SCENE SETTER
The Drake football team will play its first home Pioneer Football League game of the season against Valparaiso on Saturday (Oct. 7) at 1 p.m. The game presented by Broadlawns Medical Center is part of Drake University's Parents and Family Weekend.
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.
DRAKE 16, MOREHEAD STATE 9
The Bulldog defense stepped up with numerous key stops in the second half to fend off Morehead State on the road for their first win of the season last Saturday (Sept. 30). Drake jumped out to a 13-0 first half lead and leaned on its defense to close out the victory. Holden Hughes came down with his first career interception with only 4:35 left in the game while the Eagles were driving. The clutch pick led to an 80-yard pass from Luke Bailey to Sam Rodriguez setting up a Shane Dunning 25-yard field goal. The Drake defense made one last stand to seal the 16-9 road win.
STICKY SECONDARY
Drake's secondary limited Morehead State quarterback Carter Cravens to 18-39 passing and 5.7 yards per attempt.
1-0 CONFERENCE START
Since 2004, Drake has been 15-5 in PFL openers and Bulldogs won their conference opening game since Sept. 28, 2019 last Saturday.
PFL WINNING STREAK
Drake has won four consecutive PFL games dating back to Oct. 29, 2022 with three of those conference wins coming on the road.
HIT THAT RESET BUTTON
Drake is now 8-4 in games following a bye week dating back to 2009. Drake did not have a bye week on its schedule in 2010 and 2011.
DOE ON THE GO
At Morehead State, Dorian Boyland rattled off his second career 100-yard rushing game with a career-high 123 yards on only 15 carries including a 64-yard touchdown run on the opening drive of the contest. It was Boyland's first rushing performance of over 100 yards since Oct. 29, 2022, at Stetson when he ran for 115 yards.
SCOUTING VALPARAISO
The Beacons are also fresh off their first win of the season, a narrow 16-15 decision over Division-II Southwest Minnesota State last Saturday (Sept. 30).
Michael Appel is back at quarterback for Valpo throwing for 692 yards (62-for-116) while slinging six touchdowns and eight interceptions. 2022 All-PFL First Team selection and 2023 preseason All-PFL member Solomon Davis has hauled in 20 receptions for 306 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, linebacker Evan Annis has forced two quarterback hurries and is the leading tackler for Valpo with 26 total tackles (13 solo) including 2.5 for loss.
Last season with a 26-degree game time temperature, Drake shut out Valparaiso, 24-0 at Brown Field. Finn Claypool racked up 4.0 tackles for loss in the regular season finale including 2.0 sacks. The Bulldogs set the tone with an 80-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Langdok in the first quarter and never looked back.
Landon Fox is in his fifth season as the head coach at Valpo with an overall mark of 15-30.
UP NEXT
Drake football will remain in Des Moines to play St. Thomas on Saturday, Oct. 14 in a game presented by Iowa Ortho.
