DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University Football team out gained Stetson by over 330 yards, as the Bulldogs opened Pioneer Football League action with a dominating 41-3 victory over the Hatters on Saturday at Drake Stadium.
The Bulldogs put up 511 yards of total offense, while Drake's defense held the Hatters to 178 yards.
Junior Conley Wilkins produced his fourth career 100-yard rushing game, as he ran for 152 yards on 13 carries. Wilkins reached the century mark in the second quarter and also had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Senior quarterback Cody Thibault earned his second career start of his career, and totaled 235 yards passing with three touchdowns and three interceptions. Junior Keegan Gallery was Thibault's top target, catching a team-high six passes for 88 yards.
Defensively, fifth-year senior John Hugunin led the squad with 10 tackles (7 solo), while junior Mack Marrin helped set the tone by recording six tackles with four of them being for a loss and two sacks.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Bulldogs got on the board first with a 22-yard field goal by Josh Lee to take a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter.
The Bulldogs capitalized on a Stetson special teams miscue to take a 10-0 lead. The Hatters mishandled one of Cam Bohnert's punts, and Eric Saubert recovered the loose ball on SU's 25 yard line. Two plays later, Thibault completed an 11-yard touchdown pass to Lee Snell with 8:28 until halftime.
After an interception by Drake in its own territory, the defense didn't break and held the Hatters to a field, as Stetson cut its deficit to 10-3.
On the ensuing kickoff, Wilkins found a seam and took it for 100-yard touchdown, extending the Bulldogs lead to 17-3.
Drake opened the second half with a 7-play 80-yard touchdown drive. A 25-yard run by Wilkins and a 37-yard catch by Zach Zlabis, set up the Bulldogs for a 12-yard touchdown pass from Thibault to Zlabis, extending their lead to 24-3.
Lee then nailed a 33-yard field goal with 34 seconds left in the third quarter to put Drake up 27-3 going into the final period.
The Bulldogs scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter as the defense continued its dominating performance, shutting out the Hatters in the second half for a final score of 41-3.
Drake travels to Buies Creek, N.C. on Saturday, Oct. 3 for a league game against Campbell. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. (CST).
