DES MOINES, IOWA ? Senior All-American
Scott Phaydavong (
Des Moines East), playing less than two quarters, rushed for 172 yards while scoring three touchdowns as the Drake football team opened its home campaign with a 45-14 romp past Waldorf Saturday.
The Bulldogs showed no signs of a letdown following their season opening 27-24 upset victory against No. 7 ranked Illinois State Aug. 30.
Drake scored on its first four possessions of the game. Head coach
Steve Loney played four quarterbacks in the game.
Drake rolled up 429 yards total offense, including 323 yards in the first half. The Bulldogs did not have to punt until midway through the third quarter.
Meanwhile, Drake's defense forced five turnovers.
"We started off fast and that speaks well for our execution, so you have to be happy," said Loney, whose team will travel to Wisconsin-Platteville next Saturday. "We came out and made plays when we had to. We were very productive with our possessions."
On Drake's third play of the game Phaydavong broke loose for a 67-yard touchdown sprint with 11:20 left in the first quarter.
Then Drake senior cornerback
Poul Collins (
Cedar Rapids Washington) intercepted a pass returning to the Waldorf 40 yardline.
The Bulldogs capitalized on the turnover when junior
Logan Rees (
West Des Moines Valley) hit a 34-yard field goal with 4:46 left in the opening quarter.
Drake's defense forced another miscue when senior safety
Jacob Craig (
Mount Vernon, Iowa) recovered a fumble on Waldorf's ensuing play from scrimmage at the 19 yardline.
Three plays later junior quarterback
Cole Ingle (Runnels/Southeast Polk) spotted senior tight end
Daniel Marx (
Maple Grove, Minn.) open for an 11-yard touchdown pass to give Drake a 17-0 lead.
Phaydavong closed out the scoring in the first quarter with a 17-yard scoring dart and added a 59-yard touchdown run with 13:43 left in the second quarter pushing the Bulldogs' advantage to 31-0.
Junior quarterback
Derek Retherford (
Johnston) threw a seven-yard touchdown pass to senior
Travis Hardgraves (
Sioux City West) allowing Drake to enjoy a 38-6 halftime lead.
The Bulldogs added insult to injury when sophomore redshirt
Augustine Agyei (
Aurora, Colo.) returned the second half kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown to make it 45-6.
Ingle completed six of seven passes for 70 yards, including four to junior
Zach Brower (
West Des Moines Valley).
"Cole (Ingle) was efficient and effective in his execution which jumps out," Loney added.
Junior redshirt
Mike Bialas (
Hoffman Estates, Ill.) added 55 yards rushing in nine carries.
Redshirt freshman tackle
Jason D'Alba (
Glencoe, Ill.) led Drake's defense with eight tackles, including seven solo. Redshirt freshman linebacker
Ben Morrison (Long Grove, Ill.) also intercepted a pass.