DES MOINES, IOWA -- Drake overcame a sluggish start to post a 17-13 season opening victory past Upper Iowa Thursday night in the debut of first-year coach Chris Creighton.

The Bulldogs dug themselves into a 10-0 hole in the opening 20 minutes of the game, while mustering only two first downs.

But Drake's defense rose to the occasion forcing a turnover which led to its first touchdown of the game, while specials teams play gave the Bulldogs the go-ahead touchdown.

Then senior All-American safety Andy Green (Atlantic, Iowa) preserved the victory by thwarting a late Upper Iowa scoring drive with his 12th career interception at the Bulldog 12 yardline with 35 seconds to play.

"We knew going into the game we had some things to work on but it was a very satisfying win because we competed so hard," said Creighton, who constructed a 63-15 record at Wabash College from 2001 to 2007 before being named the 25th head coach at Drake last Dec. 22.

Sophomore Michael Lahart (Chariton, Iowa), making his college debut, led Drake with 58 yards rushing in 16 carries.

Upper Iowa took the game's opening kickoff, driving 77 yards in 15 plays, to grab a 3-0 lead following a 30-yard field goal by Jason Price.

Junior Dominique Jackson returned a punt 89 yards for a touchdown to increase the Peacocks' lead to 10-0 with 11:32 left.

It was the second longest punt return by an opponent in Drake history.

A 12-yard interception return by junior cornerback Tim Harvey (Evanston, Ill.), down to the Upper Iowa 20 yardline, set up Drake's first touchdown.

The Bulldogs needed only two plays to score with senior quarterback Cole Ingle (Runnells, Iowa) rifling an eight-yard scoring strike to senior Zach Brower (West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley) in the right corner of the end zone to pull Drake within 10-7 with 9:43 left in the second quarter.

Drake grabbed its first lead of the game late in the second quarter when Spencer Cady (Fort Dodge, Iowa) stripped the ball from punter August Preuss on the Upper Iowa 12 yardline where Drake teammate Andrew Asbell (Machesney Park, Ill.) recovered running into the end zone to give the Bulldogs a 14-10 edge with 1:49 left in the first half.

"We spent a lot of time during preseason camp on special teams and forcing turnovers and that is what won us the game tonight," said Creighton.

Drake linebacker Cale Hunt (Littleton, Colo.) led both teams with a game-high 13 tackles, including eight solo hits.

Drake senior linebacker Cole Douglas (Lawrence, Kan.) added seven tackles.

Ingle completed 18 of 31 passes for 149 yards, while Brower caught five passes for 25 yards.