DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University football team starts its 2021 Pioneer Football League Spring season Saturday, March 13 against the San Diego Toreros. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. at Drake Stadium. The game will be streamed on www.godrakebulldogs.com, available to Mediacom subscribers on MC22 and broadcast on the radio on Hope 940 AM.
 
The 2020 PFL season in the fall was cancelled due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. In November, the PFL Presidents Council, as advanced by the PFL athletic directors and coaches, endorsed a six-week, six-game conference season to be played in the spring of 2021. This spring model gives PFL teams the opportunity to earn the PFL championship title and the automatic qualifier to the 2021 NCAA FCS Spring Playoffs starting April 24.
 
Seven PFL members, Butler, Drake, Davidson, Morehead State, San Diego, Stetson, Valparaiso and new incoming PFL member, Presbyterian, will each play three home and three away contests this spring. Schools also have the option to schedule non-conference matchups if choose. Dayton and Marist each opted out of the spring season.
 
San Diego, which has won the past six PFL regular season championships, is picked to win the league this spring as voted on by the PFL's head coaches. Drake is tabbed to finish third.
 
Second-year Drake head coach Todd Stepsis will guide the team through the unique spring season. Many of the program's younger players will gain valuable playing experience with numerous Bulldog seniors and fifth-year seniors electing to move on after the cancellation of the 2019 fall season.
 
On offense, sophomore quarterback Ian Corwin returns under center after a promising first season where he earned All-PFL honorable mention honors. Also back is fullback Grant Gossling who also earned All-PFL honorable mention honors in 2019. Tight end Harrison Murray and halfbacks Braeden Hartwig and Cross Robinson return and will see bigger roles.
 
On defense, safeties Danny Morales and Alex Rogers, are back after they each earned All-PFL honors. Also back are a trio of linebackers in Declan Carr, Ryan Kriceri and Will Kulick, who all have significant experience.
 
Drake's offensive and defensive lines will each feature new faces as they both lost numerous starters and reserves from the 2019 team.
 
Following Saturday's home opener, the Bulldogs play at Valparaiso on March 20 at 1 p.m. in the first of two-straight road games.