GAME SIGNIFICANCE: Guaranteed of no worse than a third-place finish in the Pioneer Football League, Drake sets its aspirations higher when the Bulldogs travel to co-league leader Dayton Saturday.
   
An impressive 38-17 home victory against San Diego last Saturday allowed the Bulldogs to remain one game behind co-league leaders Dayton and Jacksonville in the PFL standings.
   
The Bulldogs maintained their lock on second place in the PFL, improving their record to 5-1 while moving to 6-3 overall. Dayton and Jacksonville stand 6-0 in the PFL.
   
AMONG NCAA  LEADERS: Drake ranks 20th in overall victories (562) among the 123 schools which play in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
   
The game against Dayton will be the 1,074th game in school history with Drake owning a record of 562-482-29 for a winning percentage of .537.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT:  Dayton rolled to its seventh straight victory with a 37-13 triumph at Davidson last Saturday as senior quarterback Steve Valentino threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns and Taylor Harris added touchdown runs of 18 and 30 yards.
   
Dayton has 15 starters from last year's team which posted a 9-2 record, including a share of the Pioneer Football League title. Senior linebacker James Vercammen is one of five returning first-team all-league performers. Vercammen was honored as the PFL Defensive Player of the Week in 48-14 and 41-23 wins over Valparaiso and Campbell, respectively. Vercammen set a PFL single season tackle record last year with 134 stops.
   
Valentino, offensive guard Tyler Friedrich, linebacker Joe Ries and defensive end Brandon Wingeier also earned first-team all-league honors last year.
   
Valentino is the first player in PFL history to earn first-team all-league honors at two different positions. A first-team all-league receiver in 2008, he became Dayton's starting quarterback in 2009 and led the league in total offense, averaging 281.6 yards. He has 2,351 yards total offense this fall, including 1,792 passing with 12 touchdowns.
   
Rick Chamberlin, a 1980 graduate of Dayton, owns a 26-6 record in three years as head coach at his alma mater. He was named the school's 23rd head football coach Jan. 23, 2008 succeeding Mike Kelly who retired after posting a 246-54-1 record from 1981-2007. Chamberlin earned first-team all-American honors by the American Football Coaches Association in 1978. He had served as linebacker coach at Dayton and defensive coordinator for 28 years before his promotion.

THE SERIES: The Flyers own a 22-4 record against Drake, including an 11-2 mark in games played in Dayton. The Flyers have won the last three games against Drake with the Bulldogs' last victory occurring, 21-9, in Dayton in 2006. Drake has suffered three straight losses to the Flyers with its last victory occurring in Dayton, 21-9, Oct. 28, 2006.

THE LAST TIME: Dayton 23, Drake 6 (Nov. 11, 2009, Des Moines, Iowa) — Dayton held Drake to a season-low 166 yards of total offense en route to spoiling the Bulldogs' regular-season home finale Saturday. The Bulldogs also had a seven-game PFL winning streak, dating back to 2008 snapped.
   
Dayton quarterback Steve Valentino threw touchdown passes of 30 and 36 yards to Justin Watkins and Luke Bellman, respectively.
   
Junior Tom Kostek caught a four-yard touchdown pass from redshirt freshman Michael Piatkowski with 4:43 left in the game to account for Drake's lone touchdown. The Bulldogs didn't cross midfield until their first drive of the second half, mustering just 49 yards total offense in the first half.
   
Linebacker Cale Hunt and strong safety Skye Buckner-Petty, who were two of 16 players playing in their final home game at Drake Stadium, led the Bulldogs with 10 tackles apiece. Linebacker Ben Morrison added eight tackles, including a five-yard quarterback sack and three other tackles for eight yards in losses. Defensive back Tyler Moorehead had a seven-yard quarterback sack and three tackles for 18 yards in losses for Drake.
   
Piatkowski completed 15 of 32 passes for 88 yards with Kostek hauling in a team-high four catches for 24 yards. Junior Patrick Cashmore led Drake with 29 yards rushing in six attempts.

TEAM LEADERS:  After nine games, junior Mike Piatkowski (Wheaton, Ill.) has completed 149 of 250 passes (.596) for 1,690 yards, including 14 touchdowns, while having a passing efficiency rating of 130.86, which ranks 38th nationally.
   
Junior Drew Blackmon (Florissant, Mo.) and fifth-year senior Steve Platek (Arlington Heights, Ill.) lead the team with 38 receptions apiece. Blackmon has accounted for 504 yards (13.3 avg.), including five touchdowns, while Platek has 331 yards and five touchdowns. Sophomore Joey Orlando (Park Ridge, Ill.) has 28 receptions for 318 yards (11.4 avg.).
   
Senior Pat Cashmore (Kansas City, Mo.) leads the Bulldogs with 342 yards rushing in 72 carries (4.8 avg.) with a team-high seven touchdowns. Senior Tom Kostek (West Des Moines, Iowa) has 216 yards rushing in 73 carries (3.0 avg).
   
Linebacker Ben Morrison (Long Grove, Ill.) paces the defense with 58 tackles, including 31 solo hits, with one fumble recovery and one interception. Sophomore linebacker Tyler Moorehead (Mason City, Iowa) has 56 tackles, including 39 solo hits. Senior cornerback  Mike Lahart (Chariton, Iowa) has 51 tackles, including 37 solos, while leading the team with 10 pass break ups.

MORRISON HONORED: Drake middle linebacker Ben Morrison was named the Pioneer Football League co-defensive player of the week for his effort in the Bulldogs' 38-17 home victory against San Diego last Saturday.

The fifth-year senior returned an interception 95 yards for a first-quarter touchdown for Drake. He also collected three tackles, including two solo hits. Morrison shared the weekly award with junior defensive lineman Rolando Fines from Jacksonville.

SACK ATTACK: Drake's defense has recorded 19 quarterback sacks in the last five games, including five in back-to-back games against Marist and Jacksonville. Drake ranks 12th nationally in quarterback sacks (2.9 avg. per game) and is 18th in tackles in tackles for losses, averaging 7.4 per game.
   
Drake fifth-year senior Dain Taylor (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) is tied for fifth nationally in quarterback sacks (nine total, 1.0 avg.) and ranks seventh in tackles for loss (15 total, 1.94 avg.).

DEFENDING THE AIRWAVES: Drake has returned four interceptions for touchdowns this season, including three in the past two games. Defensive linemen David Witkiewicz (Hales Corner, Wis.) and Dain Taylor even got in the act.
   
Witkiewicz got things started by returning an interception 13 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the second half at Valparaiso Sept. 25. Taylor had a 36-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter against Davidson Oct. 23. Cornerback Mike Lahart (Chariton, Iowa) also returned an interception for a touchdown against Davidson, scoring from 40 yards.
   
Ben Morrison's 95-yard return against San Diego was the fourth longest in school history.

REDZONE ATTACK: Drake has converted 28 of 33 opportunities (.849) inside the opponents' 20 yardline, including 27 touchdowns. Opponents have converted 80 percent inside the Drake redzone, scoring on 24 of 30 possessions.

ON THE MOVE: Junior receiver Drew Blackmon has caught 25 passes, totaling  388 yards, in his last four games. Blackmon leads Drake with 38 receptions, seven more than his entire 2009 output of 31 catches.
   
Seventeen of those receptions in the last four 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

IMPRESSIVE NUMBERS: Senior Billy Janssen (Round Lake Beach, Ill.) is averaging 42.0  yards on his last 19 punts covering the last four 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.

DEFENSE FORCES FIVE TURNOVERS AGAINST SAN DIEGO: Drake's defense forced a season-high five turnovers, including a 95-yard interception return for a touchdown, to earn its third straight victory with a 38-17 triumph past San Diego last Saturday.
   
San Diego quarterback Mason Mills had entered the game throwing just four interceptions for the entire season. But the Bulldog defense thwarted the freshman by recording four pass thefts.
   
Ben Morrison got things started by returning an interception 95 yards for a touchdown, stopping a potential scoring drive on San Diego's first possession.
   
Safeties Akeem Campbell (Hazel Crest, Ill.) and Mike Ratelle (Edina, Minn.) also had interceptions for Drake.
   
Drake sophomore linebacker Tyler Moorehead led both teams with 14 tackles, including 12 solo hits. Walkup, Taylor and senior end Robby Unger (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) each recorded quarterback sacks for Drake.

STATISTICS DON'T TELL STORY: San Diego nearly doubled Drake in time of possession, having the football 39 minutes 13 seconds to Drake's 20:47.
   
Drake's offense ran only five plays in the first quarter, netting 18 yards. San Diego finished the first half with 45 offensive plays totaling 207 yards, compared to 21 offensive plays by Drake for 115 total yards.

ONE TO 99: The pendulum swung momentum wise in the Drake-San Diego game  late in the first half when the Bulldogs thwarted a scoring drive by stopping the Toreros four straight downs on the one yardline. Drake then marched the length of the field for a touchdown with just 12 seconds left in the first half to grab a 14-10 halftime lead.
   
The Toreros' Matt Jelmini was stopped twice for no gain on the Drake one yardline, forcing San Diego to call a time out with 3:14 left to mull over a fourth-down decision. Drake defensive linemen Josh Walkup (Littleton, Colo.) and Dain Taylor then stopped Jelmini for a one yard loss.
   
Quarterback Mike Piatkowski orchestrated Drake's two-minute offense to perfection. With no time outs left, the Bulldogs marched 98 yards in 13 plays capped by a six-yard touchdown pass from Piatkowski to fifth-year senior Steve Platek  with 12 seconds left.
   
The duo teamed up again with 4:36 left in the game on a 14-yard touchdown pass to round out Drake's scoring.

POTENT DUO: Drake junior quarterback Mike Piatkowski passed for two touchdowns and rushed for another against the Toreros. Senior Pat Cashmore, making his first start of the season, rushed for a season-high 112 yards, including a three-yard touchdown burst in the fourth quarter.
   
Drake took the kickoff in the second half, marching down to the San Diego 14 yardline before settling on a 31-yard field goal by senior Billy Janssen  with 12:26 left.
   
A three-yard touchdown run by Piatkowski extended Drake's lead to 24-10 with 7:17 remaining in the third quarter. Cashmore's touchdown run was set up when Walkup  recovered a fumble at the San Diego 38 yardline.
   
Piatkowski completed 16 of 28 passes for 188 yards. Platek, junior Drew Blackmon and sophomore Nick Rosa (Owasso, Okla.) led Drake with four receptions apiece.
   
Drake cornerback Matt Hancock's (Kansas City, Mo.) interception at the Drake 32 yardline set up Piatkowski's 14-yard scoring pass to Platek. On the first play from scrimmage following the turnover, sophomore Trey Morse (Elmo, Texas) broke loose for 38 yard run.
   
INTERCEPTIONS FUEL VICTORY:  Drake returned two interceptions for touchdowns en route to a 42-10 Pioneer Football League victory past Davidson Oct. 23.
   
Senior All-American defensive end Dain Taylor returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter to give the Bulldogs 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.
   
The Bulldogs 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 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 against Davidson.
   
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 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 had 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 128. 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.

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).

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 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, Josh Walkup, Ben Morrison and Dain Taylor had quarterback sacks along with sophomore end Brandon Coleman (Cary, Ill.) who had a five-yard sack. Drake 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. 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 Drew Blackmon. Piatkowski pushed Drake's advantage to 35-0 on a five-yard quarterback sneak with 14:55 left in the game. Trey Morse 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  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 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 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, needing just two plays to push the lead to 14-0 after a two-yard plunge by Platek.

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 70-17-1 at Drake Stadium dating back to 1994.
 
THE CREIGHTON ERA: Under the guidance of third-year coach Chris Creighton, Drake has won 18 of its last 25 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 115-35 (.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 115-35 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.

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 is enjoying the best season of his eight-year NFL career as kicker for the Baltimore Ravens. He leads the NFL with 20 touuchbacks on kickoffs and has made 10 of 12 field golas. He kicked a 25-yard field goal which proved to be the difference in the Ravens' 10-9 season opening victory against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football. He converted a season long 49 yard field goal in a 24-17 victory against Cleveland Sept. 26 and 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. 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.