Coaches always talk after a big win or a disappointing loss that putting that game behind you as quickly as possible, to focus your attentions on the next name on the schedule, is one of the biggest keys to success over the long haul.
 
That has certainly been the message from Stetson football coach Roger Hughes to his Hatters this week, coming off a thrilling overtime victory over Campbell last weekend in a game that made national news.
 
The Hatters celebrated that win for as long as it took to drive the eight-plus hours from North Carolina back to DeLand. On Sunday, the focus was squarely on the matchup this week against perennial Pioneer Football League powerhouse Dayton.
 
The Hatters (4-3, 2-2) will travel to Ohio for the first time on Saturday to face a Dayton (6-2, 4-1) squad that has won 11 consecutive games on its home field dating back to the 2014 season. Kickoff from Welcome Stadium is set for 1:07 p.m. on Saturday.
 
The game will be televised on the Time Warner Sports Channel in Ohio with Mark Hartsock and Jared Phillips on the call. The game will also be streamed through the Dayton Athletics wen site DaytonFlyers.com.
 
Fans can also listed to the game on the Stetson Hatters Radio Network with Pete Blais, Luke Mauro and Brandon Kravitz on the call of the action.
 
Hughes said his team has done a good job of flipping the switch this week.
 
"They have had a very business-like approach," Hughes said of practice this week. "I charged the leadership with making sure we are focused on what we need to do. We are getting into the meat of our schedule now and our efforts and preparation needs to be even more stringent than it has been in the past.
 
"The top 10 play was over days ago, and that will not do anything to help us score points this week, nor help us stop Dayton at all. So far they have responded well because practices have been pretty good. It was a very physical game at Campbell, so we are taking care of those bumps and bruises and getting back to full speed."
 
The Flyers have a long history of success, both in the PFL and at home. Dayton has already clinched its 39^th winning season in the last 40 years and owns the best record in conference play (107-33) in PFL history. At home, the Flyers have a remarkable 221-472-2 (.822) at Welcome Stadium since moving to the facility in 1974.
 
"Dayton just knows how to win," Hughes said. "They have won for a long time – they were the Pioneer League representative in the FCS playoffs last year. I admire what Rick Chamberlin has done there as a coach. I told him after the season last year that I love watching his team play because they are just so fundamentally sound. They just don't beat themselves."
 
With that said, keeping mistakes to a minimum is a must for the Hatters to keep their four-game road win streak alive. For the offense, that will mean protecting freshman quarterback Cole Martin and, even more importantly, not turning the ball over. Dayton leads the nation with 14 interceptions and has forced a total of 20 turnovers this year while allowing just 10.
 
Martin, who played the second half last week at Campbell after sophomore Gaven DeFilippo went down with a shoulder injury, will get his first start this week. The Hatters will also be without backup tight end Austin Tyrrell and cornerback Dre Long this week as they recover from injuries.
 
"We have been very cautious with a lot of guys this week," Hughes said. "We only have one live period each week in practice, on Tuesday, and we held a lot of guys out of that. We are trying to be smart about getting guys ready to go."
For Martin, the challenge of making his first start will be compounded by some changes in the offensive line. Senior Patrick Fogarty will shift from left tackle to left guard with freshmen Cody Sumner (LT) and Josh Miller (RG) both scheduled to make their first starts.
 
"We just weren't happy with the productivity we were getting," Hughes said. "We had gotten stagnant and were not getting better – were too inconsistent. We are moving some people around to try to stimulate some growth as well as build some quality depth."
 
Martin acquitted himself well last week, completing nine of 15 passes for 120 yards and a score with no turnovers. While there is much for him to learn, the playbook is wide open and at his disposal.
 
"Because of Cole's earlier hamstring injury he didn't want to sprint out or boot last week," Hughes said. "This week he seems fine, he has been full speed and he has run, a lot. There is nothing in the game plan for this week that we wouldn't run with either."
 
The Hatters will need their full offensive compliment against a Dayton defense that isn't flashy, but is ultra productive.
 
"Some might call it boring because they line up in a four-man front with three linebackers and four DBs and they are not fancy," Hughes said. "They will roll a couple of coverages, but they don't blitz much. They are in place every time and you never get a deep ball on them. You never get a big play because they make you take it in small chunks."
 
On the offensive side, the Flyers are led by sophomore quarterback Alex Jeske who, in addition to throwing for 1,408 yards and 11 touchdowns so far this year, has also rushed for 357 yards and five scores. Along with running back Tucker Yinger, as well as a veteran offensive line, the Flyers want to control the ball on the ground.
 
Hughes said the key for the Hatters will likely come from the middle of the defense and senior nose tackle Davion Belk. Since moving inside early in the season, Belk has created havoc for every team the Hatters have faced.
 
"The key matchup will be their center against Davion because, to this point, he has played really well," Hughes said. "His ability to command double teams and, when he is not double-teamed, dominate the center, will be crucial. They run an inside zone running game and they like to cut back. If we are able to get some penetration, they can't do that."
 
With Belk clogging up the middle, it will be up to the rest of the defense to keep Jeske in the pocket because he has a tremendous ability to extend plays with his feet once he escapes to the outside.
 
"He is a good runner, in fact is their second leading rusher, and really does a good job of extending plays," Hughes said. "We are going to have to be disciplined beyond belief to make sure we keep him contained. If we can't get to him, we have to stay outside and make sure we force him back inside to Davion. When we do pressure, we have to make sure we know where we are flushing him to and have someone there."
 
In the two previous meetings with Dayton, both in DeLand, the Flyers have jumped on the Hatters early. That is no different that what the Hatters have seen for most of October. In each of Stetson's wins this month the Hatters have fallen behind early then worked their way back into a fourth quarter game.
 
"If you look at three of the last four games, we have fallen behind to start the game," Hughes said. "In the past, that would have caused us to wilt. To our kids credit, we just keep finding a way to get a spark and have turned the momentum into getting stronger as games have gone on."
 
Some of the credit for that determination to play to the end came about during the offseason thanks to some team-building the squad did with Dr. Matt Wilson, using the book "Extreme Ownership" as a guide.
 
"Davion Belk describes our team as 'before the book and after the book', it has made that much of a difference," Hughes said. "I think it is absolutely the best thing I have done as a coach to set a foundation. I wish I had found the book three years earlier, but I am not sure our guys would have been ready for it then. It is very gratifying and, if we can continue to pursue getting better – like the Navy Seals do, with no egos involved – then we will have a chance."
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.