Dayton among NIFL's best on offense and defense
May 4, 2005 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)
Dayton Bulldogs News Release
DAYTON, Ohio â Upstart Dayton has come into the National Indoor Football League with a bang.
The âbang' is not in the passing game, as would be expected by most or even head coach Matt King, but in the running game.
Led by quarterback Steve Bellisari, he's the only signal caller in the NIFL's top 10 rushers this week. With 69 carries, the former Ohio State standout, has 236 yards on the ground and is averaging 3.4 a carry and 47.2 a game. Add nine rushing touchdowns and he's been the whole package.
Credit has to go to those offensive linemen. Brandon Price, Jason Jones, Lance Olberding and Joe Washington and blowing the opponent off the line for Bellisari, Pepe Pearson, Maurice Lee and Keith Brooks.
In fact, as a team the Warbirds (3-2) lead the NIFL in rushing, averaging 105.8 yards a game. They have pounded in 20 touchdowns, which has helped them be the 5th-ranked âred zone scoring' team in the league.
There are two other areas where Dayton ranks high this week and that is being 1st in kickoff return average (20.1) and 2nd in scoring offense (59.6).
Lee is sixth in the league in kick off rreturns, averaging 23.4 on 24 of the team's total of 38.
Dayton also is high up in the standings on pass defense rating. The Warbirds are 3rd with a 94.9 rating. This is helped individually by Arden Banks top spot on the passes defended list. He has a total of 13 which includes 8 breakups and 5 interceptions. BJ Paulus' 10 pass breakups tie him for 4th in passes defended.
The Warbirds tie for second with the Miami Morays for quarterback sacks. Each has 12 with Dayton collecting 57 minus yards on its opponent. Individually, lineman Ryan Terry is 2nd in the NIFL in sacks with 7 and Tyress Lawless and Brandon Tisdale each have 3.
Bellisari is 6th in total offense with 1,058 yards (211.6 a game) and is 9th in passing offense (164.4 a game).
<> The Warbirds travel to Montgomery, Alabama, for a Saturday game against the Montgomery Maulers beginning at 8:30 p.m. (EST).
• Discuss this story on the National Indoor Football League message board...
National Indoor Football League Stories from May 4, 2005
- Hawgs top NIFL in defensive stats - Daytona Beach Hawgs
- Mauler Memo - Montgomery Bears
- Rage slated for special Mothers Day game against New Jersey - RiverCity Rage
- Bellisari makes difference with Dayton - Dayton Bulldogs
- Dayton among NIFL's best on offense and defense - Dayton Bulldogs
- Kreatures âred zone' scoring leaders - Kissimmee Kreatures
- Lakeland's Kratz rejuvenates his career - Lakeland ThunderBolts
- Morays turn to fans for new offensive plays - Miami Morays
- Now is your chance to "Ask Deryl Lane" - Miami Morays
- Guard Participates in ACES - Fayetteville Guard
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
