DRAKE BULLDOGS (0-0)
vs. GRAND VIEW VIKINGS (1-0)
6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, 2009, Drake Stadium, Des Moines, Iowa
GAME SIGNIFICANCE: Drake, under second-year head coach Chris Creighton, opens its 116th season of intercollegiate football playing host to Grand View University in the first meeting ever between the schools.
RADIO: Saturday's game with Grand View will be broadcast on KRNT Radio (1350 AM) with Scott Pierce handling the play by play and former Drake player Chris Parrish providing the commentary. Fans can also listen to the game at www.GoDrakeBulldogs.com
PREGAME TAILGATE: Fans are invited to attend a pregame tailgate party, starting at 4 p.m. in the parking lot of the Roger Knapp Tennis Center.
DRAKE QUARTERBACK CLUB: The Drake Quarterback Club luncheons, featuring Drake head football coach Chris Creighton, will be held Sept. 15, Sept. 29, Oct. 13, Oct. 27 and Nov. 10 at All-Play in downtown Des Moines, starting at 11:30 a.m. The public is invited.
SEASON OPENERS: The Bulldogs sport a 68-41-6 record (.624) in season openers, having won their last two season openers including a 17-13 home victory against Upper Iowa in 2008.
Drake's 27-24 upset victory at Illinois State in 2007 snapped a string of six straight years in which the Bulldogs had dropped their season opener with all the games played against scholarship opponents: Truman State, 40-29, 2001; Western Illinois, 64-7, 2002; at Illinois State, 27-13, 2003; at Missouri State, 31-26, 2004; at Northern Iowa, 52-17, 2005; and Northern Iowa at home, 48-7, 2006.
CITY SERIES: Grand View will mark the sixth team from the city of Des Moines that Drake has played in football. Drake battled to a scoreless tie with Des Moines High School in the first college football game it ever played in 1893. Drake played Des Moines YMCA three times from 1894 through 1895.
The Bulldogs played Des Moines Baptist seven times from 1900 to 1911, winning six games. Drake played Highland Park College (which later became Des Moines University) in 1915 and 1918, splitting the series.
Drake closed out the 1918 campaign trimming Fort Des Moines Army Post, 35-7.
AMONG LEADERS: Drake ranks 19th in overall victories (548) among the 123 schools which play in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
The game against Grand View will be the 1,054th game in school history with Drake owning a record of 548-476-29 for a winning percentage of .535.
PRESEASON PFL POLL: Drake was picked to finish sixth in the Pioneer Football League preseason coaches poll, receiving 40 points. Drake won four of its final five games in 2008 to finish fifth in the league standings with a 4-4 mark.
For the fourth consecutive season, San Diego was tabbed as the favorite in the PFL Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving five of 10 possible first-place votes. Only six points separate the Toreros from Dayton and Jacksonville who were picked to finish tied for second. Dayton picked up three first place votes and 71 points, while 2008 PFL Champion Jacksonville received the other two first place votes and also finished with 71 points.
Following Jacksonville and Dayton were Morehead State (51) and Butler (42) to round out the league's top five. Drake (40) was sixth, followed by Davidson (37), league newcomer Marist (32), Valparaiso (20) and Campbell (nine).
SCOUTING THE OPPONENT: The Grand View football program is only in its second year of existence, posting a 2-8 mark last year. The Vikings were chosen to finish seventh in the Mid-States Football Association Midwest League preseason coaches poll. St. Ambrose was selected to defend its league title.
Grand View opened the season with a 27-21 victory at Briar Cliff last Saturday with a 68-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Raytron Lamar proving to be the difference in the game.
After Briar Cliff had pulled within 20-14 with 13:02 left in the game. Lamar took the ensuing kickoff into the endzone to give Grand View a 27-14 lead.
Lawrence Taylor rushed for a game-high 97 yards in 20 carries, including a one-yard touchdown run in the second quarter to lead Grand View.
Sophomore Lawrence Furlow added a one-yard scoring burst in the first quarter, while Daryl Ford had an 18-yard touchdown gallop in the second quarter. Senior Brad Schmit completed 12 of 22 passes for 74 yards, connecting with eight different receivers. The Vikings held Briar Cliff to 108 yards on the ground.
Furlow led Grand View with 746 yards rushing in 10 games last year, including three touchdowns. Schmit passed for 387 yards last fall, including six touchdowns, while appearing in six games. Linebacker Josh Monette is the team's top returning tackler after collecting 65 stops last year.
Mike Woodley, a 1974 graduate of Northern Iowa, is in his second year as head coach at Grand View. Woodley owns an overall college coaching record of 16-34 including a 14-26 mark as head coach at St. Ambrose where he was named the NAIA District 15 Coach of the Year.
ALL IN THE FAMILY: Mike Woodley's name is synonymous with athletics in the state of Iowa as his four sons are all involved in coaching.
Oldest son, Matt Woodley, was a three-year starting point guard on the Drake basketball team from 1997-2000, graduating as the school's career leader in steals with 194.
Joe Woodley serves as defensive coordinator at Grand View, while Brian Woodley is the head football coach at Johnston High School and Andy Woodley is an assistant basketball coach at Creighton.
DRAKE SQUAD BREAKDOWN: Drake's 98-man roster includes 11 fifth-year seniors, 14 seniors, 11 juniors, 28 sophomores and 34 freshmen. There are players from 13 states with Illinois leading the way with 43, followed by Iowa 22, Missouri nine, Colorado 6, Kansas 5, Minnesota 3, Oklahoma 3 and one apiece from Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Nebraska and Texas.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: Drake has accumulated a record of 62-15-1 at Drake Stadium dating back to 1994.
THE CREIGHTON ERA: Chris Creighton, was named the 25th head football coach at Drake University Dec. 22, 2007.
He served as head coach at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind., from 2001-07 where he constructed a 63-15 record with teams winning four North Coast Athletic Conference championships, while competing in three NCAA Division III playoffs.
Creighton, 40, owns an overall record of 101-29 (.776 winning percentage) in 11 years as a college head coach, including a 32-9 mark as head coach at Ottawa (Kan.) University from 1997-2000.
During his last three years at Wabash, Creighton led the Little Giants to a 30-5 record, including three straight league championships and appearances in the 2005 and 2007 NCAA Division III playoffs.
Wabash posted an 11-2 record in 2007, competing in the NCAA Division III playoffs while being ranked No. 8 in the final NCAA Division III coaches poll. Wabash went 12-1 in 2002 and 11-1 in 2005, capping both seasons with appearances in the NCAA Division III playoffs.
As offensive coordinator at Wabash, Creighton's teams averaged 35 points per game with the multiple offense producing the school's all-time leading rusher and passer. Three starting quarterbacks received All-American honors.
Under Creighton, Wabash won conference championships in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2007. He coached 83 all-conference players, including seven who earned conference player of the year honors, along with 13 All-Americans.
He was named the North Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2002, 2005 and 2007, as well as the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1997.
The Seattle, Wash., native produced one of the greatest single season turnarounds in NAIA history during his first year at Ottawa in 1997. He inherited a team that posted a 1-8 record the previous season, then finished 9-2 en route to capturing its first Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference title since 1972.
He also led Ottawa to a conference championship in 2000, along with appearances in the NAIA playoffs in 1997 and 2000. Creighton served as offensive coordinator at Concordia (Ill.) from 1991-92 and Manchester (Ind.) from 1993-96 before becoming head coach at Ottawa.
As an All-American quarterback, Creighton led Kenyon (Ohio) College to its only North Coast Athletic Conference title in 1989. He was named the league's player of the year after setting single-season conference records for passing yardage (2,843) and touchdowns (29).
He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kenyon College in 1991 and a master's degree from Concordia (Ill.) University in 1993.
CREIGHTON RANKS AMONG NATION'S BEST: Chris Creighton enters the 2009 football season ranked 14th among the winningest active college football coaches at all levels with a .789 winning percentage, owning a 101-27 career mark in 12 years.
BRAIN TRUST: The Drake coaching staff returns intact from last year, while welcoming two additions in Kyle York and Joe Golota. York, who will coach the cornerbacks, came to Drake last spring after serving on the coaching staff at Indiana University. Golota is a student assistant, helping with the offensive line.
Assistant head coach Neal Neathery returns as defensive coordinator at Drake, while also coaching linebackers. He served as associate head coach at Wabash College since 2001 before coming to Drake with Creighton.
Rick Fox, who had served as offensive coordinator at Centre (Ky.) College since 1999, is in his second year as Drake's special teams coordinator and offensive line coach. Ben Needham returns for his second year as defensive line coach, while Aaron Selby also is back for his second year as tight ends coach. Neathery, Needham and Selby were on Creighton's staff at Wabash.
FAMILIAR TRIO: Matt Jeter returns for his seventh season on the Drake staff, serving as recruiting coordinator and defensive backs coach. The Des Moines native was the defensive coordinator for the Bulldogs under head coach Steve Loney in 2007.
Running backs coach Bill Charles began coaching at Drake under coach Chuck Shelton when the program was Division I from 1980-85. He also served on the coaching staffs of Nick Quartaro in 1987-88, Rob Ash (1992-2006) and Steve Loney (2007). Receivers coach Jeff Martin is in his 14th year as an assistant at Drake. The Des Moines native graduated from Drake in 1977 as owner of five school records, including career pass completions (370) and total offensive plays (982).
CO-CAPTAINS: Fifth-year senior linebacker Cale Hunt (Littleton, Colo.) and fifth-year senior offensive lineman Eric Mora (Roselle, Ill.) and senior fullback Steve Platek (Arlington Heights, Ill.) have been named captains for the 2009 Drake football team.
Hunt was a co-captain last year, starting the first four games before suffering a season-ending elbow injury against San Diego. At the time he led the Drake defense in tackles with 35.
Platek earned first-team All-Pioneer Football League honors after moving from starting linebacker to J-Back in Drake's new offense during the 2008 preseason camp. He was Drake's second leading receiver with 41 catches for 468 yards (11.4 avg.), including four touchdowns. Mora will enter his third season as starting offensive guard.
WHAT'S IN STORE: The Drake football team looks to ride the momentum of a strong finish from the 2008 campaign when it won four of its last five games with the only blemish occurring at league champion Jacksonville.
The optimism is generated by the return of 35 lettermen, including 15 starters from last year's squad, which posted a 6-5 record.
Head coach Chris Creighton feels leadership from a 12-man senior class, including 11 fifth-year players, has the Drake program charted on the right course.
On the field, Drake's strength will lie on defense, with 16 lettermen back from a unit which ranked second in the Pioneer Football League in scoring defense last year, allowing 17.9 points.
The Bulldogs feature a balanced defensive line, returning five veterans who started at least one game last year.
Senior Dain Taylor (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) returns after starting 10 games at defensive end and is waged in fierce competition with senior Josh Walkup (Littleton, Colo.). Senior Sean Kitts (Leawood, Kan.) was a fixture at tackle, starting all 11 games last year, while 6-foot 6-inch sophomore Dave Witkiewicz (Hales Corner, Wis.) should continue to improve at nose guard.
Returning in their third year as starters are seniors Ben Morrison (Long Grove, Ill.) and Cale Hunt (Littleton, Colo.) who form one of the best inside linebacker combinations in the PFL. Morrison led the Pioneer Football League in tackles in 2007 and is the team's top returning tackler after collecting 55 tackles last season.
Hunt was Drake's leading tackler through four games last season before being sidelined for the remainder of the year with an elbow injury. Fifth-year senior safety Skye Buckner-Petty (Florissant, Mo.), a three-year letterwinner, and junior cornerbacks Matt Hancock (Kansas City, Kan.) and Lucas Mosier (Lewis, Iowa) lead the secondary. Hancock started in three games last year, while Mosier is a two-year letterwinner.
THREE STARTERS OUT: Drake head football coach Chris Creighton said 14 players, including starting offensive lineman Quinn McVey and Eric Mora along with starting j-back Stephen Platek, will not play in the season opener against Grand View while serving one-game suspensions for violation of team rules.
GROWING PAINS?: Drake will encounter growing pains early in the season at quarterback where a trio with no previous college experience is in competition for the starting role.
Sophomores Mike Piatkowski (Wheaton, Ill.) will make his collegiate starting debut against Grand View, emerging ahead of sophomores Peter Badovinac (Inverness, Ill.) and Pawel Zurkowski (Round Lake Heights, Ill.) at the conclusion of preseason camp.
“Piatkowski throws a beautiful ball and has a high football IQ," said Drake head football coach Chris Creighton. "Badovinac is tough, bright and a strong leader. Zurkowski is not as far along as the other two but he has a huge upside and continues to get better.”
BALANCED BACKFIELD: Drake head coach Chris Creighton looks for the continuing emergence of senior j-back Steve Platek and an offensive line, led by fifth-year seniors Eric Mora and Quinn McVey (Bettendorf, Iowa), to ease the transition at quarterback.
Platek was the lone Drake player to earn first-team All-Pioneer Football League honors last year after scoring seven touchdowns. He is the team's top returning receiver after catching 41 passes for 468 yards last year, including four touchdowns. Mora will enter his third year as starting right guard, while McVey is a fixture at center.
Junior Stephen Flynn (Davenport, Iowa), who started four games last year, will return at left guard. Senior John Pugh (Des Moines, Iowa) and junior Dan Clinton (Gurnee, Ill.), who each started four games last year, are in a battle with sophomore Evan Lawrence (Moline, Ill.) for starting berths at both right and left tackle.
Sophomore Patrick Oliver (Elk Run Heights, Ill.) and juniors Pat Cashmore (Kansas City, Mo.) and Tom Kostek (West Des Moines, Iowa) return at running back. Oliver led Drake in rushing with 332 yards in 74 carries (4.5 avg.) with three touchdowns. Cashmore galloped for 290 yards in eight games. Kostek had the best rushing average at 5.4 yards with 141 yards in 26 carries.
Fifth-year seniors Spencer Cady (Fort Dodge, Iowa)) and Travis Bogaard (Pella, Iowa) will share split end duties. Cady caught 26 passes for 447 yards (17.2 avg.). Tight end also will be solid with the return of fifth-year seniors Frank Pucher (Skokie, Ill.), Will Yocius (Fox River Grove, Ill.) and Travis Klatt (Albert Lea, Minn.). Sophomore Drew Blackmon (Florissant, Mo.) emerged in spring drills as the heir apparent at flanker where graduation claimed Zach Brower, the team's top receiver last year.
WUBS LEADS KICKERS: Drake special teams will be headed by fifth-year senior punter Brandon Wubs (Hawthorn Woods, Ill.), who earned second-team all-league honors last year after averaging a career best 40.4 yards punting. Wubs also won the placekicking chores vacated by the graduation of all-league perfromer Logan Rees. Wubs won the battle, beating out senior Mitch Rasmussen (Long Grove, Ill.), junior Bill Janssen (Round Lake Beach, Ill.) and freshman Michael Pelikan (Rosemount, Minn.) for the place kicking chores,
THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED
Last time Drake played an overtime game —Valparaiso 51, Drake 45 (one overtime), Oct. 25, 2003, Valparaiso, Ind.
Last shutout by Drake — 32-0 at Valparaiso, Nov. 22, 2008
Last shutout by Drake at home —45-0 vs. Campbell, Oct. 18, 2008
Last time Drake shut out — 19-0 at Lehigh, Sept. 6, 2008
Last time Drake shut out at home — 37-0 by San Diego, Oct. 21, 2006
Last Drake kickoff return for touchdown — 90 yards, Augustine Agyei vs. Waldorf, Sept. 8, 2007
Last Drake punt return for a touchdown — 60 yards, Jordan Bontrager vs. Austin Peay, Sept. 24, 2005
Last time Drake blocked a punt for a touchdown — 39 yards, Clint Martindale vs. San Diego, Sept. 30, 2000
Last time Drake blocked a punt for a safety — Mike Bialas vs. Butler, Oct. 6, 2007
Last Drake pass interception for a touchdown — 46 yards, Andy Green, vs. Davidson, Oct. 25, 2008
Last Drake fumble return for a touchdown — 12 yards, Andrew Asbell vs. Upper Iowa, Aug. 28, 2008
Last Drake player to rush for 100 yards — 103 (21 carries) Pat Cashmore vs. Davidson, Oct. 25, 2008
Two Drake player rush for 100 yards in same game — 101 yards in 19 carries, Willie Cashmore; and 216 yards in 27 carries, Scott Phaydavong vs. Jacksonville, Nov. 10, 2006
Last Drake player to pass for over 300 yards —389 yards, Connor Jostes at Valparaiso, Oct. 25, 2003
Last Drake player to rush for three touchdowns — 3, Scott Phaydavong vs. Valparaiso Sept. 29, 2007
Last Drake player to catch three touchdowns — 3, Jason Jones vs. Jacksonville, Oct. 4, 2003
Last Drake player to pass for four touchdowns — 5, Connor Jostes vs. Upper Iowa, Nov. 6, 2004
Last Drake player to score three touchdowns — 3, Scott Phaydavong vs. Valparaiso, Sept. 29, 2007
