ROLLA, MO. — Junior quarterback Michael 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 Saturday night.

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.

"Winning is fun," said third-year Drake coach Chris Creighton. "We want to be our best on game day and part of being your best is finding a way to win when things aren't pretty. It was a hard fought victory and it was fun to come out on top."

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.

"That was something we thought we might pull off if the situation was there," said Creighton. "Platek did a good job executing."

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.

"Joey was banged up but he was a real warrior tonight," said Creighton whose team evened its record to 1-1.

Safety Akeem Campbell led Drake with eight tackles, while safety Nick Chenier and cornerback Mike Lahart had six tackles apiece.

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 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.

"It's part of human nature when you're up 14-0 right away to think things are going to be easy," said Creighton. "There was a mental and emotional letdown to a degree."

Missouri S&T got on the scoreboard by recovering a fumble by Drake slot back Tom Kostek at the 49 yardline, settling for a 35-yard field goal by Joe Drahos with 4:47 left in the first half.

The Bulldogs looked like they were going to increase their lead when Piatkowski completed three passes totaling 36 yards down to the Miners' 16 yardline. But Platek was stripped of the football following a six-yard pass completion.

Missouri S&T needed just three plays to march 84 yards for a touchdown capped by a 42-yard scoring pass from Trent Wielbern to Smook Thomas with 48 seconds left in the first half.