DES MOINES, Iowa – Defense and special teams helped lead the Drake University football team to a 13-10 victory over Marist Saturday afternoon in Pioneer Football League action and the team's final home game of 2018.

In a back-and-forth battle, Drake (6-3, 5-2 PFL) forced four Marist (5-5, 5-2 PFL) turnovers, including three interceptions by junior safety Will Warner (Pella, Iowa). Senior kicker Danny Donley (Tulsa, Okla.) made two field goals and senior wide receiver Steve Doran (Germantown, Wis.) hauled in his 10th touchdown of the season for the Bulldogs' points.

"I think our leading receiver today was Will Warner," an excited Drake head coach Rick Fox said after the win. "He was outstanding and was a ballhawk who just made big play after big play today."

Drake's PFL-leading defense held Marist to just 290 yards, including limiting the Red Foxes' rushing attack to negative nine yards on 32 attempts.

"We talk about them every week," Fox said of the Bulldogs' vaunted defense. "They just keep bringing it play after play and week and after week. That was critical today."

Late in the fourth quarter with Marist threatening to take the lead, Warner picked off quarterback Austin Day for the second time. Warner, who is now tied for the national lead in interceptions with eight, returned that pick all the way to the Marist 12-yard line. The Red Foxes held the Bulldogs to a field goal try, but Donley split the uprights from 24 yards out and led 13-10.

Marist had one more opportunity after Donley's field goal, but Day was sacked and two plays later, Warner delivered his third pick and returned it to midfield. Drake then ran out the clock and improved its all-time record against Marist to 7-0.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Drake faced its first deficit at 10-3, but running back Drew Lauer (St. Peters, Mo.) picked up a first down on a fourth-and-one at Drake's own 47, and one play later quarterback Grant Kramer (Northridge, Calif.) hit Doran in stride for a 53-yard touchdown and with Donley's extra point the game was once again tied, 10-10.

"Our offense was struggling but our guys kept believing and kept playing hard until we got the chance on that big play," Fox added.

Early in the fourth quarter, Drake's defense once again came up with a huge stop. Day hit Juston Christian for a 67-yard reception but Christian was tackled at the Drake two-yard line by Sean Lynch (Hawthorn Woods, Ill.). The Bulldogs' defense kept the Red Foxes' out of the end zone on the next four plays, including a crucial pass breakup on fourth down.

However, Drake's offense couldn't move the football with its back to its own end zone and had to punt. Kicking into a strong wind, Ross Kennedy's punt only went to the Bulldogs 25 yard line. One play later, Day and Christian hooked up again, this time for a 25-yard touchdown as Marist grabbed its first lead of the game at 10-3.

Marist scored its first points when a Kramer pass was picked off by Willie Barrett at the Marist 43-yard line and Barrett returned the ball to the Drake 31-yard line. The Bulldogs' defense stymied the Red Foxes in their red zone once again as they settled for a 27-yard field goal attempt by Mateo Zapata. Zapata made the kick to even the contest at 3-3.

Drake capitalized on an early Marist turnover for its first points. The Red Foxes forced a three-and-out and punt on the game's initial drive but the punt returner Anthony Olivencia dropped the ball on a hit by Jeran Proctor (Johnston, Iowa) who also recovered the ball on Marist's 42-yard line. The Bulldogs moved the ball inside the red zone but settled for a 38-yard Donley field goal and early 3-0 advantage.

After a fumble by Kramer on a fourth down attempt, Marist drove all the way down inside the Bulldogs' five yard line. However, Drake's defense held and forced a short field goal by the Red Foxes. On the field goal attempt, junior Collin Seymour (Peosta, Iowa) flew in from the right side for the block as Gavin Dineen (Algonquin, Ill.) recovered the football.

Drake closes the 2018 season Nov. 17 at Morehead State. Kickoff in Morehead, Ky. is scheduled for 12 p.m. CST.