NOV. 15, 2008
JACKSONVILLE, FLA. -- Jacksonville broke open a close game with four touchdowns in the fourth quarter to post its school-record sixth straight Pioneer Football League victory with a 41-9 decision past Drake Saturday.
The Bulldogs, who trailed 14-9 entering the fourth quarter, had a three-game winning streak snapped while having their record leveled
at 5-5.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins earned their first victory ever against Drake in eight opportunities.
Jacksonville also set up a home finale showdown with Dayton next Saturday for the league title. Dayton and Jacksonville are tied atop the league standings with 6-1 records.
The game was a tale of two halves.
Drake was able to run effectively in the first half to control the line of scrimmage piling up 173 yards total offense, while holding Jacksonville to just 105 yards total offense - its lowest first half total of the season.
Drake had 22 minutes 42 seconds in time of possession compared to just 7:18 by Jacksonville.
The Bulldogs also forced Jacksonville into three turnovers in the first half but couldn't cash in on the opportunities to trail 14-9.
"We had a good game plan, controlling the ball early, but we didn't score," said Drake coach Chris Creighton. "That has happened to us several times this year when we couldn't punch it in."
Jacksonville scored two touchdowns in an 11-second span early in the fourth quarter to push its lead to 28-9, forcing Drake to abandon its game plan.
After a two-yard touchdown run by sophomore Rudell Small gave the Dolphins a 21-9 lead with 12:36 left, Drake freshman Patrick Oliver (Elk Run Heights, Iowa) fumbled the ensuing kickoff in the end zone with Jacksonville's Andy Sainvil recovering to push the advantage to 28-9.
"Our guys are warriors and we had every intention of winning the game," Creighton added. "You can't question our effort. We just didn't execute perfectly. Then the discrepancy in the score wouldn't allow us to stick to our game plan of controlling the ball.
"Our defense was fantastic. But to ask our defense for three hours to completely shut Jacksonville down was difficult to do.
Drake scored on its first possession of the game when senior Logan Rees (West Des Moines, Iowa) kicked a 32-yard field goal with 9:12 left in the first period to cap a 13-play, 72-yard scoring drive.
Trailing 7-3, Drake drove down to the Jacksonville 31 yardline early in the second quarter before Rees had a 48-yard field goal attempt go wide right.
But Drake got the ball back two plays later when defensive end Sean Kitts (Leawood, Kan.) recovered a fumble on the Jacksonville 16 yardline.
The Bulldogs were able to muster eight yards before settling for a 25-yard field goal attempt by Rees which was blocked by Jacksonville's Oscar Johnson.
Small, the league's leading rusher, gained 178 yards on the ground to pace Jacksonville finishing with three touchdown runs including a 13-yard scoring jaunt with 50 seconds left in the game.
Drake's defense limited Small to 71 yards in the first half. A two-yard scoring burst by Small gave Jacksonville a 14-3 lead with 1:26 left in the first half.
However, a 69-yard kickoff return by Oliver enabled Drake to cut into the deficit. It took the Bulldogs just three plays to score following the return highlighted by a 12-yard touchdown run by junior Stephen Platek (Arlington Heights, Ill.) with 48 seconds left.
Fifth-year senior safety Andy Green (Atlantic, Iowa) led Drake with seven tackles, while recording his fifth pass interception of the season in the second quarter. It also was the 16th pass theft of his career.
Freshman Patrick Cashmore (Kansas City, Mo.) led Drake with 65 yards rushing in 13 carries, while Oliver netted 29 yards on the ground in nine attempts.
Platek finished with a game-high five receptions for 43 yards.
Drake will close out the season playing at Valparaiso next Saturday.
