DAVIDSON, N.C. --  Drake scored two touchdowns in a three-minute span midway through the third quarter  to earn its fourth straight victory with a come-from-behind 21-16 Pioneer Football League victory at Davidson Saturday.

The Bulldogs, concluding the second leg of a challenging 5,586-mile coast-to-coast trip in consecutive weekends, maintained a share of first place in the league with a 4-0 mark. Drake earned a 21-14 victory at preseason league favorite San Diego Oct. 17.

"It has been a hectic two weeks and we were presented with a tall order," said Drake head football coach Chris Creighton. "Our emotion level was pretty drained and we didn't have any intensity to start the game. But when we challenged our team to impose their will, they shifted gears at midstream and made some big plays."

The Bulldogs relied on special teams plays to preserve a 20-17 home victory against Davidson last year when nose guard David Witkiewicz (Hales Corner, Wis.) blocked a 28-yard field goal by Davidson on the last play of the game.

Drake used a similar script in the second half to improve its record to 6-1 overall when senior linebacker Ben Morrison (Long Grove, Ill.) blocked a 42-yard field goal by Davidson's Ben Behrendt with 4:59 left in the third quarter.

Drake teammate Michael Lahart (Chariton, Iowa) scooped up the loose football, rambling 58 yards to give the Bulldogs a 21-10 advantage with 4:53 left.

"It came down to special teams play last year to beat Davidson and without us scoring our first special teams touchdown of this season, it would have been tough to win today," Creighton added.

First-team All-Pioneer Football League performer Steve Platek (Arlington Heights, Ill.), running out of the Wildcat offense, scored two touchdowns for Drake while accounting for 139 yards in all-purpose running.

The Bulldogs had grabbed a 7-0 lead on a nine-yard touchdown burst up the middle by Platek with 3:24 left in the first quarter to cap a four-play, 77-yard drive.

Freshman redshirt quarterback Michael Piatkowski (Wheaton, Ill.) teamed up with Platek on a 64-yard pass on the first play of the touchdown march.

Trailing 10-7, Platek gave Drake the lead for good when he took the snap from center on a first-down play and rambled along the left sideline for a 63-yard scoring gallop with 7:58 left in the third quarter.

"We're not a big play offense, but we got a couple today and needed them," Creighton said.

Davidson took the ensuing kickoff following Platek's second touchdown and drove to the Drake 25 yardline before Behrendt had his field goal attempt blocked by Morrison.

Morrison thwarted Davidson's opening drive of the game with an interception at the Drake 31 yardline.  He finished the game with seven tackles.

Senior linebacker Cale Hunt (Littleton, Colo.) led Drake with 10 tackles, while senior end Dain Taylor (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) had eight tackles, including a six-yard quarterback sack and 1.5 tackles for nine yards in losses. Sophomore defensive back Tyler Moorehead (Mason City, Iowa) also had eight tackles, including three for seven yards in losses.
 
"Our defense is good," Creighton added. "They play so hard and together. There is a huge comfort as a head coach when your defense is as good as ours."

Piatkowksi completed 17 of 26 passes for 220 yards. Sophomore Andrew Blackmon (Florissant, Mo.) and freshman Joey Orlando (Park Ridge, Ill.) caught five passes apiece for Drake.

Platek finished with 75 yards rushing in five carries, while junior Tom Kostek (West Des Moines, Iowa) added 39 yards on the ground in 10 carries.

The Bulldogs will open a three-game homestand next Saturday, playing host to defending PFL champion Jacksonville followed by stern tests against Campbell Nov. 7 and Dayton 14 at Drake Stadium.