DES MOINES, Iowa -- The Drake University football team's defense forced five turnovers in the Bulldogs' annual spring game to defeat the offense, 48-17, Saturday afternoon at Drake Stadium.
The team was split into offensive and defensive squads in which the defense earned points for touchdowns, turnovers, stops and safeties. Meanwhile the offense could score via traditional means and was awarded a point for each first down and play of 20 or more yards. The contest consisted of two 12-minutes halves with standard clock operation. The defense led at halftime 25-13 and used three second-half turnovers to seal the victory.
“I thought on the defensive side we had great energy. On the offensive side we were flat from the start, so we got to get better in that,” said Drake head coach, Rick Fox. “Football is a game played with passion and you saw that today. And the success went to the defense, largely because of that.”
Of the defense's 70 points, 25 came via turnovers with Pisklo, Bryan (Tulsa, Okla.), Jabari Butler (Chicago, Ill.) and Michael Roane (Chanhassen, Minn.) recording interceptions and Jared Chance (Yukon, Okla.) earning a fumble.
The defense took an early lead with two stops and a fumble, before the offense got into a slight rhyme. Senior Andy Rice (Stevens Point) orchestrated an 11-play touchdown drive that was topped off with an eight-yard touchdown catch by senior Lee Snell (Overland Park, Kan.).
“I think the pieces and the parts are there, and we have a good plan. We have to get ourselves to executing it better. We were sloppy at times and that killed the drives once were getting them going,” noted Fox about the offense.
Honorary team member Jack Conlon closed out the half with a touchdown as he scampered past the defense into the end zone from 20 yards out.
The offense opened the second half by marching all the way down to the defense's doorstep. The defense bent but didn't break as they forced a turnover on downs on their goal line.
Roane ended the game with an interception to top off six consecutive stops by the defense.
The spring game marks the completion of the Bulldogs' spring practices. The squad will resume offseason workouts for the remainder of the semester before rejoining with the start of preseason practice in August. The team opens its 2015 schedule on Sept. 5 against William Jewell at Drake Stadium.
“Our expectation is to win a conference championship. We were within one play in two different occasions last year, in winning our third conference championship in four years. What is going to be really key this fall is poised under pressure. We will have to keep our poise under pressure, because there is going to be adversity that we have to overcome,” said Fox.
