SCENE SETTER
Undefeated in PFL play, the Drake football team heads to Poughkeepsie, N.Y., for a road clash against Marist on Saturday, Nov. 4 at 11 a.m. (Central Time). The Bulldogs aim to beat the Red Foxes for the first time since 2019.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Saturday's game will stream live on ESPN+ with Geoff Brault (play-by-play) and Steve Eggink (analyst). 102.1/1350 ESPN Des Moines is the radio home of Drake football with Chuck Reed back as the play-by-play voice joined by former Bulldog Craig Wederquist. Audio will stream live on The Varsity Network App.
SCOUTING MARIST
The Red Foxes enter the week 4-4 overall and 4-2 in PFL play this season. Marist is coming off was a 19-14 loss at St. Thomas last week.
Quarterback Brock Bagozzi has led Marist's offense in 2023, throwing for 1,376 yards, 9 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, and a 52.4 completion percentage. Matt Stianche has been the top target for Marist, hauling in 31 receptions for 503 yards and four touchdowns. The leading Red Fox rusher is Amin Woods, who has totaled 595 yards and three touchdowns. Woods was named FedEx Ground FCS National Offensive Player of the Week for his 232-yard rushing effort earlier in the year versus Stetson.
Linebacker Angelo Vokolos has been a problem for opposing quarterbacks, amassing 3.5 sacks and 24 total tackles in seven games played. Vokolos was named PFL Defensive Player of the Week following Marist's win over San Diego, where he forced a fumble, logged two and a half sacks and notched a career-high eight tackles.
Marist head coach Jim Parady is the longest-tenured head coach in Division-I Football, as he's in his 32nd year leading the Red Foxes. Under his reign, three former Marist players have entered the NFL.
LET'S GO DOE
Dorian Boyland logged his third career 100+ yard rushing game with a career-best 170 yards on 29 carries to pair with a career-best three rushing touchdowns against Stetson. Last Saturday marked the first time since No. 10, 2006 (Scott Phaydavong – 216 yards, Willie Cashmore – 101 yards) that Drake had two players rush for over 100 yards in the same game. Drake totaled 390 yards of offense in the 33-7 win over Stetson (293 rushing yards).
GOT YOUR BACK
The Drake offensive line has not allowed a sack in three consecutive games and has only surrendered a PFL-low three sacks this season. The three sacks allowed are currently tied for the fewest in the FCS with The Citadel.
SEEING RED
Drake ranks second in the FCS for red zone offense, scoring on 22 out of 23 red zone trips this season (95.7%, 15 touchdowns-7 field goals).
JUNKYARD DOGS
The stingy Bulldog defense has stifled opponents to less than 100 yards rushing in four games this season and limited opponents to less than 200 yards passing in three contests.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
Senior quarterback Luke Bailey leads the Pioneer Football League in passing yards (1,968) and is tied for the most touchdown passes in the PFL (14), yet Drake does not have a player with more than 18 receptions. 21 different Bulldogs have caught a pass this season, including Bailey himself.
HERE'S THE KICKER
Senior kicker/punter Shane Dunning has made 10 consecutive field goal attempts. He was named PFL Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time this season after contributing 13 of Drake's 25 points on Oct. 21. Dunning made not one, but two 50-yard field goals (his career-long) during a 4-for-4 day kicking field goals. Dunning became the first Drake kicker to make a field goal of 50 yards or longer since Ben Tesson (52 yards) on Sept. 21, 2013.
FUMBLE!
Drake's defense is tied for third in the FCS with 10 fumble recoveries this season, only trailing Marist with 11 recovered fumbles for the FCS lead.
STREAKING
Drake's eight-game winning streak in PFL play is the longest active streak in the league. The streak began with a 24-17 win at Stetson on Oct. 29, 2022. The Bulldogs are 5-0 in PFL play for the first time since 2012.
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. After notching two sacks against St. Thomas, Claypool added another at San Diego and versus Stetson. The hometown kid's sack total (6) is tied for 17th most in the FCS.
UP NEXT
Drake football will play host to Presbyterian on Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. for Senior Day.
