MOSCOW, Idaho – The Drake University football team took a touchdown lead over Idaho early in the second quarter before the Vandals pulled away in the second half in a 42-14 defeat inside the Kibbie Dome on Saturday (Sept. 17). Idaho of the Big Sky Conference improved to 1-2 overall while the Bulldogs moved to 0-3.
"You see some bright flashes of the type of team we can be when you go into a game like this," head coach
Todd Stepsis said. "Unfortunately, we kind of ran out of steam. We are going to correct the negatives and take the positives. We only had one penalty today, that's a huge positive."
The Vandals scored on their first drive with 8:21 remaining in the first quarter when Jermaine Jackson hauled in a 20-yard pass from Gevani McCoy.
Drake had an immediate answer on its next drive (15 plays, 70 yards), utilizing key third down conversions to move into scoring position.
Ian Corwin flipped a pass down the right sideline that was hauled in circus style by
Trey Radocha for a gain of 19 yards. A play later on second down and goal from the three-yard line,
Davion Cherwin rumbled in to even the score, 7-7 with only 1:15 left in the opening quarter.
After a quick three-and-out, the Bulldogs went back to work on offense early in the second quarter. Corwin connected with a wide-open Radocha streaking down the middle of the field. Radocha caught the ball and dragged Idaho defenders with him all the way to the three-yard line for a gain of 78 yards.
On first down and goal from the three,
Dorian Boyland took the pitch and make a cut to find the end zone. Boyland's first rushing touchdown put Drake in front, 14-7 with 14:02 to play in the second quarter.
An Idaho field goal at the 10:06 mark of the second quarter trimmed the margin to 14-10. The Vandals regained the lead with 3:31 left in the second quarter on a 4-yard touchdown scamper by Roshaun Johnson.
Ricardo Chavez converted a 31-yard field goal for the Vandals as time expired in the first half for a 20-14 Idaho advantage at halftime.
The Vandals set the tone in the second half when Jackson displayed his explosive speed to return a punt 79 yards for a touchdown. The two-point conversion was successful as Idaho moved ahead, 28-14 with 11:07 to go in the third quarter.
A pair of Chavez field goals from 44 yards (5:08 left) and 36 yards (2:05) away widened the deficit to 34-14 after three quarters of play.
Idaho won its home opener, 42-14, in front of a crowd of 5,804 fans.
"The neat thing about the Pioneer Football League is that we can start fresh," Stepsis said. "In conference play, we're 0-0 and ready to see what this team can do."
The Bulldogs will return home to Drake Stadium for their PFL opener against Marist on Saturday, Sept. 24 at 1 p.m.
NOTES
- Trey Radocha's 78-yard catch in the second quarter was Drake's longest play from scrimmage this season.
- The three-yard touchdown run by Davion Cherwin in the first quarter was Drake's first rushing touchdown of the season and the first of Cherwin's collegiate career.
- Dorian Boyland's three-yard touchdown in the second quarter was his first collegiate rushing touchdown.
- Linebacker Tanner Pollock led Drake in tackles with nine (seven solo).
- Defensive lineman Jake Shipla recorded two tackles for loss resulting in a loss of four total yards.
- Des Moines native and defensive lineman Finn Claypool recorded his first sack of the season at the 6:26 mark of the third quarter.
- Drake only committed one penalty for 10 yards during the entire game.
- Saturday was the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
