GAME SIGNIFICANCE: Drake looks to maintain its lock on third place in the Pioneer Football League when the Bulldogs play host to San Diego Saturday.
   
A 42-10 home victory against Davidson last Saturday allowed the Bulldogs to remain one game behind co-league leaders Dayton and Jacksonville in the PFL standings.
   
San Diego, riding a two-game winning streak, is coming off a 30-10 home victory against Valparaiso, which allowed the Toreros to improve to 3-2 in the PFL, trailing Drake by one game.

TICKETS: Children, ages 12 and under, are admitted free to Drake home football games when accompanied by a paid adult. Student tickets, for ages 13 to 17, are $5 while tickets for adults are $12. For more information contact the Drake Athletic Ticket Office at www.godrakebulldogs.com

PREGAME TAILGATE: Fans are invited to attend a pregame tailgate party, starting at 11 a.m. in the parking lot west of Drake Stadium off Forest Ave.

AMONG NCAA  LEADERS: Drake ranks 20th in overall victories (561) among the 123 schools which play in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
   
The game against San Diego will be the 1,073rd game in school history with Drake owning a record of 561-482-29 for a winning percentage of .537.

PRESEASON PFL POLL: Drake was picked to finish fourth in the Pioneer Football League preseason coaches' poll, receiving 54 points.
   
Ten-time Pioneer Football League champion Dayton was the favorite in the league's preseason coaches' poll, receiving four of 10 possible first-place votes. Dayton received 76 points while defending league champion Butler was picked second, receiving two first-place votes, with 69 points. Jacksonville received the four remaining first-place votes and finished third in the preseason poll with 68 points.
   
San Diego, receiving 52 points, was tabbed fifth, followed by, Marist (45), Davidson (30), Campbell (25), Morehead State (22) and Valparaiso (nine).

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT:  San Diego rolled up 453 yards total offense against Valparaiso with sophomore Mason Mills passing for a career-high 327 yards and three touchdowns.
   
The Toreros led 10-7 at halftime on Mills' seven-yard touchdown pass to Nick Scudellari and Stanley Shurson's 36-yard field goal. San Diego scored twice early in the second half for a 20-7 lead. Godfrey Smith, who had a season-high 10 catches (151 yards), turned a short pass from Mills into a 59-yard touchdown three plays into the half and Shurson added a 24-yard field goal after an interception.
   
Smith leads the PFL in reception yardage at 725 (47 catches).Junior defensive end Mario Kurn ranks second in the nation with 13 quarterback sacks, while junior Fredrick Obi leads the PFL with four interceptions.
   
Ron Caragher, a 1990 graduate of UCLA, is in his fourth year as head coach at San Diego, owning a 25-16 record. He succeeded Jim Harbaugh who left to accept a similar position at Stanford.  Caragher had served as an assistant coach at Kentucky since 2003 before his arrival at San Diego. He also spent nine seasons (1994-2002) on the UCLA staff.

THE SERIES: Drake has a 9-8 lead in the series, including a 5-3 mark in games played in Des Moines. The Toreros have won seven of the last nine games against Drake. The Bulldogs have dropped their last two home games against San Diego and haven't beaten the Toreros in Des Moinessince 2004.

THE LAST TIME: Drake 21, San Diego 14 (Oct. 17, 2009, San Diego, Calif.) — Steve Platek scored two touchdowns, including a game-winning pass with 4 minutes 23 seconds left, as Drake rallied for a victory at preseason Pioneer Football League favorite San Diego.
   
Drake's Pat Cashmore, playing in his first game of the season, rushed for a career-high 127 yards, while catching a 20-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. The Bulldogs netted a season-high 179 yards rushing with Tom Kostek adding a career-high 69 yards on the ground in nine carries.
   
The Bulldogs snapped a four-game losing streak to the Toreros, while earning their first victory against San Diego since 2004.
   
Kostek gained 58 yards in the last 9:31 of the game on just five carries, while igniting the game winning touchdown drive. On Drake's first play from scrimmage with 5:21 left in the game, Kostek broke free for a 36-yard gallop down to the San Diego 17. Two plays later quarterback Mike Piatkowski rifled a 20-yard scoring strike to Platek on the left sideline which proved to be the difference in the game.
   
Kostek also kept San Diego's offense from getting another possession late in the game with consecutive runs of 12 and 11 yards in the waning minutes. San Diego, which entered the game ranked second in the PFL in rushing offense with a 157.2 yard average, was held to a season-low 19 yards on the ground in 16 carries.
   
Linebacker Ben Morrison and strong safety Skye Buckner-Petty led Drake with nine tackles apiece.
   
Cashmore gained 92 yards in just 13 carries in the first half, while catching a 20-yard touchdown pass from Piatkowski with 8:36 left in the second quarter to give the Bulldogs a 14-7 second quarter lead.
   
A one-yard touchdown burst by Platek with 6:32 left in the first quarter capped a 14-play, 63-yard scoring drive that allowed Drake to tie the score at 7-7.
   
Platek finished with four receptions for 57 yards, while freshman Mike Bilton caught three passes for 16 yards. Senior Brandon Wubs, the reigning PFL Special Teams Player of the Week, punted eight times for a 41.0 yard average, including three punts inside the 20 yardline.

FREQUENT FLYERS: The Drake football team will travel an estimated 9,682 miles this fall including trips to Montana and back-to-back conference games on the east coast at Jacksonville and Campbell (N.C.) as well as trips to Valparaiso, Ind.; Dayton, Ohio; and Rolla, Mo. The Pioneer Football League is the only NCAA conference which has member schools on both the west coast (San Diego) and east coast (Campbell, Davidson, Jacksonville).

TEAM LEADERS:  After  eight games, junior Mike Piatkowski (Wheaton, Ill.) has completed 133 of 222 passes (.595) for 1,502 yards, including 12 touchdowns, while having a passing efficiency rating of 130.1, which ranks 34th nationally.
   
Junior Drew Blackmon (Florissant, Mo.) and fifth-year senior Steve Platek (Arlington Heights, Ill.) lead the team with 34 receptions apiece. Blackmon has accounted for 445 yards (13.1 avg.), including five touchdowns, while Platek has 285 yards. Sophomore Joey Orlando (Park Ridge, Ill.) has 26 receptions for 283 yards (10.9 avg.).
   
Senior Pat Cashmore (Kansas City, Mo.) leads the Bulldogs with 230 yards rushing in 57 carries (4.0 avg.) with a team-high six touchdowns. Senior Tom Kostek (West Des Moines, Iowa) has 216 yards rushing in 73 carries (3.0 avg).
   
 Fifth-year senior linebacker Ben Morrison (Long Grove, Ill.) paces the defense with 55 tackles, including 29 solo hits, while recovering one fumble. Junior cornerback   Mike Lahart (Chariton, Iowa) has 46 tackles, including 32 solos while leading the team with 10 pass break ups. Sophomore linebacker Tyler Moorehead (Mason City, Iowa) has 43 tackles, including 29 solo hits.

ON THE MOVE: Junior receiver Drew Blackmon has caught 21 passes, totaling  329 yards, in his last three games. Blackmon leads Drake with 34 receptions, three more than his entire 2009 output of 31 catches.
   
SIxteen of those receptions in the last three games have been for first downs, including six on critical third-down conversion attempts. He entered the Jacksonville game having caught just 13 passes in Drake's initial five games.

SACK ATTACK: Drake's defense has recorded 16 quarterback sacks in the last four games including five in back-to-back games against Marist and Jacksonville. Drake ranks 13th nationally in quarterback sacks (2.9 avg. per game) and is tied for 14th in tackles for losses, averaging 7.5 per game.
   
Drake fifth-year senior Dain Taylor (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) is tied for fifth nationally in quarterback sacks (eight total, 1.0 avg.) and ranks seventh in tackles for loss (15 total, 1.9 avg.)

REDZONE ATTACK: Drake has converted 23 of 30 opportunities (.767) inside the opponents' 20 yardline into touchdowns. Opponents have converted 84.6 percent inside the Drake redzone, scoring on 22 of 26 possessions.

SPEAKING OF STATS: Drake is averaging 361.7 yards total offense in its last three outings against Marist, Jacksonville and Campbell...Drake's 42 points against Marist doubled its scoring output in each of its previous two games against Montana State and Valparaiso when the Bulldogs were held to 21 points in each contest...The Bulldogs' 433 yards total offense against Marist more than doubled the 210 yards Drake accumulated in its PFL opener at Valparaiso Sept. 28...Drake has closed out the first half this season, being outscored, 61-35, in the second quarter. But the Bulldogs have opened the second half strong, outscoring opponents, 56-26.

IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS: Senior Billy Janssen (Round Lake Beach, Ill.) is averaging 44.3  yards on his last 14 punts covering the last three games. Janssen set a Pioneer Football League single-game record with a 52.0 yard average on three punts totaling 156 yards at Jacksonville. He averaged 44.0 yards on five punts at Campbell. and 40.7 yards on six punts against Davidson, including a long of 58 yards.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Junior nose guard David Witkiewicz blocked two extra point conversions at Montana State and another PAT at Jacksonville. Earlier, he blocked his second career field goal in Drake's season opener against Lehigh. He blocked a 43-yard field goal attempt by Jake Peery in the second quarter.  Witkiewicz also preserved a 20-17 home victory against Davidson in 2008 by blocking a field goal on the last play of the game. Teammate John Sawhill (Jefferson, Iowa) also blocked Jacksonville's first PAT attempt in the first quarter.

INTERCEPTIONS FUEL VICTORY:  Drake returned two interceptions for touchdowns en route to a 42-10 Pioneer Football League victory past Davidson last Saturday.
   
Senior All-American defensive end Dain Taylor returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter to give Drake a 14-0 lead. Junior cornerback Mike Lahart  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'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 added six stops apiece.
   
Fifth-year senior Andrew Asbell (Machesney Park, Ill.) collected two quarterback sacks totaling 16 yards in losses.

PIATKOWSKI TIES CAREER HIGH: Drake sophomore quarterback Mike Piatkowski tied a career high by throwing three touchdowns, while running for another.
   
The Bulldogs struggled offensively through the first three quarters, clinging to a 14-10 lead before exploding for 28 points in the final quarter. Head coach Chris 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, running back Pat Cashmore 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 open in the endzone for a 27-yard touchdown pass with 10:25 left. Mike 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 Billy Janssen 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 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 added 24 yards on the ground in six attempts.

ESCAPE ACT: Campbell quarterback Daniel Polk overthrew a wide open Mike Stryffeler on a two-point conversion pass with 17 seconds left, allowing Drake to escape with a 14-12 Pioneer Football League road victory Oct. 16.
   
Drake had grabbed a 14-6 lead with 4:40 left in the game when quarterback Mike Piatkowski threw a 42-yard touchdown strike to Drew Blackmon. Campbell was able to take the ensuing kickoff down to the Drake 10 yardline where Polk broke loose for a 10-yard touchdown run with 17 seconds remaining to pull the Fighting Camels within 14-12.
   
Piatkowski accumulated 246 yards total offense, including a career-high 38 yards rushing. During Drake's last touchdown drive, Piatkowski had two key runs of nine yards, converting one third down into a first down. Blackmon had a game-high eight catches for 122 yards.
   
Piatkowski led the Bulldogs on their longest scoring drive of the season with a 15-play, 89-yard march that was capped off by a two-yard touchdown run on fourth down from Pat Cashmore with 2:23 left in the first half.
   
Piatkowski kept the drive alive converting two third down attempts into first downs. Facing a third down and nine yard situation, Piatkowski scrambled 12 yards for a first down to the Drake 34 yardline. Three plays later, Piatkowski hit Nick Rosa (Barrington, Ill.) for a 13-yard pass for a first down at the Drake 49 yardline.

DEFENSE DELIVERS: Drake's defense held Campbell, which entered the game leading the league in rushing offense with a 189.0 yard average per game, to 154 yards rushing. Sophomore linebacker Seth Hedman (Tulsa, Okla.) collected a career-high 13 tackles for Drake. Fifth-year senior linebacker Ben Morrison added 11 tackles. Senior defensive end Dain Taylor had two quarterback sacks, totaling 20 yards in losses, occurring in a span of 1 minute 45 seconds in the second quarter.

PLATEK RETURNS: After missing the Oct. 9 game at Jacksonville because of a sprained ankle, two-time first-team All-Pioneer Football League performer Steve Platek returned to action as JBack at Campbell. Platek ranks fourth on the active PFL career reception list at 124. Platek is expected to be the only starter not returning on offense in 2011 because of graduation.

TAYLOR HONORED AGAIN: For the second time in four weeks, Drake's Dain Taylor received honorable mention honors as the College  Football Performance Award Division I Football Championship Subdivision defensive lineman of the week for his effort against Campbell.
   
Taylor also was honored in the Bulldogs' 21-19 victory at Valparaiso Sept. 25. Taylor had six tackles, including five solo hits, while recovering a fumble. He also had 3.5 tackles totaling 14 yards in losses, along with a half-quarterback sack and two pass break ups.

SECOND HALF RALLY FALLS SHORT: Lacy McDougald's interception thwarted a potential game-winning drive by Drake as Jacksonville escaped with a 39-34 victory in a battle between undefeated Pioneer Football League co-leaders Oct. 9.
   
Drake trailed 30-7 at halftime but rolled up 238 yards total offense in the second half with junior quarterback Mike Piatkowski passing for two touchdowns and running for another.
   
A one-yard touchdown run by Nathan Paddock (Lee's Summit, Mo.), making his first college start, pulled Drake within 39-34 with 4:18 left.
   
Drake's defense stopped Jacksonville on a fourth-down conversion attempt on the Drake 30 yardline with 2:34 remaining in the game, allowing the Bulldogs a final attempt to win the game.   
   
A pass interference penalty moved the football to the Drake 45 yardline before McDougald's heroics with two-minutes 15-seconds left in the game stopped the comeback.   
   
Drake came out in the second half, scoring touchdowns on its first two offensive possessions within a span of 1:50. Piatkowksi scrambled for a six-yard touchdown run with 10:11 left in the third quarter to cap a 13-play, 81-yard drive.
   
The Bulldogs capitalized on a 31-yard interception return by linebacker Seth Hedman to score another touchdown.
   
On the first play from scrimmage at the Jacksonville 10 yardline, following the Dolphins' miscue, Piatkowski rifled a touchdown strike to junior Drew Blackoan to pull Drake within 30-21 with 8:29 left in the third quarter.
   
Piatkowski, who threw a 10-yard scoring pass to sophomore Joey Orlando in the fourth quarter, eclipsed the 3,000-yard career passing mark by completing 18 passes for 296 yards to push his total to 3,231 yards.
   
Jacksonville scored two touchdowns in a 48-second span early in the second quarter to turn a 9-7 lead into a 23-7 advantage. After senior Pat Cashmore's two-yard touchdown plunge capped a 10-play, 60-yard scoring drive for Drake with 34 seconds left in the first quarter, the Dolphins answered on their ensuing drive.

In the closing minutes of the first half, Piatkowski marched Drake from its own five yardline to the Jacksonville 31 yardline. But the drive stalled on three incomplete passes before a 48-yard field goal attempt by Billy Janssen was wide left with seven seconds left in the second quarter.

CAREER HIGH: Junior receiver Drew Blackmon caught a career-high nine passes for 156 yards at Jacksonville. Eight of those receptions went for first downs, including five on critical third-down conversion attempts.

ON THE ATTACK: Drake's defense recorded five quarterback sacks totaling 41 yards against Jacksonville's Josh McGregor who entered the game ranked fourth nationally in passing efficiency.
   
It also marked the most times McGregor had been sacked in a game dating back, ironically, to his previous appearance against Drake Oct. 31, 2009 when the Bulldogs  recorded six quarterback sacks.
   
Fifth-year seniors Andrew Asbell (Machesney Park, Ill.), Josh Walkup (Littleton, Colo.), Ben Morrison and Dain Taylor had quarterback sacks along with sophomore end Brandon Coleman (Cary, Ill.) who had a five-yard sack. Drake sophomore linebacker Tyler Moorehead led both teams with eight tackles, including five solo hits.

JANSSEN EARNS NATIONAL HONOR: Drake's Billy Janssen was named the College Football Performance Award Football Championship Subdivision National Punter of the Week. Junior receiver Drew Blackmon received honorable mention honors as the College Football Performance Award Division I Football Championship Subdivision Receiver of the Week for his effort in the Bulldogs' 39-34 Pioneer Football League loss at Jacksonville last Saturday.
   
Janssen set a PFL single-game record for punting average by booming three punts against Jacksonville for a  52.0 yard average. He broke the previous league record of 50.5 held by former Drake standout Ryan Horvath against Valparaiso Oct. 23, 2004.

PIATKOWSKI ENJOYS SUCCESSFUL RETURN: Mike Piatkowski threw a touchdown pass and ran for another leading Drake to an impressive 42-0 Pioneer Football League victory against Marist Oct. 2.
   
Piatkowski, making his first appearance since suffering a concussion at Montana State Sept. 18, completed a career-high 29 passes to account for 266 yards passing.
   
The Bulldogs rolled up a season-high 433 yards total offense, including a season-high 320 yards in the air. Drake fifth-year senior Steve Platek, who set a school record with 12 receptions at Marist last year, caught a season-high 11 passes for 106 yards.
   
Drake scored on three of its first four possessions.  Senior slotback Tom Kostek capped a 10-play, 56-yard scoring drive with an eight-yard touchdown gallop up the middle to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead with 8:26 left in the quarter. A 49-yard punt return for a touchdown by Mike Lahart pushed the score to 14-0 with 4:08 left in the second quarter.
   
Drake enjoyed a 28-0 halftime lead after a one-yard scoring burst by senior slot back Pat Cashmore and a five-yard touchdown pass from Piatkowski to junior Drew Blackmon. Piatkowski pushed Drake's advantage to 35-0 on a five-yard quarterback sneak with 14:55 left in the game. Sophomore Trey Morse (Elmo, Texas) rounded out Drake's scoring with a one-yard touchdown run with 1:32 left.

SHUTDOWN DEFENSE: Meanwhile, Drake's defense limited Marist to a season-low 77 yards total offense including minus 21 yards rushing in 23 attempts. Marist accumulated 485 yards against Morehead State the previous week.
   
The Red Foxes, who entered the game ranked No. 6 in the Football Championship Subdivision in passing offense averaging 305.3 yards per game, were held in check to just 98 yards in the air.
   
Drake recorded five quarterback sacks totaling 38 yards in losses. Fifth-year senior defensive Andrew Asbell led Drake's defense with two tackles for 11 yards in losses along with a nine-yard quarterback sack. Sophomore defensive end Brandon Coleman (Cary, Ill.) also had two tackles for 12 yards in losses with an eight-yard quarterback sack. Junior strong safety Akeem Campbell collected four solo tackles for Drake.

WITKIEWICZ NAMED PFL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF WEEK: Drake junior nose guard David Witkiewicz (Hales Corner, Wis.) was named the Pioneer Football League Defensive Player of the Week Sept. 27 after his 13-yard interception return for a touchdown proved to be the winning score in the Bulldogs' 21-19 PFL victory at Valparaiso.
   
He batted down a pass into his own hands and ran the return back for the score on the first play of the second half.  Witkiewicz finished with three tackles, including a half-tackle for loss, helping lead a Bulldog defensive unit that held Valparaiso to 158 yards total offense.

DEFENSE KEYS FIRST PFL WIN: Drake spoiled Valparaiso's homecoming, escaping with a 21-19 victory in the Pioneer Football League opener for both teams Sept. 25..
   
A 13-yard interception return for a touchdown by nose tackle David Witkiewicz on the first play of the second half staked Drake to a 21-6 lead. Senior defensive end Dain Taylor recovered a Valparaiso fumble on the Crusaders' third play of the game to set up Drake's first touchdown. The Bulldogs marched 42 yards in 10 plays capped off by a 16-yard touchdown run by Pat Cashmore with 6:46 left in the first quarter.
   
Fifth-year senior linebacker Ben Morrison led Drake with nine tackles,while sophomore linebacker Tyler Moorehead added eight tackles. But the Bulldogs sputtered on offense, mustering just 19 yards in total offense for the second half.

SEEGER MAKES FIRST START: Redshirt freshman quarterback Cody Seeger (Barrington, Ill.), making his first college start at Valparaiso, threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to Steve Platek with 9:40 remaining in the second quarter to push Drake's lead to 14-6.
   
But Valparaiso scored two touchdowns within a 1 minute 17 second time frame to make things interesting in the fourth quarter. Seeger lost a fumble to Valparaiso's Christopher Howard after being sacked for a six-yard loss at the Drake 22 yardline.
   
The Crusaders capitalized, needing just four plays to score when quarterback Nate Goergen threw an eight-yard touchdown pass to Sean McCarty with 6:43 left in the game to pull Valparaiso within 21-19.
   
Drake's Pat Cashmore rushed for a game-high 44 yards in 10 carries, while Tom Kostek added 35 yards on the ground. Freshman tight end Dan Hohenstein led Drake with five receptions for 30 yards.

DRAKE IN PFL OPENERS: Drake improved its record to 12-6  in Pioneer Football League openers since the conference was established in 1993, including a 6-1 record against Valparaiso. The Bulldogs are 5-4 in PFL openers played on the road, including a 3-1 record in games played at Valparaiso, winning in 2010 (21-19), 2006 (21-7) and 1997 (27-7), while dropping a  27-17 decision in 1999.

MONTANA STATE FLURRY HITS DRAKE: Then No. 22 ranked Montana State scored 30 straight points to break away from a 9-7 second-quarter lead en route to a 48-21 victory past Drake Sept. 18.
   
The Bulldogs gave Montana State all it could handle coming out of the starting gate. Drake forced Montana State into three turnovers but had to play the second half without the services of junior starting quarterback Mike Piatkowski who suffered a concussion.
   
Drake's defense limited Montana State to two field goals after the Bobcats had penetrated inside the red zone twice in the first half.
   
Meanwhile, Drake marched inside the Montana State 20 yardline three times in the first half, but only came away with one touchdown.
   
Drake, which had 10 more offensive plays than Montana State (82-72) collected 286 yards total offense.After a 32-yard field goal by Jason Cunningham gave Montana State a 6-0 lead with 8:23 left in the first quarter, Drake had a time-consuming 15-play drive, marching from its own 20 yardline down to the Bobcats' three-yardline.
   
But the Bulldogs couldn't convert on a first and goal situation at the three-yardline when Piatkowski had a pass intercepted on second down by cornerback Arnold Briggs in the Montana State endzone.
   
Drake relied on a special team play to score its first touchdown.  Long snapper Stoy Hall (Omaha, Neb.) recovered a fumble on the ensuing punt at the Montana State 41 yardline with 9:17 left in the second quarter.
   
The Bulldogs needed just four plays to score. Slotback Pat Cashmore got the drive started by catching a 17-yard pass from Piatkowski on first down and then rambled 12 yards for another first down. Despite double-team coverage, freshman tight end Dan Hohenstein (Warrenville, Ill.) caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Piatkowski with 7:56 left in the second quarter, pulling Drake within 9-7.
   
Piatkowski sustained his injury on Drake's next series after completing a 15-yard pass to Nick Rosa. Montana State nose tackle Jason D'Alba was guilty of a roughing the passer penalty that sent Piatkowski to the sidelines.
   
Sophomore reserve quarterback Cody Seeger, playing his first college game, was able to march Drake to the Montana State seven yardline. But, Billy Janssen then had a 24-yard field goal sail wide left.
   
Seeger did engineer Drake to consecutive touchdowns in the third quarter. Cashmore had a six-yard scoring burst to cap a 14-play, 76-yard scoring drive with 4:44 left. Montana State then fumbled on its next possession with Drake recovering. Seeger then had an eight-yard touchdown run to with 3:14 remaining in the third quarter.
   
Piatkowski completed 11 of 19 passes for 131 yards, while Seeger passed for 94 yards. Hohenstein had five receptions for 62 yards. Cashmore led the Bulldogs with 50 yards rushing in eight carries. Sophomore Trey Morse had 24 yards on the ground in five attempts.

DEFENSIVE LEADERS: Junior free safety Akeem Campbell led Drake with a career-high 11 tackles, including nine solo hits. Junior cornerback Mike Lahart added nine tackles.

PIATKOWSKI FUELS FIRST WIN: Mike Piatkowski threw three touchdown passes, while Drake's defense held Missouri S&T to just seven yards rushing en route to a 28-14 victory Sept. 11 in Rolla, Mo.

Two-time All-Pioneer Football League first team performer Steve Platek scored on a two-yard touchdown run and caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Piatkowski.

But it was a special teams' play by Platek that sparked the second half fireworks allowing Drake to build on a 14-11 halftime lead. As the up-back with Drake in punting formation facing a fourth down and seven-yard situation on its own 35 yardline, Platek surprised Missouri S&T's defense by completing a 19-yard pass to Tyler Moorehead for a first down. Six plays later Piatkowski found Platek open in the left corner of the endzone for a 10-yard touchdown pass to push Drake's lead to 21-11 with 9:05 left in the third quarter.

Senior Pat Cashmore ignited Drake's fourth touchdown drive, rushing for 17 yards in three carries before being rewarded by catching a 33-yard screen pass from Piatkowski for a touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 28-11 advantage with 1:44 in the third quarter.

Piatkowski completed 15 of 25 passes for 231 yards with sophomore Joey Orlando catching a team-high six passes for 92 yards.

Drake scored touchdowns on its first two possessions to race to a 14-0 lead but the Miners parlayed two turnovers by the Bulldogs in the second quarter to pull within 14-11.

Facing a fourth down and one yard situation at the Miner 42 yardline, the Bulldogs stunned Missouri S&T when Piatkowski rolled out and spotted tight end Kevin Marshall (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) wide open for a 42-yard touchdown pass with 10:46 left in the first quarter.

Drake took advantage of a mishandled snap from center that sailed over punter Will Morrison's head on the Miners' next possession. The Bulldogs took over at the Missouri S&T six yardline and needed just two plays to push their lead to 14-0 following a two-yard plunge by Platek with 7:15 remaining.

CAMPBELL LEADS DEFENSE: Junior free safety Akeem Campbell making just his third career start, led Drake with eight tackles, including seven solo hits at Missouri S&T. He collected his first career interception to stop a drive in the second quarter. Junior strong safety Nick Chenier and cornerback Mike Lahart had six tackles apiece. Senior all-American end Dain Taylor had two quarterback sacks totaling 15 yards in losses.

TALE OF TWO HALVES: It was a tale of two halves for Drake in its season opener against Lehigh Sept. 4. Senior Jay Campbell rushed for three touchdowns as Lehigh jumped to a 21-0 lead before holding off Drake, 28-14. Drake could muster only 37 yards total offense in the first half, while accumulating just three first downs.
   
But the Bulldogs woke up in the third quarter, more than doubling their total offense output of the first half by accumulating 77 yards.
   
Aided by two pass interference calls, Drake marched 88 yards in 11 plays capped off by a seven-yard touchdown run from senior Tom Kostek to get on the scoreboard with 4:45 left in the third quarter. Drake pulled within 21-14 when junior quarterback Mike Piatkowski  rifled a 12-yard scoring pass to junior Drew Blackmon in the left corner of the endzone with 7:44 left in the contest.
   
The Bulldogs had a chance to tie the score on the ensuing kickoff when a pouch kick landed between two Lehigh players, allowing Drake's Nick Chenier to recover the free pigskin at the Lehigh 22 yardline.
   
But Lehigh's defense rose to the occasion, stopping Drake on four straight plays. Campbell then broke free on Lehigh's next possession for a 28-yard touchdown scamper to push the lead to 28-14 with 4:10 remaining in the game
   
Piatkowski completed 20 of 34 passes for 148 yards. Blackmon caught a career-high five passes for 40 yards. Kostek rushed for 43 yards in 12 carries. Drake marched to the Lehigh 15 yardline on its last possession of the first half but had a 32-yard field goal attempt from Billy Janssen go wide left.

MORRISON KEYS DEFENSE: After yielding 277 yards total offense in the first half, Drake's defense held Lehigh in check in the second half, allowing just 143 yards in 32 plays.
   
Fifth-year senior linebacker Ben Morrison paced Drake's defense against Lehigh with a game-high 11 tackles, including seven solo hits. Sophomore free safety Michael Ratelle (Edina, Minn.), making his first collegiate start, added seven tackles, including six solo hits. Junior cornerback Mike Lahart also had seven tackles for Drake.

DRAKE SQUAD BREAKDOWN: Drake's 98-man roster includes seven fifth-year seniors, 11 seniors, 19 juniors, 20 sophomores and 41 freshmen. There are players from 15 states, with Illinois leading the way with 44, followed by Iowa 16, Missouri and Texas six, Wisconsin five, Colorado and Kansas four, California three, and one apiece from Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska and Ohio.

HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: Drake has accumulated a home record of 69-17-1 at Drake Stadium dating back to 1994.
 
THE CREIGHTON ERA: Under the guidance of third-year coach Chris Creighton, Drake has won 17 of its last 24 games, while moving toward the upper echelon of the Pioneer Football League.
   
Drake posted an 8-3 mark in 2009, including a 6-2 second-place finish. Only a last-second field goal in the season finale by eventual league champion Butler (20-17) prevented Drake from earning a share of the Pioneer Football League title.
   
Creighton was named the 25th head football coach at Drake University on Dec. 22, 2007. In his first year at Drake, Creighton guided the Bulldogs to a 6-5 record in 2008 with the team winning four of its last five games.
   
Prior to his arrival at Drake, Creighton ranked fourth among all active NCAA Division III football coaches in career winning percentage. He served as head coach at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind., from 2001-2007 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, 41, owns an overall record of 114-35 (.765 winning percentage) in 14 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 was 12-1 in 2002 and 11-1 in 2005, capping both seasons with appearances in the 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 league championship in 2000, along with appearances in the NAIA playoffs in 1997 and 2000. Creighton was 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 in 1991 and a master's degree from Concordia (Ill.) University in 1993.

CREIGHTON RANKS AMONG NATION'S BEST: Chris Creighton ranks 36th among the winningest active college football coaches at all levels with a .765  winning percentage, owning a 114-35 career mark in 14 years.

CO-CAPTAINS: Senior defensive tackle Andrew Asbell, senior linebacker Ben Morrison, senior fullback Steve Platek and senior defensive end Dain Taylor have been selected as captains for the Drake football team. Platek, a two-time first-team All-Pioneer Football League selection, was named a captain for the second straight year. He was the most valuable player for the Bulldogs last fall after leading Drake with a team-high nine touchdowns. He caught a team-best 49 passes for 553 yards, including three touchdowns. He also rushed 30 times for 147 yards, including a team-high six touchdowns.
   
Taylor also earned first-team all-league honors last year after collecting  48 tackles, including 29 solos. He led Drake with 19.5 tackles for losses totaling 90 yards, while recording a team-high 10.5 quarterback sacks for 73 yards in losses.
   
Morrison earned honorable mention All-PFL honors last year. He had 75 tackles, including 14.5 tackles totaling 57 yards in losses, while recording 4.5 quarterback sacks and forcing four fumbles. Asbell, a three-year letterwinner, earned second-team all-league honors in 2007 and was an honorable mention choice in 2008.

SEASON OPENERS: The  28-14 home loss to Lehigh marked the first time Drake had dropped its season opener since 2006. The Bulldogs sport a 69-42-6 record (.621) in season openers, having won their last three season openers including a 22-0 home victory against Grand View last year and a 17-13 home triumph against Upper Iowa in 2008.
   
Drake's 27-24 upset win 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.

ALL-AMERICAN PLAUDITS: Drake senior defensive end Dain Taylor has been named to a fourth preseason All-American football team. The co-captain was selected to the preseason College Sporting News Football Championship Subdivision All-American third team.
   
Previously, Taylor was named to the preseason All-American football team by the FCS Senior Scout Bowl selection committee. The FCS Senior Scout Bowl is a post-season all-star game showcasing the talent of senior players from the NCAA FCS Division (formerly 1-AA ) football level. Taylor was selected to the North defense second team. He also was named to The Sports Network Preseason All-America third team and the Consensus Draft Services Preseason Football College Subdivision All-American second team. He led the PFL with 19.5 tackles for losses totaling 90 yards, while recording a PFL-high 10.5 quarterback sacks for 73 yards in losses.   
   
CUNDIFF IN NFL:  Former Drake standout Billy Cundiff kicked a 25-yard field goal which proved to be the difference in the Baltimore Ravens' 10-9 season opening victory against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football. He has made 10 of 12 field goals this fall, including a season long of 49 in a 24-17 victory against Cleveland Sept. 26. He kicked a game winning 38-yard field goal Sunday as the Ravens beat Buffalo, 38-35, in overtime.
   
Cundiff converted 15-of-20 field goals in 14 regular-season and playoff games last year for the Ravens.
   
Cundiff set 15 school and five Pioneer Football League records, including Drake career marks for points (284), field goals (49-of-79) and PATs (137-of-151). He also ranked 14th on the NCAA I-AA career field goal list, connecting on 49. Cundiff made eight field goals over 50 yards in his career at Drake, including a PFL record 62-yarder as a junior in 2000 against San Diego.
   
Cundiff has played in the National Football League for eight years, including stints with Atlanta, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Green Bay, Kansas City and New Orleans. He signed as a free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys in 2002. His bid to beat out incumbent Dallas kicker Tim Seder was well chronicled nationally on the weekly HBO TV Show: Hard Knocks: Inside the Cowboys Training Camp. And he was rewarded for his hard work by winning the job as the regular kicker for the Dallas. As a rookie, he made all 25 PAT conversions, along with 12 field goals.
   
Cundiff was named the National Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week Sept. 30, 2002, after kicking a 48-yard field goal on the game's final play to give the Cowboys a 13-10 victory against NFC defending champion St. Louis. He further solidified his NFL career in 2003 by making 23
-of-29 field goals, including three beyond 50 yards for Dallas.
   
He tied a National Football League record by making seven field goals in a 2003 Monday Night Football game at the New York Giants, including a 52-yarder on the final play of regulation to send the game into overtime, followed by a 25-yard kick that gave the Cowboys a 35-32 victory. His kicking shoe from the record-tying effort is on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Cundiff made 20-of-26 field goals in 2004, including three in the regular season finale at the New York Giants. He set the Dallas Cowboy record for longest field goal from 56 yards against the Detroit Lions in 2005.