DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University football team will face a tough 11-game slate in 2015 that includes five dates at Drake Stadium, second-year head coach Rick Fox announced Wednesday.
The Bulldogs open the 2015 campaign at home versus NCAA Division II William Jewell on Sept. 5 at 6 p.m. in Drake Stadium for the first meeting since 1943.
“We are excited to have William Jewell and its new coaching staff to come up to Des Moines. It is always challenging playing a team for the first time with a new head coach,” said Fox. “Then getting on the road to North Dakota and South Dakota will be tough for our guys to play in some loud environments.”
The final two non-conference games will be road trips to the University of North Dakota on Sept. 12 and to the University of South Dakota the following week.
The Bulldogs closed out the 2014 schedule at Stetson and will open PFL action against the Hatters in Drake Stadium on Sept. 26.
Drake travels to Campbell on Oct. 3 for its first PFL road test. The Bulldogs are 5-0 against the Fighting Camels and last played in Buies Creek, N.C. in 2012.
The team will host Valparaiso for its annual homecoming game on Oct. 10 before heading to the west coast to square off with the defending league champions San Diego on Oct. 17.
The Bulldogs wrap up the second month of the season by hosting Jacksonville (Oct. 24) and a trip to Morehead State (Oct. 31).
Drake will begin the final month of the season with a much-needed week off before going to Butler on Nov. 14. The Bulldogs welcome rival Dayton to close the regular season on Nov. 21.
“I'm excited about finishing the regular season against our longtime PFL rival Dayton. It is always a game that both teams get really excited for, and it will be especially big for our seniors to play their final game in Drake Stadium,” said Fox.
The Bulldogs are coming off a 7-4 season in 2014 and were back-to-back league champions in 2011 and 2012. The team enters the 2015 aiming for its 12th consecutive winning season.
2015 Drake Football Schedule
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Location
|
Time
|
|
Sept. 5
|
William Jewell
|
Drake Stadium
|
6 p.m.
|
|
Sept. 12
|
at North Dakota
|
Grand Forks, N.D.
|
TBA
|
|
Sept. 19
|
at South Dakota
|
Vermillion, S.D.
|
TBA
|
|
Sept. 26
|
Stetson*
|
Drake Stadium
|
1 p.m.
|
|
Oct. 3
|
at Campbell*
|
Buies Creek, N.C.
|
Noon
|
|
Oct. 10
|
Valparaiso*
|
Drake Stadium
|
1 p.m.
|
|
Oct. 17
|
at San Diego*
|
San Diego, Calif.
|
3 p.m.
|
|
Oct. 24
|
Jacksonville*
|
Drake Stadium
|
1 p.m.
|
|
Oct. 31
|
at Morehead State*
|
Morehead, Ky.
|
Noon
|
|
Nov. 14
|
at Butler*
|
Indianapolis, Ind.
|
Noon
|
|
Nov. 21
|
Dayton*
|
Drake Stadium
|
Noon
|
* Pioneer Football League contest | All times Central
