SCENE SETTER
Drake football travels to Indianapolis with its sights set on winning the PFL title outright, but the formidable Butler Bulldogs stand in the way on Saturday, Nov. 18.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Saturday's game will be televised and streamed on FloFootball (paid subscription required) with Joey Lindstrom (play-by-play) and Ben Buttrick (analyst). 102.1/1350 ESPN Des Moines is the radio home of Drake football with Chuck Reed (play-by-play) and former All-American Craig Wederquist (analyst) describing the action.
SCOUTING BUTLER
Butler enters the week 7-3 overall and 5-2 in PFL play this season. Butler is coming off a bye week, but the last time out the Bulldogs handled Morehead State, 49-7. Butler has won three straight after back-to-back losses to Davidson and St. Thomas.
Quarterback Bret Bushka does a little bit of everything for the Bulldogs, throwing for 1,649 yards to date and cashing in 14 touchdowns. On the ground, he's gained 444 yards on 97 attempts, running into the end zone six times. Running back Jyran Mitchell is also a pivotal part of the offense as he's rushed for 1,213 yards with 12 touchdowns.
Defensive back Nick Bafia paces Butler with 61 total tackles. Linebacker Tyson Garrett has impressed during his sophomore campaign with 58 total tackles including 7.5 for loss and a sack.
Mike Uremovich is in his second season at Butler. He's compiled a record of 14-7 at the helm, including a 10-5 mark against PFL opponents. Uremovich arrived in Indy after stints as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at FBS Northern Illinois and Temple.
SERIES VS. BUTLER
Drake leads the all-time series, 23-8-1 and has won seven straight games against Butler dating back to 2016.
MAGICAL SEASON
The Bulldogs have won seven games for the first time since 2018 when Drake had a stretch of three straight seven-win seasons. The seven wins are the most during the Todd Stepsis coaching era. Drake football is 7-0 in conference play for the first time in program history. Drake finished the 2011 and 2012 seasons with a 7-1 PFL record. The Bulldogs are trying to win eight games in a season for the first time since 2012. The last time Drake went undefeated in league play was 2004.
PLAYOFFS?!
The Bulldogs are only one win away from qualifying for the FCS playoffs for the first time in school history. Drake needs to beat Butler on Saturday or Davidson needs to lose to Dayton on Saturday night for the Bulldogs to be the PFL's automatic qualifier. A loss to Butler coupled with a Davidson victory will leave Drake out of the 2023 FCS playoffs but the Bulldogs will still have PFL Co-Champion status.
GOT YOUR BACK
The Drake offensive line has not allowed a sack in five consecutive games and has only surrendered an FCS-low three sacks this season.
JUNKYARD DOGS
The stingy Bulldog defense has stifled opponents to less than 100 yards rushing in five games this season and limited opponents to less than 200 yards passing in four contests including holding Presbyterian to 67 passing yards last week. In PFL play, Drake has only allowed a PFL-low 12.6 points per game, 254.9 total yards per game and 86.9 rushing yards per game.
HERE'S THE KICKER
Senior kicker/punter Shane Dunning has been named PFL Special Teams Player of the Week on two occasions this year for a reason. Dunning made three or more field goals in a game for the second time this season. He has made four field goals of 48-yards or more including his career-long 53-yarder at Marist two weeks ago.
Dunning is tied for 11th in the FCS in field goal percentage (83.3%/15-18) and is tied for 7th in field goals per game (1.5).
STREAKING
Drake's 10-game winning streak in PFL play is the longest active streak in the league and fourth-longest in all of the FCS.
FINN IT TO WIN IT
Redshirt-sophomore defensive end and 2023 Buck Buchanan Award Watch List member Finn Claypool has continued to find ways into opposing backfields.
Claypool recorded 3.5 sacks, 5.5 tackles for loss and forced a fumble in Drake's 16-14 win over Presbyterian. He has notched at least one sack in four consecutive games. The hometown kid is tied for second in the FCS with four forced fumbles (4) and his sack total (10.5) ranks third so far this season. Claypool is tied for 9th at the FCS level with 16.0 tackles for loss.
FUMBLE!
Drake's defense is tied for first in the FCS with 13 fumble recoveries this season.
CALL IN THE CLOSER
Drake has won five games in 2023 by seven points or fewer and has sealed three victories (Morehead State, Valparaiso and Marist) with final defensive stands.
