Box Score DES MOINES, Iowa — Drake University fell to Quincy, 35-38, in the Bulldogs 2016 season opener Saturday evening at Drake Stadium.
 
Drake came out of the gates playing aggressive by successfully converting an on-side kick to open the game. Conley Wilkins then bursted for a 24-yard run to ignite the Bulldog offense. Three plays after a 20-yard pass from Cody Thibault to Grant Menard, Wilkins dove into the end zone to score the game's first points.
 
The Hawks responded with nine unanswered points and took advantage of Bulldog interception to take 9-7 lead into the second-quarter.
 
On the first play of the second-quarter, Thibault put the Bulldogs back ahead by completing an 11-yard touchdown pass to Eric Saubert, 14-9. Saubert went on to finish the game with a team-best seven receptions for 95 yards.
 
Quincy didn't waste anytime responding as Robbie Kelley completed a 67-yard touchdown pass to Eric Poindexter, who led all receivers 165 yards and two touchdowns.
 
The Hawks went on to score in their next two drives to take a 28-14 lead.
 
The Bulldogs managed to cut into their deficit as Menard caught a 9-yard touchdown pass from Thibault to make it 28-21 at halftime.
 
Quincy extended its lead on the Hawks first possession of the second-half when Grant Huelsmann made a 22-yard field goal to put the Hawks up 31-21.
 
Juinor transfer Grant Kraemer came off the bench to lead the Bulldogs to their only points of the third quarter. Kraemer completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Keegan Gallery to put the Bulldogs within three, 31-28.
 
Another big play led to another touchdown for the Hawks early in the fourth-quarter, taking a 38-28 lead.
 
The Bulldogs brought it back to a three-point game after one-yard touchdown run by Conley with just 1:27 left in the game.
 
The Hawks recovered the ensueing on-side kick and with no timeouts left for the Bulldogs, Quincy ran out the final ticks for the 38-35 victory.

Quincy's Jaylan James paced the Hawks as he led all rushers with 178 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Sophmore Drew Lauer led the Bulldogs with 79 rushing yards, while Wilkins capped off his day with 62 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
 
The Bulldogs travel to Brookings, S.D. to face South Dakota State University on Sept. 10. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.