DES MOINES, IOWA -  Drake forced Butler into five turnovers en route to a 10-7 Pioneer Football League victory in the season finale for both teams Saturday.

Drake's fourth straight home victory allowed the Bulldogs to clinch third place in the league with a 6-2 mark, while finishing the season at 7-4. Both Drake league losses were on the road to conference co-champions Dayton and Jacksonville with the outcomes decided in the game's final minute.

"I'm proud of team and love the direction we're headed," said third-year Drake football coach Chris Creighton. "We're a good team and very, very close. That is exciting and motivating."

Sophomore free safety Mike Ratelle (Edina, Minn.) had two pass interceptions, while junior linebacker Tyler Moorehead (Mason City, Iowa) collected a career-high 11 tackles for Drake.

The Bulldogs' relied on their longest scoring drive of the season — a 19-play, time consuming 9 minute three-second march — that proved to be the difference in the game.

Clinging to a 3-0 lead, a four-yard scoring run by senior Tom Kostek (West Des Moines, Iowa) to the right corner of the endzone with 2:57 left in the third quarter capped the touchdown drive giving Drake a 10-0 advantage.

Quarterback Ander Huck threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Zach Watkins with 2:22 left in the game to pull Butler within 10-7.  Butler attempted an onside kick but Drake linebacker Ben Morrison, one of eight seniors playing in his final college game, recovered the loose pigskin.

"It is a special day because we wanted our seniors to feel good about closing out the season on a winning note," said added Creighton. "It was very emotional in locker room before game. We played with a lot of fire in the second half."

The Butler Bulldogs did stop Drake on its ensuing possession, getting one last opportunity to either tie or win the game by taking over on downs at its own 32 yardline with 1:11 remaining.

However, on second down Drake defensive end Dain Taylor (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) recorded a six-yard quarterback sack of Huck and then Ratelle sealed the game with his second interception at the Butler 41 yardline.

Ratelle and Taylor each finished with eight tackles, including five solo hits. Junior strong safety Nick Chenier (Hinsdale, Ill.) and junior offensive lineman Evan Lawrence (Moline, Ill.) also recovered fumbles for Drake.

It was a defensive struggle in the first half with Drake forcing Butler into four turnovers including three inside the Bulldog 20 yardline.

A 23-yard field goal by Drake's  Billy Janssen (Round Lake Beach, Ill.) with 4:21 left in the first quarter accounted for the lone scoring in the first half.

Ratelle thwarted a Butler scoring drive collecting an interception in the endzone with three seconds left in the first quarter.

Moorehead forced two fumbles and recovered one. Moorehead stopped a Butler drive with a fumble recovery at the Drake 13 yardline with 4:00 left in the second quarter. On Butler's next offensive series, Moorehead forced a fumble following a pass completion to receiver Eddie McHale with Drake teammate Chenier recovering at the Drake 16 yardline.

Drake starting quarterback Mike Piatkowski (Wheaton, Ill.) missed his second game of the season, recovering from a concussion.

Sophomore Cody Seeger (Barrington, Ill.), making his second start of the season, completed 13 of 26 passes for 109 yards for Drake.

Drake J-Back Steve Platek (Arlington Heights, Ill.) caught a team-high six passes for 32 yards.

Drake sophomore Trey Morse (Elmo, Texas) rushed for a game-high 81 yards in 23 carries.