DES MOINES, Iowa – An outstanding second-half defensive performance and over 500 yards of total offense propelled the Drake University football team past Valparaiso, 38-13, Saturday at Drake Stadium in its Pioneer Football League opener.
The Bulldog defense put on the clamps on the Crusaders in the second-half as it only allowed 57 yards of total offense in the final two quarters. Drake limited Valpo, who averaged over 400 yards of total offense, to just 294 yards for the entire game and forced three turnovers.
"The way our defense plays, it took us some time to adjust but man were they lights out in the second-half. That's Drake defense and that's what we expect from them," said Drake head coach Rick Fox. "I thought our defensive backs played really well, but in the second-half our defensive line just wore them down and took over the lines of scrimmage and that's what we've got to have from those guys."
Drake recorded a season-best 567 yards of total offense. Senior quarterback Grant Kraemer paced the offense with a career-high 28 completions for a career-best 445 yards passing. Sophomore Mitch McFarlane led the receivers with seven catches for 118 yards, while senior Connor Ostrander also hauled in seven passes for 73 yards. Juniors Devin Cates and Steven Doran each recorded a touchdown while totaling 70 and 84 receiving yards, respectively.
"Grant did a great job and honestly it was all set up from our offensive line by not allowing a sack today. They gave him time back there and Grant did a great job managing the offense. That's what we need him to do, because then his skills and our playmakers come out when he does that," said Fox.
The Crusaders struck first using a nine-play 75-yard touchdown drive on the game's opening possession.
The Bulldogs answered right back as Kraemer capped off the 11-play 74-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run.
On Drake's next possession, Kraemer completed 32-yard touchdown pass to Doran to put the Bulldogs up 14-6.
Midway through the second-quarter, Valpo put together an 11-play scoring drive to cut Drake's lead to 14-13.
The Bulldogs managed to score one more time before the half, as Danny Donley drilled a 20-yard field goal to give Drake a 17-13 lead going into the locker room.
Drake used a six-minute 13-play scoring drive on their second possession of the third-quarter to extend its lead 24-13. Then following another Crusader three-and-out, the Bulldogs used a 15-yard touchdown catch by Cates to go up 31-13.
Drake's final score of the game came mid-way through the fourth-quarter as sophomore Taylor Murph scored his first collegiate touchdown for a final score of 38-13.
The Bulldogs improved to 2-2 overall and 1-0 in the Pioneer Football League, while Valpo settled to 1-3 and 0-1 in the PFL.
Next up for Drake is a trip to Butler for a battle of the Bulldogs on Saturday, Sept. 30. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. CST.
