach Rick Chamberlin said. “That’s what told me he’s right back to where he was.”
Jeske, a redshirt junior, broke the bone in a non-contact workout at home in Illinois a week before the Flyers reported for summer camp. He was a frustrated spectator on the sidelines as his team lost four of its first five games.
“It was extremely difficult but being in that position I just tried to help out as much as I could,” Jeske said. “Trying to help out the other guys who were in and give my input on the offense and be a leader.”
It was Jeske’s first real injury since his freshman year in high school, but the Flyers captain said it didn’t take long to forget about it and just go play.
“In the game you start thinking about it a lot less when you have other things you’re thinking about,” he said. “When you get back on the field your actions take over and you’re really not thinking about it at all.”
Up next: The Flyers (2-4, 1-2) are back home this week to face Campbell (4-2, 3-0) Saturday at 1 p.m. at Welcome Stadium. The Camels sit alone atop the Pioneer Football League standings, a half game ahead of San Diego and Jacksonville.
Campbell is leaving the PFL after this season to become a full-scholarship program as the football team joins the rest of the school’s teams in the Big South Conference.
The Buies, North Carolina school has never really been a contender for a title in 10 years in the PFL. Although scholarships won’t kick in until next year, the Camels have been buoyed this season by a number of players transferring from larger schools.
Fan Fest: Flyer fans will also have a chance to meet and greet the men's and women's basketball teams before Saturday's game. Players and coaches will be introduced before the game and sign autographs. The Fan Fest runs from 11 a.m. until kickoff.
The Fan Fest is a temporary replacement for the annual Red-Blue scrimmage that had to be canceled this year due to the ongoing renovation of UD Arena.
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