SCENE SETTER
The Drake football team welcomes St. Thomas to Drake Stadium for the third meeting in program history as two teams with an unblemished 2023 Pioneer Football League record square off. Saturday's game kicking off at noon against St. Thomas is presented by Iowa Ortho.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Saturday's game will be streamed on ESPN+ with Michael Admire (play-by-play) and Jeff Woody (analyst) on the call.
Every Drake football game can be heard live on 1350/102.1 ESPN Des Moines and the Varsity Network app with Chuck Reed (play-by-play) and former Bulldog Craig Wederquist (analyst) describing the action.
SCOUTING ST. THOMAS
The Tommies are 4-2 overall and off to a 3-0 start in PFL play. St. Thomas went 10-1 in their dominant 2022 season, including a perfect 8-0 PFL record to be crowned 2022 PFL regular season champions.
Leading the offensive charge for St. Thomas is running back Shawn Shipman, totaling 568 yards and four touchdowns on the ground. Slinging the football for the Tommies is quarterback Tak Tateoka. The true freshman has thrown for 515 yards and four touchdowns. Tateoka's top target has been Andrew McElroy, a 2022 All-PFL First-Team selection.
Tommy Shelstad has led the UST defense with 5.5 tackles for loss, 5 quarterback hurries and 2.5 sacks. On his way to earning PFL Defensive Player of the Week honors, Luke Herzog had one tackle for loss, one fumble recovery, one quarterback hurry and one pass breakup versus Dayton on Sept. 30.
The Tommies have already been honored with four weekly awards so far in 2023. Herzog's PFL Defensive Player of the Week honor in addition to Tateoka - Freshman of the Week, Matthew Rink - Special Teams Player of the Week and Johnson Fallah - PFL Defensive Player of the Week.
DRAKE 20, VALPARAISO 14
The Bulldogs jumped out in front of the Beacons on a 57-yard quick strike to Mitchell January at the end of the first quarter. Drake was shutting out Valparaiso 17-0 heading into the fourth quarter. The Bulldog defense made a difference all day as Jake Shipla forced a fumble recovered by Jacob Auen and the special teams was an X-factor with Jacob McCauley recovering a muffed punt early in the third quarter. Drake's defense stepped up for its second consecutive game-winning defensive stand.
2-0 CONFERENCE START
Drake football is 2-0 to begin PFL play for the first time since 2019 when the Bulldogs finished with a 6-2 league mark.
PFL WINNING STREAK
The Bulldogs have won five consecutive PFL games dating back to last season, its longest conference winning streak since winning six straight PFL games from 2018-19. St. Thomas owns the longest active PFL winning streak (13).
PFL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior kicker and punter Shane Dunning earned the first Pioneer Football League weekly honor for the Bulldogs this season. Dunning was recognized as the PFL Special Teams Player of the Week, the league announced on Sunday, Oct. 8.
Dunning was responsible for eight points in Drake's 20-14 PFL victory against Valparaiso on Saturday. His 27-yard field goal in the second quarter put Drake ahead 10-0, and his career-long 42-yarder in the fourth quarter put the Bulldogs up 20-7. Dunning also handled punting duties with three punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
UP NEXT
Drake will fly to California to face San Diego on the road Saturday, Oct. 21 with a 4 p.m. (CT) kickoff.
