DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University football team earned its 600th win in program history on Saturday afternoon as the Bulldogs handed Dayton its first loss of the season, defeating the Flyers 27-17 in the season finale at Drake Stadium.
"What a crazy year, I mean we got 600 wins and Paul Morrison saw his 700th game. Nobody has seen 700 games of one team in college football like Paul Morrison has and there are only a handful of teams that have 600 wins. That's the Drake history and what made it great to beat Dayton," said head coach Rick Fox.
To go with the historic victory, fifth-year senior linebacker John Hugunin tallied a game-high 12 tackles to become Drake's all-time career leading tackler, finishing his career with 417 stops. Hugunin also recorded an interception and broke up a pass in his final game in the Blue and White.
"He genuinely loves Drake, Drake football, his teammates and that has much to do of anything for why he broke because he gives himself to everything he does," said Fox on Hugunin setting a new career tackles record.
Fifth-year senior Andy Rice and junior Conley Wilkins paced Drake's offense. Rice completed 21-of-26 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns, while Wilkins rushed for 140 yards with two touchdowns.
Rice orchestrated an 11-play 80-yard drive midway through the opening quarter to put the Bulldogs ahead 7-0. Rice capped off the 5:30 drive with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Zach Zlabis.
On the Bulldogs very next drive and on the first play of the second quarter Wilkins broke off a 25-yard touchdown run to put Drake up 14-0.
Then with the first half winding down, Rice completed 5-of-7 passes to give Drake a 21-0 halftime lead, ending the drive on a 21-yard touchdown pass to fifth-year senior Michael Hudson.
In the first-half, Drake dominated both sides off the ball as the offense totaled 141 yards, while the defense limited the Flyers to 53 total yards and to just four first downs.
Dayton started its second drive of the third quarter on Drake's 42-yard line and were able to take advantage of the good field position when Alex Jeske dove into the endzone from three-yards out to cut the Flyers' deficit to 21-7.
Then early in the fourth quarter, Dayton managed to capitalize on a Drake turnover but needed a fourth and goal one-yard touchdown run from Jack Adams to do so, making it a 21-14 game.
On Dayton's next possession the Flyers started in Bulldog territory again. Drake's defense managed to limit the Flyers to a field goal to hold onto a 21-17 lead.
Then for the third-straight drive Dayton got into Bulldog territory, but Drake's defense forced the Flyers to turn the ball over on downs on DU's 40-yard line with just over two minutes left to play.
On the first play of the drive, Wilkins put the game out of reach for the Flyers with a 60-yard touchdown run, sealing the 27-17 victory.
The Bulldogs end the 2015 season with a 5-6 overall record and a 4-4 PFL record, and became the 18th FCS school to win 600 games. Dayton finishes the regular season with a 10-1 record, while going 7-1 in the PFL to be named co-champions and receives the leagues automatic bid for the FCS Playoffs.
