The Drake University football team opens its 2014 season against crosstown opponent Grand View on Saturday evening at Drake Stadium at 6 p.m. in the fifth all-time meeting between the two programs.
Last year's meeting drew the largest Drake Stadium crowd since 2009 and excitement is equally high this year as Grand View travels across the Des Moines River following a sterling 14-0 season en route to the 2013 NAIA national championship. Saturday is also Drake Faculty/Staff Day with faculty/staff eligible to receive up to four complimentary tickets with a valid university ID. Faculty/staff wishing to take advantage of the offer can visit the Drake Athletic Ticket Office during business hours on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday to receive their tickets.
Drake returns to the gridiron under new leadership for the first time in seven seasons as Rick Fox takes the reins of the program. Despite being a first-year head coach, Fox is no stranger to Drake after serving as an assistant on previous head coach Chris Creighton's staff for six seasons. Fox returns 40 players that lettered last season and 15 that earned starting experience on last year's 6-5 team.
Grand View clipped Drake, 21-16, last season for its first win in the series and the Bulldogs are anticipating another fierce challenge this year.
“It's going to be two very talented teams going after each other,” Fox said. “The team that executes and plays together is going to win the football game.”
Helping the Bulldogs execute will be its top two ballcarriers from 2013 in Gary Scott (Forsyth, Ill.) and Conley Wilkins (Overland Park, Kan.) while quarterback Andy Rice (Stevens Point, Wis.) is set to begin his second season under center.
Defensively, the squad is anchored by a formidable defensive line led by fifth-year captains Matt Acree (Leawood, Kan.) and Brett Park (Olivette, Mo.). Behind them resides the PFL leading tackler from last season in linebacker and fellow captain John Hugunin (Oswego, Ill.). Hugunin jumpstarted that junior campaign with 19 tackles in last year's Grand View game.
