DES MOINES, IOWA -- Drake returned two interceptions for touchdowns en route to a 42-10 Pioneer Football League victory past Davidson Saturday.
Senior All-American defensive end Dain Taylor (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter to give Drake a 14-0 lead.
Junior cornerback Mike Lahart (Chariton, Iowa) picked off a pass from Davidson quarterback Jonathan Carkhuff returning it 40 yards for a touchdown to extend Drake's advantage to 35-10 in the fourth quarter.
Drake sophomore quarterback Mike Piatkowski (Wheaton, Ill.) tied a career high by throwing three touchdowns, while running for another.
With the victory the Bulldogs maintained third place in the league standings with a 4-1 record, trailing co-league leaders Dayton and Jacksonville (5-0) by one game.
Drake's defense held Davidson to minus five yards rushing in 18 attempts, while recording four quarterback sacks totaling 33 yards in losses.
Drake fifth-year senior cornerback Lucas Mosier (Lewis, Iowa) led both teams with 13 tackles, including 10 solo hits. Lahart and sophomore linebacker Tyler Moorehead (Mason City, Iowa) added six stops apiece.
Fifth-year senior Andrew Asbell (Machesney Park, Ill.) collected two quarterback sacks totaling 16 yards in losses.
"It was a dogfight despite the score," said Drake head football coach Chris Creighton whose team improved to 5-3 overall.
"But it was fun to see our defense get excited with those interception returns. They were battling all day long, and at times without much help from our offense, so they took it upon themselves to get it done."
The Bulldogs struggled offensively through the first three quarters, clinging to a 14-10 lead before exploding for 28 points in the final quarter.
Creighton credited a third-down conversion pass early in the fourth quarter that provided the lift the Bulldogs needed.
Facing a third down and 10-yard situation at its 27 yardline with 11:33 left in the game, slot back Pat Cashmore (Kansas City, Mo.) made a one-handed grab of a pass by Piatkowski at the Drake 37 yardline and then rambled an additional 20 yards to the Davidson 38 yardline.
Three plays later Piatkowski spotted junior Drew Blackmon (Florissant, Mo.) open in the endzone for a 27-yard touchdown pass with 10:25 left.
"We had a frustrating three quarters," said Creighton. "We weren't making plays until Pat Cashmore made the play of the game. It was a fantastic effort by him (Cashmore) at a desperate time for us offensively and it changed the game. After that, different people were making plays for us."
Lahart's interception for a touchdown came just 91 seconds after Blackmon's touchdown.
Drake's offense scored again the next time it had the ball with Piatkowski connecting on a 13-yard scoring strike to junior tight end Ben Sabal with 4:21 remaining in the contest.
Piatkowski scored the Bulldogs' final touchdown on an unusual play. Drake's Mitch Rassmussen (Long Grove, Ill.) attempted a 41-yard field goal but the kick was blocked by a Davidson defender. Piatkowski, who was the holder on the attempt, picked up the loose football and darted into the endzone from 22 yards out.
Fifth-year senior J-back Steve Platek (Arlington Heights, Ill.) caught five passes for 47 yards for Drake including a 11-yard touchdown pass from Piatkowski to account for Drake's first score with 10:34 left in the second quarter.
Piatkowski completed 19 of 27 passes for 222 yards. Blackmon had four receptions for 51 yards.
Sophomore Trey Morse (Elmo, Texas) led Drake with 29 yards rushing in 10 carries, while Tom Kostek (West Des Moines, Iowa) added 24 yards on the ground in six attempts.
Billy Janssen (Round Lake Beach, Ill.) averaged 40.7 yards on six punts, including a long of 58 yards.
Drake will host San Diego next Saturday.
