The Drake University football team continues Pioneer Football League play Saturday, Oct. 20, at noon CDT at PFL rival Dayton University.
 
Saturday's contest will be broadcast on the NCAA FCS Football Facebook page.
 
Dayton leads the all-time series 26-8, but Drake has won four of the last seven meetings since 2011. The Bulldogs' momentum has been slowed the past two meetings, with Dayton winning those two meetings.
 
Drake (3-2, 2-1 PFL) lost a heartbreaker on a last-second Stetson touchdown for a final score of 23-21. Thirteen points were scored in the last minute, including a 76-yard touchdown reception from Devin Cates on the first play of the drive.
 
Stetson answered back by marching down the field, needing a touchdown to win. With less than ten seconds left on the clock, it looked like the Bulldogs stopped the Stetson receiver short of the goal-line when the ball appeared a few yards from the pile and was picked up and ran into the endzone for the game-winning score.
 
Despite the loss, Drake held onto the No. 1 ranking in the PFL in scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense, and pass defense efficiency. The Bulldogs also lead the nation in blocked punts with four.
 
Drake's No. 1 rushing defense had a great week, holding Stetson to just 73 yards rushing. Stetson had previously run for 230 or more yards in three of the previous four games. However, that defense will be challenged this weekend by a Dayton team that has rushed for 237 yards per game at home.
 
Dayton (3-4, 2-2 PFL) lost a 36-34 contest Saturday, Oct. 13 on the road against PFL leader San Diego. Dayton quarterback Jack Cook is averaging 246.0 yards per game, including a Dayton record 432 yards passing in the loss to San Diego. 
 
The last time the two teams met, Dayton won, 20-10, in Des Moines. The Bulldogs rushed for a season-high 210 yards, led by Brock Reichardt with 96 yards. Second on the team in rushing yard was Grant Kramer who added 62 yards from under center.
 
After facing Dayton, Drake travels to Valparaiso at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 27 to finish the two-game road trip.