MOREHEAD, Ky. – The Drake University football team routed Morehead State, 43-6, Saturday, Nov. 17, afternoon at Jayne Stadium in the team's final game of the 2018 season.

The Bulldogs finished their campaign at 7-3 overall and in a tie for second place in the Pioneer Football League at 6-2.

Quarterback Grant Kramer (Northridge, Calif.) threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for one touchdown in his final game for Drake. Steve Doran (Germantown, Wis.) caught two touchdowns and ended the season with 12. The Bulldogs' rushing attack finished with 114 yards on the ground with touchdown runs by Jacob Clay (Brentwood, Mo.) and Braeden Hartwig (Lincoln, Neb.). Drew Lauer (St. Peters, Mo.) had a 48-yard touchdown reception out of the backfield as well.  

The Bulldogs' defense limited Morehead State (3-8, 2-6 PFL) to just six points and forced two turnovers. Alex Rogers (Racine, Wis.) had a career day for the defense with 16 total tackles, 11 solo stops, four tackles for loss and a pass break up.

Drake's special teams were outstanding again as the group blocked its eighth kick of the season on an Eagles' extra point. Senior linebacker Kieran Severa (Lawrence, Kan.) scooped up the football and ran it back 98 yards for two points.

After each team's defenses forced three-and-outs at the start of the game, Kramer hit Doran for a deep completion of 41 yards, which put the Bulldogs in the Eagles' red zone. Two plays later, Drake used old fashioned football as Hartwig plowed into the end zone from two yards out. Danny Donley (Tulsa, Okla.) drilled the extra point for a 7-0 Drake lead.

Morehead State matched Drake's touchdown with its own, going 80 yards on 11 plays, on the following drive. However, the Bulldogs' special teams came through with another clutch play when they blocked its eighth kick of the season on the extra point attempt. Severa scooped the ball off the turf following Nathan Clayberg's (Pella, Iowa) block and sprinted 98 yards for two points and a 9-6 Drake lead.

The Bulldogs added to their lead on their next drive. Kramer was briefly knocked out of the game due to injury after a long scramble, but backup quarterback Alex Bray (Muskego, Wis.) hit Lauer on a screen pass as he scampered 48 yards from the right side to the left side of the field and ultimately to the end zone. Donley converted another extra point as Drake led 16-6.

Right before halftime, Kramer returned and teamed up with Doran again, this time for a 65-yard bomb as Doran was left wide open and went untouched all the way into the end zone. Donley missed the extra point for Bulldogs, who led 22-6 at the halftime break.

Midway through the third quarter, Drake went 67 yards on nine plays on a drive that was capped by Kramer's one-yard plunge into the end zone. The short run and Donley's extra point pushed the Bulldogs' advantage to 29-9 as the rout was on.

Drake increased its lead in the fourth quarter on Clay's two-yard rushing touchdown. Later, Kramer connected with Doran from one yard out for the game's final score.

Kramer finished with 245 yards in the air and 32 yards on the ground. Doran hauled in five catches and had 159 yards. Hartwig and Lauer rushed for 50 and 45 yards, respectively.