The Drake University football team plays its second-to-last home game of the 2015 season on Saturday afternoon when it hosts undefeated Jacksonville.
Jacksonville comes to Des Moines with a 3-0 PFL record, but is ineligible for the PFL regular-season title and automatic bid in 2015 due to league-imposed penalties. The Dolphins are coming off a non-conference win over cross-town rivals Edward Waters, 49-28. The Bulldogs enter Saturday's contest with a 3-4 overall record and 2-2 in the PFL after falling at San Diego last week, 27-0.
Drake leads the all-time series 11-3 over Jacksonville and are perfect 6-0 at home. The Dolphins won last year's meeting, 29-14, snapping a three-game Bulldog winning streak.
Drake's defense continues to lead the squad as the team ranks third in PFL games in total defense by allowing just 280 yards per game, and are second in the conference in rushing (65.8 ypg) and sacks (14). John Hugunin leads Drake's defense with 57 tackles, including 9.0 for a loss. The fifth-year senior linebacker leads the country with six forced fumbles and ranks sixth with two fumble recoveries. Junior defensive end Mack Marrin is one of the best pass rushers in the conference as he ranks second in the league with five sacks to go with 7.0 tackles for a loss.
The Bulldogs' offense is led by junior running back Conley Wilkins who has scored 48 of Drake's 151 points this season and rushed for 466 yards, the second-most in PFL.
Jacksonville has one of the best offenses in the PFL as it leads the league in total offense (449.5 ypg), passing (317.0 ypg) and second in scoring (29.5 ppg). JU's offense is led by Kade Bell, who leads the PFL in passing yards (312.0 ypg) and total offense (319.3 ypg). Bell is responsible for 108 of JU's 177 points, which ranks in 10th in the country.