DES MOINES, Iowa – Senior quarterback Grant Kraemer tied the program record with six touchdown passes to lead the Drake University football team past Southwestern College (Kan.), 55-14, Saturday night at Drake Stadium.
 
Kraemer's six touchdown passes tied Ira Vandever's performance against San Deigo in 2002. Kraemer ended up throwing for 313 yards and completed 20-of-27.
 
"Grant did a great job. He managed the offense really well, he didn't force it and that's what you got to do, especially as a mature quarterback," said Drake head coach Rick Fox. "We've got a nice young group of receivers and it was good for them to have some success tonight and feel that, because we think that group looks pretty good moving forward."
 
Sophomore Mitch McFarlane led the young receiving corps with seven catch for 152 yards and three touchdowns. Fellow sophomore Daeonte Calvert caught four passes for 45 yards.
 
The Bulldogs wasted little time to get on top of the Moundbuilders as Kraemer completed 66-yard touchdown pass to McFarlane on the second play of the game.
 
The Bulldogs were put in exceptional field position to start the second-quarter because of Cooper Christiano's first career interception that ended the opening quarter.
 
On the first play of the second-quarter, Kraemer found Devin Cates in the middle of the end zone for his first career touchdown catch and put Drake up 14-0.
 
The Bulldogs' offense was put in good field position again, but this time courtesy of the special teams. Cates got his hand on SC's Mario Esparza punt, resulting in a 17-yard punt and putting DU's offense on Southwestern's 42-yard line.
 
Kraemer and company took full advantage of the short field as Kraemer threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to senior Cole Neary to extend Drake's lead 21-0.
 
On the Bulldogs' next possession, Kraemer orchestrated six-play 65-yard scoring drive, which was capped off by a 25-yard touchdown pass to McFarlane.
 
The Moundbuilders managed to get on the broad late in the second-quarter and then took advantage of a Bulldog miscue in the final minute to cut their deficit to 28-14 at halftime.
 
The second-half was all Drake. The Bulldog defense smothered the Moundbuilders as they didn't allow a first down and gave up just five yards of total offense.
 
Fifth-year senior Tanner Evans led the defense with five tackles, two for a loss and a sack. Mack Marrin recorded four stops, including a game-high two sacks.

Offensively, Kraemer found McFarlane for the third time in the third-quarter and then completed his sixth touchdown pass to Connor Ostrander early in the fourth.
 
Junior Danny Donley kept the Bulldogs prefect in the red zone with a pair of field goals, 43 yards and 26 yards, respectively.
 
Sophomore Jacob Clay capped off the Bulldog scoring with a one-yard touchdown run in the final minutes of the game for a final score of 55-14.
 
The Bulldogs will begin the road portion of their schedule next week as they travel to No. 4 South Dakota State on Sept. 16. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.