DES MOINES, Iowa -- The Drake University football team returns to Drake Stadium Saturday as it hosts the Dayton Flyers. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.
Saturday's contest is the 34th meeting between Drake and Dayton. The Flyers lead the series, 25-8, but the Bulldogs have taken three of the last four meetings. Despite having a 4-11 record at home versus Dayton, the Bulldogs have won the last three meetings at Drake Stadium.
The Bulldogs enter Saturday's game with a 3-2 record and a 2-0 mark in the PFL, while Dayton is 1-4 and 0-2 in the PFL after falling to defending conference champions San Diego last week.
Drake is currently on a six-game Pioneer Football League winning streak, which ranks 10th longest conference winning streak in FCS after the Bulldogs earned a 27-16 road win at Butler last week.
Senior quarterback
Grant Kraemer took a few lumps during non-conference play, but has used those lumps to get out a stellar start in conference play. Over the last two games, Kraemer is averaging 387 yards passing while completing more than 67 percent of his passes; compared to averaging 216 yards and 58 percent in the first three games of the season. He leads the PFL and ranks seventh in the country with 1,423 yards passing and has thrown a league-best 11 touchdowns. Heading into the season, head coach
Rick Fox knew the potential of his young receiving group had and they have shown what they are capable of. The Bulldogs' trio of wide receivers–sophomore
Mitch McFarlane and juniors
Devin Cates and
Steven Doran–rank in the top-11 in receiving yards in the PFL. McFarlane is leading the group with 23 receptions for 390 yards and three touchdowns. Doran has also caught three touchdowns to go with his 16 receptions for 269 yards, while Cates has tallied 20 catches for 260 yards and two touchdowns. Fifth-year senior
Mack Marrin battled through injury most of last season and is looking like he is getting back to his 2015 form when he posted a league-best 8.5 sacks among 12.5 tackles for a loss and earned first-team all-PFL honors. Marrin leads the Bulldogs with 3.0 sacks and has tallied 12 tackles.
With returning starting quarterback and All-PFL selection Alex Jeske missing the first five games of the season, senior running back Tucker Yinger has carried the load for the Flyer offense to start the season. Tucker is averaging nearly a 100 yards per game to lead the Flyer offense.
