DRAKE BULLDOGS (4-2, 1-0 PFL) at BUTLER BULLDOGS (1-5, 0-0 PFL)
1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 16 Butler Bowl (18,000), Indianapolis, Ind.

GAME SIGNIFICANCE: Drakes puts a three-game winning streak on the line when it continues Pioneer Football League action with a visit to Butler Saturday.

Drake opened the PFL season with a 41-38 homecoming victory against San Diego Saturday. Butler is coming off a 35-7 loss at St. Francis (Ind.) which was ranked third in the NAIA.

AMONG NCAA I-AA LEADERS: Drake ranks 19th in overall victories (517) among the 123 schools which play NCAA Division I-AA football. Only 22 schools have recorded 500 or more victories.

The game at Butler will be the 1,007th game in school history with Drake owning a record of 517-460-29 for a winning percentage of .528.

DRAKE MOVES IN NATIONAL RANKINGS: The victory against San Diego allowed the Bulldogs to move up in two polls. Drake jumped from No. 5 to No. 4 in the latest CollegeSportsReport.com Mid-Major poll and moved from No. 8 to No. 5 in the latest Football Gazette 1-AA Mid-Major poll. Drake retained its No. 6 spot in the latest The Sports Network Mid-Major Top 10 poll.

Dayton is ranked No. 1 in all three polls, while Central Connecticut State is ranked No. 2 in the Football Gazette and the CollegeSportsReport.com Mid-Major polls. Robert Morris is ranked No. 2 in the latest Sports Network Mid-Major Top 10 poll.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT: Butler has 11 starters back from last year's squad which posted a 2-9 record, including a 1-3 fifth-place finish in the North Division of the Pioneer Football League.

Senior center Colin Chelovich, an honorable mention all-league performer last year, is one of seven returning offensive starters. Butler started four quartebacks last season and they all return. Senior Ian Nelson has 1,073 yards total offense, including 795 passing with four touchdowns. Nelson also leads the team with 278 yards rushing including two touchdowns. Sophomore fullback Billy Nardini has caught a team-high 19 passes, including two touchdowns.

After Nelson threw a four-yard scoring strike to Nardini that pulled Butler within 21-7 against St. Francis, the Bulldogs recovered the ensuing onside kick. But Nelson would later fumble on the St. Francis

Junior free safety Chris Haynes recorded a career-high 20 tackles, including a career-best 14 solos, against St. Francis. Senior linebacker Jim Hart added a career-high 15 tackles and a pass interception against St. Francis. Senior linebacker Parker Smith, who led Butler in tackles in 2002 but missed the entire 2003 season with a hamstring injury, shares the team lead in tackles this fall with Hart at 51.

THE COACHES: Rob Ash, a 1973 graduate of Cornell (Iowa), is in his 16th year as Drake coach and is the school's winningest football coach with a 104-57-2 record (63-17-1 home/41-40-1 road).

Under Ash, Drake has enjoyed 10 winning seasons, including nine years of at least seven wins. Ash, 52, has a 20-year overall collegiate coaching record of 155-93-5 (.620), ranking eighth among NCAA I-AA active football coaches in terms of victories. Ash posted a 51-36-3 mark at Juniata (Pa.) College from 1980-88.

Kim Cartwright, a 1976 graduate of Bowling Green State, is in his third year as head coach at Butler, owning a 7-20 record. He served as offensive coordinator at the school from 1998-2001. He has helped coach seven different teams to post-season bowl games. He was on the Penn State staff for the 1979 Sugar Bowl and with Bowling Green for the 1982 California Bowl. In 1984, he helped Purdue to the Peach Bowl and then helped guide Colorado State to the 1991 Freedom Bowl.

He was with Ball State at the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl, helped Michigan to the 1994 Holiday Bowl, and was with the Wolverines at the 1995 Alamo Bowl. He developed five All-American performers and several players who earned spots in the NFL including quarterback Tom Brady who led New England to victory in the 2002 Super Bowl and Miami quarterback Brian Griese.

THE SERIES: Drake owns an 8-4-1 lead in the series, having won five of the last six games. Drake suffered a 48-44 loss at Butler in its last visit to Indianapolis in 2002.

LAST YEAR: Drake 24, Butler 7 (Oct. 18, Des Moines) Quarterback Connor Jostes threw two touchdown passes and Jonathan Taylor rushed for a season-high 143 yards as Drake handed Butler its eighth straight loss. Taylor enjoyed the 11th 100-yard rushing game of his career, while also hauling in a 51-yard touchdown pass from Jostes that gave Drake a 14-0 lead with 1:02 left in the second quarter.

Jostes finished with 279 yards total offense, including 213 passing. Drake sophomore Tyler McGlade made a season-long 37-yard field goal with 7:52 left in the game.

Drake cornerback Jace Denison was named the Pioneer Football League Defensive Player of the Week for his effort against Butler. He returned an interception 62 yards for a third-quarter touchdown that increased Drakes lead to 21-7. Drakes defense held Butler to just 26 yards rushing in 26 carries, while forcing two other turnovers.

Butler lost a fumble on its first possession of the game and Drake took advantage to grab a 7-0 lead. Safety Curtis Martindale recovered a fumble on the Butler 29 yardline. Drake needed six plays to score with Jostes throwing a five-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tory Griener, who was making his first start, with 9:45 left in the first quarter

PRESEASON PFL POLL: Drake was picked to finish third in the North Division of the Pioneer Football League preseason poll. Dayton and Morehead State were picked to win the North and South Division, respectively. It was Dayton's fourth consecutive preseason No. 1 since the league added the South Division in 2001. Morehead State takes the top spot for the third time in those four seasons.

Dayton received six of the nine possible first-place votes in the PFL North. San Diego and Drake received the remaining first-place votes and were picked second and third, respectively. Surprisingly, 2003 PFL Champion Valparaiso was picked fourth, but just three votes separated the Crusaders from second-place San Diego. Butler rounded out the five-team PFL North.

Four members Austin Peay, Davidson, Jacksonville, and Morehead State joined the league in 2001 with two divisions being formed, charter members forming the North Division and the newest members becoming the South Division.

PHAYDAVONG SHARES PFL HONOR AGAIN: Drake freshman Scott Phaydavong (Des Moines East) was named the co-recipient of the Pioneer Football League offensive player of the week after rushing for a career-high 209 yards, including two touchdowns, in a 41-38 victory past San Diego Saturday.

Phaydavong shared the honor with Davidson running back John Leverett who rushed for 259 yards with three touchdowns in a 29-26 loss to Jacksonville.

Phaydavong, who enjoyed his fourth 100-yard plus rushing game of the season, gained 107 yards on the ground in the first quarter alone, including a five-yard touchdown run with 3:13 left that gave the Bulldogs a 14-7 lead.

Phaydavong had a 43-yard scoring jaunt with 4:58 left in the first half that staked Drake to a 20-14 lead.

Earlier, he added a 49-yard run that helped set up Drake's first touchdown - a three-yard scoring plunge by freshman Michael Bialas (Hoffman Estates, Ill.) with 13:02 left in the first quarter.

"We knew he (Phaydavong) would be the best back we have faced all year," said San Diego football coach Jim Harbaugh.

Earlier, Phaydavong was named the PFL Player of the Week after enjoying his third consecutive 100-yard plus rushing game against Morehead State Sept. 25.

Phaydavong rushed for 173 yards in 29 carries as Drake defeated Morehead State, 42-12. His 64-yard, second-quarter touchdown extended Drakes lead to 21-12 from which they would never look back.

Drake junior quarterback Connor Jostes was named the PFL Co-Offensive Player of the Week after passing for 234 yards, including three touchdowns against Southwest Missouri State Aug. 26. Jostes shared the PFL honor with Austin Peay running back Chris Fletcher. Jostes threw touchdown passes of seven and 12 yards to All-American receiver Jason Jones that gave Drake a 20-10 lead in the third quarter. Jostes also rifled a 14-yard touchdown pass to sophomore Tyler Putnam (Oakland/Riverside) that pulled Drake within 31-26 with 4:03 remaining.

YOUTH MOVEMENT: Three freshmen Michael Bialas (229), Scott Phaydavong (740) and Poul Collins (29) have accounted for 84.8 percent (998) of Drake's total rushing yards (1,177) this fall.

Bialas rushed for a career-high 93 yards in 15 carries, including touchdown runs of 11 and 27 yards, while playing in just half of the Morehead State game.

TEAM LEADERS: After six games, junior quarterback Connor Jostes (Iowa City High) has passed for 1,146 yards including nine touchdown strikes. Freshman Scott Phaydavong (Des Moines East) paces the team in rushing with 740 yards in 120 carries (6.2 avg.), while freshman Michael Bialas has gained 229 yards in 50 carries (4.6 avg.) with five touchdowns. Matt Goodwin (Cambridge, Ill.) follows with 87 yards in 22 carries (4.0 avg.).

Thirteen players have caught passes for the Bulldogs, led by senior Jason Jones (Kansas City, Mo./Hickman Mills) who has caught 20 passes for 255 yards including four touchdowns. Junior tight end James Mickley (Geneseo, Ill.) has 19 receptions for 278 yards (14.6 avg.), while sophomore Shea Moroni (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) has 15 receptions for 171 yards (11.4 avg.)

Sophomore outside linebacker Nick Ross (Atlantic) leads the defense with 54 tackles, while senior outside linebacker Eric Papp (Cedar Lake, Ind.) has 52 tackles and sophomore free safety Ryan Frehse (Denison) 40 tackles. Frehse, Papp and Ross share the team lead with two interceptions apiece.

Junior end Pat Forliti (Lakeville, Minn.) leads the team with 2.5 quarterback sacks, totaling 14 yards. Ross and junior end Shawn Rodgers (Leavenworth, Kan.) have two quarterback sacks apiece.

FORCING TURNOVERS: Drake's defense already has collected 11 interceptions this season, three more than its entire 2003 output of eight pass thefts. The Bulldogs have forced opponents into 17 turnovers this fall. Drake forced opponents into 18 turnovers for the entire 2003 campaign. Drake ranks second in the Pioneer Football League in turnover margin at plus .33.

DRAKE-SAN DIEGO GAME HOLDS TO FORM: Judging by past history, Drake's 41-38 victory against San Diego last Saturday held true to form.

The teams combined for 761 yards total offense and it marked the third straight time in the series that the teams combined to score more than 70 points.

There were five lead changes in the game before Drake junior quarterback Connor Jostes rolled out to throw a 21-yard touchdown pass to tight end Daniel Marx (Maple Grove, Minn./St. Margarets) with 3:38 left in the game which accounted for the final margin.

San Diego's John Koker had a 44-yard field goal attempt go wide right with 20 seconds remaining that could have sent the game into overtime.

In a matchup between the top two running backs in the Pioneer Football League, Drake's Scott Phaydavong out dueled San Diego's Evan Harney who entered the game leading the league in rushing with a 116.0 yards per game average. Phaydavong rushed for a career-high 209 yards, includng two touchdowns. He gained 107 yards on the ground in the first quarter alone including a five-yard touchdown run with 3:13 left that gave the Bulldogs a 14-7 lead.

A one-yard touchdown plunge by freshman Michael Bialas pulled Drake with 28-26 with 7:15 left in the third quarter.

A two-yard option run by Jostes gave the Bulldogs a 32-28 lead with 1:35 left in the third quarter. Jostes then threw a two-point conversion pass to Marx to make it 34-28.

Jostes passed for 200 yards with tight end James Mickley catching five passes for 98 yards.

PAPP LEADS DEFENSE: Linebacker Eric Papp led the Bulldogs with a season-high 12 tackles, including 11 solo hits, against San Diego. Sophomore linebacker Brian Conway and senior safety Curtis Martindale (Ottumwa) added nine tackles apiece.

'DOG TAGS: Drake has scored on 18 out of 24 possessions when it has reached inside the opponent's redzone (20-yardline). The Bulldogs converted all four opportunities in its opener at Southwest Missouri State as well as San Diego and all three opportunities at Jacksonville. Opponents have converted 16 of 18 redzone opportunities.

THE DOG POUND: The 41-38 victory against San Diego allowed the Bulldogs to improve their record to 53-11-1 record at Drake Stadium dating back to 1992. Drake has won 20 of its last 26 home games.

DRAKE IN PFL OPENERS: Drake also improved its record to 9-3 in PFL openers, including a 4-2 record against San Diego (4-0 home/0-2 road).

CORNERBACK SHUFFLE: Freshman Tyler Marley became the fourth player to start at right cornerback this season when he got the call last Saturday against San Diego. Redshirt sophomore Cory Kopatich (Ottumwa) started against Morehead State and Jacksonville, replacing the injured sophomore Riley Yemm (Fort Collins, Colo.). Yemm had started against William Penn and Wisconsin-Platteville. In his first collegiate start against William Penn, Yemm collected six tackles, including four solo hits. Regular starter K.C. Cadenhead was injured in the opener at Southwest Missouri State. Yemm lettered as a wide receiver in 2003, catching four passes for 47 yards. He moved to cornerback during spring drills.

JUST FOR KICKS: The Bulldogs also display a solid kicking game with juniors Ryan Horvath (Overland Park, Kan./Blue Valley North) and Tyler McGlade ranking second in the Pioneer Football League in punting and field goal kicking, respectively.

Horvath, a two-time first-team all-league selection, is averaging 37.9 yards, with a long of 51 yards and three punts inside the opponents' 20 yardline. He owns a 40.1 career punting yard average with 13 punts over 50 yards.

McGlade has made six of nine kicks. He hit a career-long 46-yard field goal against Wisconsin-Platteville Sept. 18.

Horvath punted six times for a whopping 44.2 yard average in the opener at Southwest Missouri State, including a long punt of 51 yards. He came back with a 41.3 yard average in three attempts against William Penn. Horvath also handled the placekicking chores midway through the 2003 season, converting eight of 13 kicks.

Horvath set Drake single-season nonscholarship records for punting yardage (2,555), while tying a mark for punts in a season (63) last year. McGlade set Drake single season nonscholarship records for extra points (43) and extra points attempts (45) as a freshman in 2002.

DEFENSE PASSES JACKSONVILLE TEST: Drake's defense came up with two interceptions in the fourth quarter to thwart scoring drives as the Bulldogs snapped a nine-game road losing streak with a 20-7 victory at Jacksonville Oct. 2.

Drake sophomore free safety Ryan Frehse stopped a Jacksonville drive early in the fourth quarter with an interception at the Bulldog 46 yardline. The Bulldogs then sealed the victory when senior strong safety Curtis Martindale intercepted a Jacksonville pass at the Drake 20 yardline with 43 seconds left in the game.

Jacksonville, which entered the game leading the PFL in rushing, was held to 101 yards on the ground in just 32 carries 244 yards below its average per game.Frehse led Drake with seven tackles, including five solo stops while also breaking up one pass. Linebacker Nick Ross, senior linebacker Adam Lackey (Chesterfield, Mo.), junior cornerback Jace Denison (Thornburg) added six tackles apiece. Ross had two quarterback sacks for 15 yards in losses.

FAST START: The Bulldogs scored on their first possession of the game at Jacksonville when freshman Michael Bialas plunged into the endzone from two yards with 9:23 left in the first quarter to cap a 13-play, 80-yard drive.

Drake rolled up 383 yards total offense with quarterback Connor Jostes completing 16 of 25 passes for 246 yards passing.

Drake stretched its lead to 17-0 in the second quarter after forcing a Jacksonville turnover. With the Dolphins marching, Drake strongside linebacker James Adams (Kansas City, Mo./Park Hill) stripped the ball from running back James Brant at the Bulldogs' 25. Drake cornerback Jace Denison picked up the loose football, returning the fumble 32 yards to the Jacksonville 43.

Four plays later Connor Jostes spotted Jason Jones for a 33-yard touchdown pass with 7:35 left in the second quarter.

Junior Tyler McGlade (Council Bluffs/St. Albert) kicked field goals of 39 and 35 for the Bulldogs. Bialas and freshman Scott Phaydavong gained a game-high 70 yards apiece for Drake.

REVOLVING DOOR AT CENTER: Redshirt freshman Dave Pammer (Mokena, Ill.) made his fourth straight start at center against San Diego. He replaced the sidelined Matt Huber (Mt. Prospect, Ill./St. Viator) who was injured in the first quarter against William Penn. Huber made his first college start replacing Marco Povich (St. Louis, Mo./Mehlville) who started in the opener at Southwest Missouri State. Povich started the last game of the 2003 season replacing the injured Daniel Hatz.

GETTING DEFENSIVE: Drake's defense forced Morehead State into four turnovers, including three interceptions. Drake dominated the second half, limiting Morehead State to just 38 yards total offense in 18 plays along with just two first downs.

After Drake linebacker Brian Conway intercepted a pass at the Morehead State 25 yardline midway in the fourth quarter, Drake needed just four plays to increase its margin to 42-12 when Connor Jostes tossed a nine-yard scoring strike to tight end James Mickley.

Weakside linebacker Nick Ross and Conway led Drake with six tackles apiece. Freshman Tyler Marley (Kansas City, Mo.) had an interception late in the fourth quarter for the Bulldogs.

LIGHTNING QUICK: It took only two plays into the game for Drake to grab a lead it never relinquished. Linebacker Nick Ross intercepted an errant pass from quarterback Brian Yost, returning it 22 yards for a touchdown with 14:13 left in the first quarter. It was the third quickest touchdown to start a game in Drake football history.

It took William Casey only eight seconds into the game to return a onside kick 45 yards for a touchdown at Southern Illinois Oct. 14, 2000. On the first play from scrimmage, Brant Alley ran 69 yards for a touchdown against Sioux Falls College, Nov. 14, 1987 with just 18 seconds elasped in the game.

ON THE MOVE: Quarterback Connor Jostes threw two touchdown passes, while freshman Scott Phaydavong rushed for a career-high 173 yards in Drake's 42-12 victory past Morehead State Saturday. The Bulldogs piled up a season-high 490 yards total offense, including a Pioneer Football League season-high 334 yards rushing.

Phaydavong sprinted 64 yards for a touchdown with 3:19 left in the second quarter to give Drake a 21-12 lead. Jostes threw a three-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Marx with 59 seconds left in the third quarter extending Drake's advantage to 28-12.

DEFENSE MAKES STATEMENT: Drakes defense forced Wisconsin-Platteville into four turnovers, including three interceptions. The Bulldogs limited the Pioneers to just 56 yards rushing in 34 carries. Sophomore linebacker Brian Conway collected a career high 11 tackles, including nine solo hits, to pace Drake. Conway and senior linebacker Eric Papp each had an interception. Conway also thwarted a Wisconsin-Platteville drive with a fumble recovery. Papp collected nine tackles, including six solos. Junior cornerback Cory Kopatich also had an interception for the Bulldogs.Junior nose guard Chris Daniels (Overland Park, Kan./Olathe East), senior linebacker Adam Lackey and senior safety Curtis Martindale added seven tackles apiece. Sophomore linebacker James Adams led the Bulldogs with three pass break ups.

MISCUES PROVE COSTLY: Brent Nelson threw two touchdown passes as Wisconsin-Platteville took advantage of three turnovers to claim a 33-23 victory past Drake Sept. 18.

Drake freshman Scott Phaydavong, enjoying his second straight 100 yard plus rushing game, gained a career-high yard 155 yards rushing in 24
carries. Phaydavong staked Drake to a 7-0 lead on its opening possession with a 31-yard scoring burst with 11:18 left in the first quarter to cap a 10-play, 86-yard scoring drive

The Pioneers took advantage of two pass interference calls in the end zone against Drake. Junior cornerback Jace Denison (Thornburg) was called for pass interference against Brian Gallick on the Pioneers first drive of the game. Two plays later Droessler scored on a one-
yard touchdown plunge allowing Wisconsin-Platteville to tie the score at 7-7 with 5:26 left in the first quarter.

Denison was guilty of pass interference against Gallick in the end zone on a third-down play early in the fourth quarter, giving the Pioneers a first-down at the Drake two yard line. Droessler scored from two yards on the ensuing play that enabled Wisconsin-Platteville to stretch its lead to 33-17 with 14:49 left in the game.

Connor Jostes threw touchdown passes of 10 and 18 yards to Jason Jones and Shea Moroni, respectively. But Jostes had a lateral attempt to Jones fall into the hands of defender Don Anderson who raced 23 yards with the fumble recovery for a touchdown to give the Pioneers a 20-10 cushion with 2:23 left in the second quarter. Freshman Michael Bialas, appearing in his first college game, added 32 yards in six carries for Drake. Sophomore Matt Goodwin rushed for 23 yards in seven carries. Goodwin led Drake with four receptions for 30 yards, while Moroni and Jones each caught three passes.

GOODWIN KEYS 1ST VICTORY: Sophomore fullback Matt Goodwin scored on a pair of one-yard runs to key Drake to a 16-6 victory past William Penn Sept. 11 in the first night football game played at Drake Stadium since 1960.

Drake rolled up 316 yards total offense, including 191 rushing. Drake freshman Scott Phayadong rushed for a career-high 107 yards in 11 carries, including a 74-yard scamper in the second quarter, while making his first collegiate start.

Goodwin gave Drake a 6-0 lead on a one-yard touchdown plunge with 9:00 left in the third quarter. The touchdown was set up when quarterback Connor Jostes rifled a 38- yard pass to a diving Jason Jones at the one-yard line. Tyler McGlade rounded out Drake's scoring with a 38-yard field goal with 14:51 left in the game. Goodwin finished with 49 yards rushing. Jostes passed for 125 yards to surpass the 3,000 yard passing plateau in his career. Junior tight end James Mickley caught four passes for 47 yards to lead the Bulldogs.

REPEAT PERFORMANCE FOR DEFENSE: For the second consecutive game, the Drake defense forced its opponent into two or more turnovers. Sophomore free safety Ryan Frehse thwarted a William Penn scoring drive with an interception in the second quarter.

Drakes Brad Peters (Rochelle, Ill.) recovered a fumble on a punt return at the William Penn 17 yardline but Tyler McGlade had a 35-yard field goal attempt go wide right with 2:25 left in the second quarter. Sophomore linebacker Nick Ross led Drake with 14 tackles, including nine solo hits. Senior linebacker Eric Papp added eight tackles.

JONES EARNS PFL HONOR: All-American receiver Jason Jones also was honored as the Pioneer Football League player of the week by CollegeSportsReport.com for his effort at Southwest Missouri State. Jones caught a game-high eight passes including scoring receptions of seven and 12 yards from quarterback Connor Jostes. It marked the fifth time in his career that Jones had caught at least two touchdowns in a game.

"He was the one player that Southwest Missouri State knew about and they paid more attention to him as the game went along," added Drake Football Coach Rob Ash. "They finally started double-teaming him and Connor (Jostes) was able to find other receivers."

UPSET BID FALLS SHORT: Southwest Missouri State scored 21 unanswered points to spoil an upset bid by Drake en route to a 31-26 victory in the season opener for both teams Sept. 2. The Bulldogs, a nonscholarship program, gave the fully funded NCAA I-AA Bears all they could handle mounting a 20-10 lead. But tailback Cody Pratt, who rushed for a career-high 217 yards rushing, led the Bears' comeback with a pair of four-yard touchdown runs that gave Southwest Missouri State a 24-20 lead it would never relinquish.

Connor Jostes passed for 234 yards including three touchdowns. He marched the Bulldogs down to the Bears' 30 yardline before having a fourth-down pass intercepted with 52 seconds remaining in the game.

DEFENSE FORCES THREE TURNOVERS: Opportunistic Drake took advantage of three turnovers forced by its defense to enjoy a 13-10 halftime lead. Sophomore weakside linebacker Nick Ross led Drake with 13 tackles. Sophomore safety Ryan Frehse had 12 tackles, while senior linebacker Eric Papp added 10. Papp, making his first start at linebacker after starting the last two years at cornerback, recovered a fumble by Pratt on the Bears' second offensive play of the game.

The Bulldogs marched 43 yards in seven plays to grab a 7-0 lead following a seven-yard pass from Connor Jostes to Jason Jones with 9:49 left in the first quarter. Jostes completed all five passes, accounting for 40 yards, in the scoring drive. Jostes keyed Drake's second scoring drive which resulted in a career-long 39 yard field goal by junior Tyler McGlade that pushed the lead to 10-3 with 10:29 left. The junior came up with third-down runs of three and 10 yards that netted first downs to keep the drive alive.

Drake had to settle for a second field goal by McGlade after safety Curtis Martindale returned a fumble 32 yards to the Bears' two yardline. Drake was unable to score a touchdown with Jostes throwing two incomplete passes, while DeCarlos Love (Minneapolis, Minn.) was stopped for no gain on a run. McGlade increased Drake's margin to 13-3 connecting on a 19-yard field goal with 9:03 left in the second quarter.

The Bulldogs were able to hold on to a 13-10 lead at halftime after thwarting a Bears' drive to close out the half when Ross intercepted a pass at the Drake four yardline. Love led Drake with 32 yards rushing in 14 carries.

PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN: Drake senior offensive guard Grant Knowles (Lee's Summit, Mo./Lee's Summit North) was among 26 players selected for the 2004 Sports Network Preseason I-AA Mid-Major All-America team.

Knowles, who is entering his third year as a starter, is one of 18 returning starters back for the Bulldogs. Knowles, who stands 6 feet 3 inches and weighs 298 pounds, was a key figure on Drake's offensive line that allowed the Bulldogs to average 440.1 yards per game last season.

"Grant Knowles is a powerful, agile, intelligent lineman," said Drake Football Coach Rob Ash. "He is a devastating run blocker, both straight ahead and when he pulls on traps and kickouts. He also is a skilled pass protector. Grant is one of the best linemen I have coached since Felix Gallagher was an All-American (1997) here.

"He is very deserving of All-American recognition, not only because of his skill as a player, but because of his tremendous work habits, which have helped him get bigger and stronger, and more dominating, every season."

MORE ON THE OPENER: Drake, a nonscholarship NCAA I-AA program, now has played a fully-funded NCAA I-AA scholarship team from the Gateway Football Conference six straight years. Drake played at Western Illinois in 1999 and 2002 and traveled to Southern Illinois in 2000, Southwest Missouri State in 2001 and Illinois State in 2003. Drake did manage a 31-7 victory against Florida Atlantic, a fully-funded NCAA I-AA program, in 2001.

The Bulldogs sport a 66-39-6 record (.654) in season openers. Drake owns an 8-6-2 record (3-5-1 road/5-1-1 home) in season openers during Rob Ash's 15-year coaching tenure at the school. Drake has lost its last four season openers which were played on the road at scholarship opponents: Truman State, 40-29, 2001; Western Illinois, 64-7, 2002; at Illinois State, 27-13, 2003; and at Southwest Missouri State, 31-26, 2004.

2004 CO-CAPTAINS: Senior linebacker Eric Papp, senior linebacker Adam Lackey and senior guard Chris McDonnell (Midlothian, Ill.) have been elected to serve as co-captains for the upcoming season.

Lackey and McDonnell served as captains last year. Lackey earned honorable mention All-Pioneer Football League honors in 2002 and was redshirted last season. McDonnell also earned honorable mention all-PFL honors in 2002, while playing offensive tackle. Papp also was an honorable mention all-PFL choice in 2002.

Papp will be entering his third year as a starter but he has switched positions, moving from cornerback to linebacker during spring drills. He was named Drake's co-defensive player of the year in 2002 after leading the team with 101 tackles, including 81 solo hits. He enters his senior campaign with four career interceptions.

SIZING UP THE ROSTER: There are 110 players on the Drake football roster including 12 seniors, 15 juniors, 23 sophomores and 60 freshmen (31 redshirts). There are players from nine states: 44 from Iowa, 24 from Illinois, 16 from Missouri, eight from Minnesota, eight from Colorado, seven from Kansas and one each from Indiana, Nebraska and Wisconsin. The 60-man travel squad to Southwest Missouri State included just three true freshmen: running backs Michael Bialas and Jacob Craig (Mount Vernon, Iowa) and defensive lineman Robert McEwen (Littleton, Colo.).

WHERE'S THE BEEF: There are eight players on the Drake roster who tip the scale at over 300 pounds. The veteran trio of tackle Mark Wilke (6-2, 310), guard Grant Knowles (6-3, 304) and guard Chris McDonnell (6-3, 317) start on the offensive line. Others include Anthony Swope (Chicago, Ill.) (6-1, 300); Brandon Jaeger (Minneapolis, Minn.) (6-1, 302); Joe Cerullo (Tinley Park, Ill.) (6-2, 312); Dave Pammer (6-3, 300); and Mike Dale (Davenport) (6-4, 315).