DRAKE BULLDOGS ( 5-4) vs. WALDORF WARRIORS (2-8)
12 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 12, 2005 Valley HS Stadium (10,000), West Des Moines, Iowa

GAME SIGNIFICANCE: The Drake football team, coming off a 49-24 victory at Valparaiso last Saturday in its Pioneer Football League finale, will close out the season playing host to Waldorf at Valley High School Stadium in West Des Moines. Drake needs a victory to guarantee itself of its second straight winning campaign.

AMONG NCAA I-AA LEADERS: Drake ranks 19th in overall victories (528) among the 123 schools which play NCAA Division I-AA football. Only 24 schools have recorded 500 or more victories.

The game against Waldorf will be the 1,022nd game in school history with Drake owning a record of 528-464-29 for a winning percentage of .532.

DRAKE IN NATIONAL RANKINGS: Drake moved up in both the Sports Network and Football Gazette NCAA I-AA Mid-Major polls. The Bulldogs moved to No. 7 in The Sports Network poll and are No. 6 in the latest Football Gazette Mid-Major poll.

San Diego, receiving all 28 first-place votes, is ranked No. 1 in the Sports Network poll. The Toreros also are ranked No. 1 in the Football Gazette Mid-Major poll. Dayton is ranked No. 2 in the Sports Network poll, followed by Duquesne, Central Connecticut State, Morehead State, Marist, Drake, Jacksonville,Stony Brook and Monmouth. Dayton is ranked No. 2 in the Football Gazette poll with Duquesne third followed by Central Connecticut State, Marist, Drake, Albany, Monmouth, Morehead State and Stony Brook.

Drake was ranked No. 1 in the NCAA I-AA preseason polls conducted by both The Sports Network and Football Gazette. The Sports Network I-AA Mid-Major Top 10 poll includes the 22 programs of the MAAC, NEC, and Pioneer Leagues, which play at a non-scholarship or limited scholarship level.

SENIOR SALUTE: Eleven seniors will be playing their final game at Drake. They are:
Nose guard Chris Daniels Quarterback Connor Jostes
Cornerback Jace Denison Linebacker Tim McNamara
Defensive end Pat Forliti Wide receiver David Olson
Safety Ryan Frehse Defensive tackle Nick Piling Tight end Tory Griener Defensive end Shawn Rodgers
Kicker Ryan Horvath

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT: Waldorf, in just its third year as an NAIA program, has 12 starters back from last year's squad which posted a 3-7 record. The Warriors own a 2-8 record this fall, having lost their last seven games. Waldorf is coming off a 48-13 loss at Simpson last Saturday.

Freshman Adam Whiting leads the team with 703 yards rushing in 139 carries (5.1 avg.), while sophomore Marcus Lewis has rushed for 546 yards in 108 carries (5.1 avg.). Junior quarterback Michael Lewis has passed for 764 yards, including three touchdowns. Junior Chris Rittgers leads the receiving corps with 35 receptions for 389 yards (11.1 avg.), while Lewis has 32 receptions and senior Dan Steffen has 24 receptions including three touchdowns.

Defensive back T.J. Mayer leads the defense with 62 tackles, including two interceptions. Defensive back Eric Gay has a team high three pass thefts.

THE SERIES: Drake owns a 2-0 lead in the series which began in 2003 when the Bulldogs claimed a 47-17 home victory.

LAST YEAR: Drake 39, Waldorf 7 (Nov. 13, 2004, Des Moines) Scott Phaydavong became the second Drake freshman to score three touchdowns in a game in the 2004 season as the Bulldogs closed out their home campaign rolling to their eighth straight victory.

Drake wasted little time scoring by marching 94 yards in four plays on its first possession, capped by a 33-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Connor Jostes to Jason Jones with 11:52 left in the first quarter.

Jones, who was one of 18 seniors playing in their final home game at Drake Stadium, finished with five receptions for 125 yards. It marked his first 100-yard reception game of the season after having eight 100-yard reception games in 2003.

Phaydavong amassed 154 yards on the ground in 20 carries while scoring on touchdown runs of 26, two and 13 yards. He did not play in the fourth quarter. Freshman Michael Bialas, who rushed nine times for 47 yards, added an 11-yard touchdown run with 8:30 left in the third quarter to give the Bulldogs a 34-0 advantage.Senior Tyler McGlade kicked a 32-yard field goal with 11:00 left in the game to climax a nine-play, 47-yard scoring drive.

CRAIG LEADS DEFENSIVE EFFORT: Last year Drake's defense limited Waldorf to just 60 yards total offense in 49 plays including five first downs. Waldorf netted just three yards rushing in 29 attempts. Waldorf's offense didn't penetrate into Drake territory until late in the third quarter when Michael Lewis threw a nine-yard pass to Chris Rittgers to the Bulldog 45 yard line. Drake's defense recorded three quarterback sacks against Lewis, totaling 19 yards in losses.

The Bulldogs put an exclamation on the victory by recording a safety with 9:24 left when Poul Collins and Ryan Frehse tackled Waldorf punter T.J. Meyer in the endzone following an errant snap from center.

Freshman safety Jacob Craig, who played midway through the third quarter and the entire fourth quarter, led Drake with a career-high eight tackles, including seven solo hits. Outside linebacker James Adams added six tackles, including two for four yards in losses. Linebacker Nick Ross added five tackles. Linebackers Brian Conway and Adam Lackey, along with nose guard Chris Daniels each recorded quarterback sacks.

THE COACHES: Rob Ash, a 1973 graduate of Cornell (Iowa), is in his 17th year as Drake coach and is the school's winningest football coach with a 115-61-2 record (69-18-1 home/46-43-1 road).

Under Ash, Drake has enjoyed 12 winning seasons including 11 years of at least seven wins. Ash, 52, has a 25-year overall collegiate record of 166-97-5 (.634) 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.

David Bolstorff is in his 36th year as head coach at Waldorf. He was the third winningest active two-year college coach in the nation with a 174-125-2 record before Waldorf became a four-year school in 2003. He has coached 37 Junior College All-Americans and 12 of his players signed with National Football League teams. He played football at the University of Minnesota for one year before transferring to St. Olaf College where he was an all-league guard and linebacker.

TEAM LEADERS: After nine games, Scott Phaydavong (Des Moines East) paces Drake in rushing with 1,355 yards in 186 carries (7.3 avg.), while sophomore Michael Bialas (Hoffman Estates, Ill.) follows with 370 yards in 86 carries (4.3 avg.).

Thirteen players have caught passes for the Bulldogs, led by junior Tyler Putnam (Oakland/Riverside) who has 27 receptions for 373 yards (13.8 avg.). Junior Shea Moroni (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) has 21 receptions for 294 yards and sophomore tight end Daniel Marx (Maple Grove, Minn.) has caught 14 passes for 265 yards, including a team-high four touchdowns. Sophomore Travis Hardgraves (Sioux City West) has caught 13 passes for 169 yards. Hardgraves, and Moroni each have caught three touchdown passes.

Junior linebacker James Adams (Kansas City, Mo.) leads the defense with 83 tackles,
including 58 solo hits with three quarterback sacks for 32 yards in losses. Junior linebacker Nick Ross (Atlantic) has 68 tackles, including 47 solo hits.

Junior middle linebacker Brian Conway (Waukee) has 59 tackles, including two quarterback sacks for 14 yards in losses. Conway has collected a team-high nine tackles for 33 yards in losses and has recovered a team-high three fumbles.

Senior end Shawn Rodgers (Leavenworth, Kan.) has a team high four quarterback sacks for 29 yards in losses.

HORVATH HONORED: For the third time this season, senior kicker Ryan Horvath (Overland Park, Kan.) has been named the Pioneer Football League Special Teams Player of the Week following his effort in Drake's 49-24 victory at Valparaiso last Saturday.

Horvath averaged a season best 47.4 yards on five punts, including a long of 54 yards, at Valparaiso. He also landed four punts inside Valparaiso's 20 yardline.

Earlier this season Horvath was named PFL Special Teams Player of the Week against both Wisconsin-Platteville Sept. 18 and San Diego Oct. 20.

It marked the second straight year Horvath has enjoyed a stellar game against Valparaiso. He set a Drake school nonscholarship record with a 72-yard punt in the third quarter against Valparaiso last year, bettering the previous mark of 71 yards by Matt Sneller against St. Norbert, Sept. 14, 1996. Horvath punted four times for a 50.2 yard average against Valparaiso.

Entering his final college game this Saturday, Horvath has punted for 8,000 yards in his career.

JOSTES KEYS ROAD VICTORY: Senior quarterback Connor Jostes (Iowa City High) threw two touchdown passes and scored on a two-yard plunge to key Drake to a 49-24 romp past Valparaiso in its Pioneer Football League final last Saturday.

Running back Scott Phaydavong and wide receiver Tyler Putnam also added touchdowns apiece as the Bulldogs earned their first victory in Valparaiso since 1997.

The victory assured Drake of a third-place finish in the PFL North Division with a 2-2 record. Valparaiso, suffering its third straight loss, fell to 2-8 overall, including a 1-3 PFL North Division record.

Phaydavong enjoyed his seventh straight 100-yard plus rushing game, by galloping for 175 yards in just 22 carries. Touchdown runs of 24 and 27 yards from Phaydavong staked Drake to a 14-7 lead with 3:25 left in the first quarter.

Drake rolled up 497 yards total offense with Jostes passing for 217 yards. Jostes was at his best in directing a 14-play, 98-yard scoring drive in the second quarter that extended Drake's lead to 21-7. He rushed twice for 13 yards in the march, while completing three passes for 54 yards and converting three third-down situations.

Jostes added a two-yard touchdown plunge in the third quarter and connected on a 35-yard touchdown pass to reserve Bryan Belville (Elmhurst, Ill.) with 7:59 left in the game.
Putnam and junior Shea Moroni (Glen Elyn, Ill.) led Drake with three receptions apiece.

JACK OF ALL TRADES: Drake junior receiver Tyler Putnam scored his first two touchdowns of the season at Valparaiso, completed a 17-yard pass and even recorded a tackle on punt return coverage.

Connor Jostes rifled a 39-yard pass to Putnam down to the Valparaiso 21 yardline in the drive. Six plays later the duo teamed up again resulting in a five-yard touchdown reception by Putnam with 8:23 left in the second quarter.

Putnam rounded out Drake's first-half fireworks with a 43-yard end around reverse for a touchdown that extended the Bulldogs' lead to 28-17.

Putnam played a pivotal role in setting up a Drake touchdown in the second half. Facing a punting situation on fourth down and seven at the Valparaiso 37 yardline, Drake converted a fake punt into an eventual touchdown.

Putnam, the up back, took the center snap and threw a 17-yard pass to Michael Bialas to the 20 yardline. Five plays later, Bialas scored on a one-yard touchdown burst to give Drake a 42-17 advantage.

DEFENSE REBOUNDS: After allowing 201 yards in just 17 carries in the first half, Drake's defense limited Valparaiso's Jeff Horton to just 26 yards in 11 carries in the second half.

Freshman redshirt safety Andy Green (Atlantic) collected a career-high 10 tackles to lead the Bulldogs, while junior linebacker Nick Ross added eight tackles.

'DOG TAGS; The Bulldogs have rolled up 2,911 yards total offense in their last six games, averaging 485.1 yards per contest while averaging 43.0 points...Scott Phaydavong needs 114 yards to become the seventh player in Drake history to reach the 3,000-yard career rushing mark. He enters the Waldorf game with 2,896 career rushing yards...Connor Jostes has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 27 of the 31 games he has started in his career, including the last three games of the 2004 campaign. He also has thrown three or more touchdowns in eight games.

QUICK OFFENSE FUELS VICTORY: Sophomore Scott Phaydavong, playing in just the first half, rushed for 142 yards and scored two touchdowns to power Drake to a 56-10 Pioneer Football League victory past Butler at Valley High School Stadium Nov. 5.

Drake, which rolled up 444 yards total offense, enjoyed four touchdown drives which consumed less than one minute. Drake scored on all seven red-zone (inside 20) possessions.

Connor Jostes threw touchdown passes of 11 and 16 yards to Shea Moroni and Daniel Marx, respectively. Sophomore Michael Bialas added a pair of one-yard touchdown runs in the first half. Drake closed out the first half by scoring two touchdowns in a 14-second span.

A 13-yard touchdown run by Phaydavong capped a three-play, 40-yard scoring drive that took only 38 seconds to give Drake a 14-3 lead.

Phaydavong rushed for 11 yards on Drake's first play from scrimmage and then Jostes rifled an 11-yard touchdown pass to Moroni, extending the lead to 21-3 with five seconds left in the first quarter. Phaydavong broke lose for his 78-yard touchdown jaunt on Drake's next possession.

Bialas' second one-yard touchdown plunge gave Drake a 35-3 lead with 3:52 left in the first half. Fourteen seconds later Jostes hit Marx with a 16-yard scoring strike. The touchdown occurred after Drake nose guard Chris Daniels (Overland Park, Kan.) intercepted a pass at the Butler 16 yardline.

DEFENSE FORCES 3 TURNOVERS: Drake forced Butler into three turnovers. Beside the interception from Chris Daniels, freshman redshirt Justin Colbert (Pleasant Hill/Southeast Polk) had an interception, while freshman redshirt Andy Green recovered a fumble to set up a Drake touchdown. Middle linebacker Brian Conway led Drake with eight tackles. Drake limited Butler to 87 yards rushing in 43 attempts.

PLAYER PLAUDITS: Drake junior DeCarlos Love (Minneapolis, Minn.) has rushed for 97 yards including two touchdowns in his last two home games. Love totaled just 63 yards rushing last year, while appearing in three games ....Freshman quarterback Derek Retherford (Johnston) scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 27-yard run in the fourth quarter against Butler.

STARTERS BY CLASS: Just six seniors are listed in Drake's starting lineup at Valparaiso. Quarterback Connor Jostes is the lone senior to start for an offense which features seven sophomore starters (LG-Marco Povich; OC-Matt Huber; RG-Anthony Swope; RT-Matt Haas; TE-Dan Marx; HB-Michael Bialas, HB-Scott Phaydavong) and three junior starters
(SE-Shea Moroni; FL-Tyler Putnam; LT-Kevin McVey).

Defensively, Drake will start five seniors (DE-Pat Forliti; DT-Nick Pilling; NG-Chris Daniels; DE-Shawn Rodgers; CB-Jace Denison), four juniors (SLB-James Adams, MLB-Brian Conway, WLB-Nick Ross, FS-Ryan Frehse) along with sophomore Tyler Marley at cornerback and freshman redshirt Andy Green at strong safety.

2005 CO-CAPTAINS: Senior quarterback Connor Jostes and junior linebacker Nick Ross have been named co-captains of the 2005 Drake football team. Jostes, who has passed for 4,865 yards including 40 touchdowns in his career, is in his third year as starting quarterback for the Bulldogs. He earned honorable mention All-Pioneer Football League North Division honors last year. He ranked second in the PFL in total offense with 2,265 yards (188.8 per game avg.). Ross is a returning starter at weakside linebacker who earned All-Pioneer Football League North Division honorable mention honors last year. He led Drake with 94 tackles last year, including a team-high 57 solo hits. He ranked fourth in the PFL with 9.5 tackles for losses totaling 37 yards.

PRESEASON ALL-AMERICAN: Drake sophomore running back Scott Phaydavong was selected to The Sports Network 2005 Preseason 1-AA Mid-Major All-America football team.

Phaydavong was the only freshman named to 2004 The Sports Network 1-AA mid-Major All-America team. He also was the only nonscholarship player named to The Associated Press NCAA I-AA All-American team. He ranked sixth in the final NCAA I-AA rushing statistics with a 128.3 yard average per game, while setting a Drake nonscholarship rushing record with 1,539 yards. Phaydavong enjoyed eight 100-yard plus rushing games climaxed by gaining 178 yards in 20 carries, including an 13-yard touchdown run in Drake's 20-17 Pioneer Football League championship victory at Morehead State Nov. 20. Phaydavong was named the 2004 Pioneer Football League North Division Offensive Co-Player of the Year with San Diego quarterback Todd Mortensen.

IOWA FLAVOR: The 2005 Drake roster includes 39 players from Iowa including 12 who have started the first two games this season: quarterback Connor Jostes (Iowa City High), halfback Scott Phaydavong (Des Moines East, flanker Tyler Putnam (Oakland/Riverside), offensive tackles Kevin McVey (Bettendorf) and Matt Haas (Iowa City West), defensive tackle Nick Pilling (Denison), middle linebacker Brian Conway (Waukee), weakside linebacker Nick Ross (Atlantic), cornerback Justin Colbert (Pleasant Hill/Southeast Polk), free safety Ryan Frehse (Denison), strong safety Andy Green (Atlantic) and cornerback Jace Denison (Tri County-Thornburg).

SIZING UP THE ROSTER: There are 105 players on the Drake football roster including just seven seniors, 16 juniors, 29 sophomores and 53 freshmen (15 redshirts). There are players from eight states: 39 from Iowa, 31 from Illinois, 13 from Missouri, eight from Kansas, six from Colorado, five from Minnesota, two from Nebraska and one from Florida.

LAOTIAN CONNECTION: Two of Drake's top student-athletes running back Scott Phaydavong and senior point guard Linda Sayavongchanh from the women's basketball team are from close-knit families of Laotian heritage.

Three decades ago, Kou Phaydavong, who is Scott's father, was serving as an officer in the Royal Lao Army. When the Communist government took control in the mid-1970's, he was sent to a concentration camp. After escaping, the Phaydavongs headed for America in 1978. Kou and his wife, Kham, didn't want their son Scott to play football until his junior season at East High School in Des Moines.

When Scott turned 18, he honored his parents by getting Chinese characters tattooed on his chest. Translated, the symbols stand for "Determination."

Linda Sayavongchanh was a first-team Class 4A all-state basketball player at Lincoln High School in Des Moines and has been a three-year starter for the Bulldogs, earning all-Missouri Valley Conference honors the last two years.

MY THREE SONS: Meet the brothers McVey from Bettendorf who are listed on Drake's two-deep depth chart. Kevin, the eldest who is a redshirt junior, made his starting debut at left offensive tackle against Northern Iowa. Redshirt sophomore Sean McVey is battling for the top backup spot at right offensive
tackle with redshirt sophomore Brandon Jaeger (Minneapolis, Minn.). First-year freshman Quinn McVey is challenging with redshirt freshman Chris Frank (Urbandale) for the top backup at center.

HORVATH, PHAYDAVONG HONORED: Drake senior Ryan Horvath and sophomore Scott Phaydavong were named the Pioneer Football League special teams and offensive players of the week, respectively, Oct. 22 for their efforts at San Diego.

Horvath kicked a career best 45-yard field goal at San Diego along with a 39 yarder. He also averaged 44.3 yards for three punts totaling 133 yards. He kicked a 50-yard long punt and place two punts inside the 20 yardline.

Phaydavong rushed 27 times for a career high 244 yards and two touchdowns (64, nine yards) against San Diego which entered the game leading the Pioneer Football League in total defense.

His performance was the eighth best rushing performance in the NCAA I-AA this season It also marked the second straight season in which Phaydavong rushed for more than 200 yards against San Diego after netting 209 yards in a 41-38 victory in Des Moines last year.

2ND HALF RALLY STOPS DRAKE: San Diego reeled off 24 straight points in the second half to erase a 10-7 halftime deficit, en route to a 31-26 Pioneer Football League victory past Drake Oct. 29.

Drake scored 17 points in the second half against a vaunted San Diego defense that had allowed opponents just one touchdown in the entire half all season entering the game.

But the Toreros used a ball-control offense in the second half scoring on their first four possessions. San Diego ran 29 plays in the third quarter compared to just four by Drake.

The Toreros parlayed Drake's only turnover of the game into a lead it would never relinquish. On Drake's first play of the second half, quarterback Connor Jostes had a pass intercepted by Josh Brisco at the Bulldog 26 yardline. San Diego took advantage marching 26 yards in eight plays to grab a 24-17 lead following a one-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Wes Doyle on fourth down.

Drake pulled within 24-20 on a 39 yard field goal by Ryan Horvath with 11:41 remaining in the game. San Diego answered with a one-yard scoring pass to Matt Koller to extend its lead to 31-20 with 10:24 remaining.

A seven-yard touchdown scamper by Jostes with 13 seconds left in the first quarter powered Drake to a 10-7 halftime lead.Jostes, who entered the game with just 30 yards rushing in Drake's first six games, had 47 yards on the ground. A 27-yard scramble by Jostes would set up his touchdown run.

PHAYDAVONG DELIVERS: The loss overshadowed a valiant effort by Drake sophomore running back Scott Phaydavong who rushed for a career-high 244 yards, including two touchdowns.

Three plays after a 36-yard field goal by San Diego's Hutch Parker tied the game at 10-10 with 9:18 left in the third quarter, Phaydavong broke loose for an electrifying 64-yard touchdown run with 8:23 left allowing the Bulldogs to grab a 17-10 advantage.

Phaydavong pulled Drake within 31-26 with 5:19 remaining following a nine yard touchdown jaunt. San Diego ran out the clock to clinch the win.

Phaydavong galloped for 94 yards in 14 carries in the first half. He had rushes of nine, eight and 18 yards in Drake's first touchdown drive.

ADAMS, GREEN KEY DEFENSE: Junior linebacker James Adams led Drake with 15 tackles against San Diego, while Green finished with a career-high 12 stops. Junior linebacker Brian Conway also had 12 tackles for the Bulldogs.

Freshman redshirt strong safety Andy Green intercepted a pass at the Drake 26 yardline with 48 seconds left in the second quarter to thwart a potential San Diego scoring drive. Drake sophomore defensive end Jake Ramos (Waterloo, Neb.) blocked a 43-yard field goal attempt by Parker in the second quarter.

DAYTON SPOILS DRAKE RALLY: Dayton, ranked No. 1 in all three NCAA Division I-AA Mid-Major polls, scored two touchdowns in a four minute 25 second period late in the fourth quarter to rally for a 25-17 Pioneer Football League victory past Drake Oct. 8 in a home game played at Waukee High School

The Flyers jumped to a 12-0 halftime lead, then watched Drake reel off 17 straight points before making their comeback. Quarterback Kevin Hoyng tossed a one-yard touchdown pass to tight end Matt Champa with 5:38 left in the game to give Dayton an 18-17 lead it would not relinquish. On their
ensuing possession, the Bulldogs came up short on a fourth down gamble when quarterback Connor Jostes threw an incomplete pass to Travis Hardgraves at the Dayton 45 yardline.

Dayton took advantage, marching 55 yards in eight plays to increase its lead to 25-17 following a three-yard touchdown run by Matt Mong with 3:16 remaining.

Drake marched from its own 27 yardline to the Dayton 20 in the waning seconds with an opportunity to tie the game. But on the game's final play, Dayton cornerback Casey Klaus broke up a pass from Drake's Jostes to receiver Tyler Putnam at the Flyers' two yardline.

Drake rolled up 388 yards total offense against a Dayton team which entered the game ranking fifth in NCAA I-AA in total defense allowing just 232.6 yards per game. Jostes passed for 175 yards with Putnam snaring a team-high four passes for 57 yards.

Drake's Scott Phaydavong enjoyed his fourth straight 100-yard plus rushing game by totaling 151 yards in 29 carries. Phaydavong rushed four times for 30 yards to set up Drake's first touchdown a two-yard touchdown burst by fullback Matt Goodwin (Cambridge, Ill.) with 7:44 left in the third quarter to pull the Bulldogs within 12-7.

Senior Ryan Horvath kicked a 36-yard field goal with 11:53 remaining in the game to pull the Bulldogs within 12-10. Then freshman redshirt safety Andy Green returned an interception thrown by Hoyng 19 yards down to the Dayton eight yardline. On first down, Jostes ran an eight-yard option into the endzone to give Drake its first lead at 17-12 with 11:31 left.

TURNOVERS COSTLY: Drake committed a season-high three turnovers with Dayton parlaying a fumble recovery on a punt return into its first touchdown of the game. A three-yard scoring run by Matt Mong capped an eight-play 37-yard scoring drive following the Drake miscue that gave the Flyers a 6-0 lead with 13:15 left in the first half.

ADAMS PACES DEFENSE: Junior linebacker James Adams led Drake with a game-high 10 tackles including three tackles for 14 yards in losses, along with a 12 yard quarterback sack against Dayton. Junior linebacker Nick Ross added nine tackles, while senior defensive end Shawn Rodgers had two tackles for 11 yards in losses.