DES MOINES, IOWA -- Senior Jay Campbell rushed for three touchdowns as Lehigh jumped to a 21-0 lead before holding off Drake, 28-14, in the season football opener for both teams Saturday night at Drake Stadium.

Campbell had touchdown bursts of two and three yards in the first quarter staking the Mountain Hawks to a 14-0 lead.

A 23-yard touchdown pass from Chris Lum to Craig Zurn pushed the score to 21-0 with 10:40 left in the second quarter.

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 (West Des Moines, Iowa) to get on the scoreboard with 4:45 left in the third quarter.

Drake pulled within 21-14 when junior quarterback Michael Piatkowski (Wheaton, Ill.) rifled a 12-yard scoring pass to junior Drew Blackmon (Florissant, Mo.) in the left corner of the endzone with 7:44 left in the contest.

"We weren't able to execute in the first half," said Drake head football coach Chris Creighton. "We couldn't muster any first downs. It was very frustrating.

"It was just a matter of executing and when we did in the second half, good things started happening."

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 (Hinsdale, Ill.) 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

Despite the loss, Creighton was pleased with the effort by his team.

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.

"When we were down 21-14 I thought we had a chance to win the game," Creighton added. "To be able to not give up and have heart...I will take that any day."

"Lehigh is a seasoned, veteran team. They are well coached and a physical, disciplined team that didn't turn the ball over."

Fifth-year senior linebacker Ben Morrison (Long Grove, Ill.) paced Drake's defense 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 Michael Lahart (Chariton, Ill.) also had seven tackles for Drake.

Middle linebacker Al Pierce led Lehigh with nine tackles.

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 (Long Grove, Ill.) go wide left.

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 begins a three-game roadswing, traveling to Missouri S&T next Saturday.

Lehigh hosts defending national Football Championship Subdivision champion Villanova.