The Drake University football team continues Pioneer Football League action on the road this week at Davidson, a team it has not faced since 2010. Kickoff at the Wildcats' Richardson Stadium is scheduled for noon, CDT with the contest being broadcast in Des Moines on KRNT 1350-AM.
The Bulldogs travel to Davidson with a 2-3 overall record and a 1-1 mark in Pioneer Football League action after handling Jacksonville in its last outing, 27-17. The challenge for the team this week, as in all game weeks, will be maintaining that performance and consistency through to Saturday's contest.
“I think that consistency comes best from maturity so the older the team you have, the more mature you are, the better chance you have to be consistent,” head coach Chris Creighton said. “One way to learn consistency is to not be consistent and feel the pain that brings. The older you get you understand how important that is and that you have to bring it every week and that you have to have a consistent performance to win in this league.”
Davidson is winless in five tries on the season under first-year head coach Paul Nichols, but boasts one of the PFL's top quarterbacks in the PFL with 276.8 passing yards per game.
“We haven't played them since 2010 but we got to see their quarterback who was a freshman then and is a dynamite quarterback,” Creighton said. “Anytime you have a great quarterback you have a chance to win. It's going to be good to meet them. It's a long trip and we haven't been consistent as a football team so part of our challenge is going on the road and beating a good football team. They're going to be hungry and we're going to get their best.”
One area that has shown improved consistency in the Bulldogs last few games is the young offensive line that has gelled to a degree to allow Andy Rice (Stevens Point, Wis.) to throw for a pair of touchdowns last week and rush for two more. They also aided A.J. Washington's (St. Louis, Mo.) breakout 120-yard game with 72 yards rushing and 48 yards receiving against Jacksonville.
“Our offensive line the last three weeks has been performing better and better,” Creighton said. “I think they're getting into a groove and figuring out how good they can be. If they're a microcosm of our team, we're in good shape because I really have seen a maturation on the offensive line.”
Drake holds a 5-1 advantage in the series against Saturday's opponent and has won three straight games against the Wildcats. Following Saturday's game, the team will play a second straight road game on Oct. 19 against fellow defending PFL co-champion Butler.
