DES MOINES, Iowa – Leading since late in the second quarter, the Drake football team fell in a hard-fought overtime decision to Northwestern (Iowa) by a final score of 27-24 on Saturday night, Sept. 9. The defending champions and top-ranked team in the NAIA won on a walk-off touchdown run in the extra period.
 
"It's a game that we thought we had at the end," head coach Todd Stepsis said. "There is a reason why they (Northwestern) are the defending champs. They know how to win and got it done when we didn't."
 
The Red Raiders (2-0) turned their opening drive into points after Eli Stader made a 49-yard field goal attempt nearly five minutes into the contest.
 
The score remained 3-0 until 7:10 remaining in the second quarter following a time-eating (9:37 burned off the clock) 19-play, 83-yard drive that ended with Davion Cherwin plunging into the end zone from a yard out.
 
Northwestern responded with a prompt 6-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a two-yard touchdown run by Logan Meyer as the visitors regained a 10-7 edge with 3:45 to play in the first half.
 
The Bulldogs also had a 75-yard drive in them before halftime, aided heavily by a 41-yard strike down the field from Luke Bailey to Mitchell January. A few plays later on third down, Bailey rolled out to his right and found Ian Corwin over the middle for the touchdown for a 14-10 advantage just before the break.
 
Drake (0-2) led 14-10 at halftime and 14-13 after three quarters as the only score of the third quarter occurred at the 2:53 mark when Stader booted a 31-yard field through the uprights capping off a 12-play, 73-yard drive that drained over eight minutes off the clock.
 
Halfway through the fourth quarter, Bailey distributed the ball through the air as the Bulldogs marched down the field. On second down from the 23-yard line, Bailey floated the ball to the near sideline. Trey Radocha rose to haul in the pass over his defender for a touchdown and 21-13 lead with 6:12 left in the fourth.
 
After each team possessed the ball, Northwestern's offense took over at its own 10-yard line with only 2:33 ticking. Following a holding call against Drake, the Red Raiders punched the ball in for six when Jalyn Gramstad connected with an open Konner McQuillan from 38 yards away. With only 43 seconds left in regulation, Gramstad's pass to Michael Storey was completed for a successful two-point conversion to tie the score, 21-21.
 
Bailey was picked off on Drake's ensuing drive by Luke Jeltema along the far sideline at the NWC 39-yard line. The Red Raiders moved into Bulldog territory to set up a 55-yard field goal attempt for the win, that fell short from Stader.
 
Northwestern won the coin toss in overtime and chose to defend. The Bulldog offense advanced two yards going three-and-put before Shane Dunning drilled the 40-yard field goal attempt.
 
The Red Raiders on their rebuttal, lined up for a third down and one from the Drake 16-yard line. McQuillan took the handoff and raced 16 yards to the end zone for the game-winning score.  
 
"It's the same message to our team win or lose," Stepsis said. "It's how you come back and continue to move forward. Our team has another defending champ next week. We need to have a great week and learn from the mistakes we had. It's hard to overcome 14 penalties and we definitely have to clean that up."

Drake will travel to Target Field in Minneapolis to face FCS No. 1 South Dakota State on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 2:30 p.m.
 
NOTES

• Drake was penalized 14 times amassing 153 yards while Northwestern was flagged six times for a total of 36 yards.
• Northwestern edged Drake in total offense (369 yards to 353 yards).
• Drake football is 10-10 in its last 20 home openers.
• Sam Rodriguez (five catches, 60 yards) and Deyon Campbell (five catches, 40 yards) led Drake in receptions.
• Quarterback Luke Bailey completed 24-of-32 passes for 253 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
• 11 different Bulldogs recorded a reception.
• Switching from quarterback to wide receiver in the offseason, Ian Corwin recorded his second receiving touchdown in as many games this season.
• Davion Cherwin scored his third career rushing touchdown.
• Jacob Thompson (eight tackles, three solo) has led Drake in tackles in back-to-back games.
• Jacob Auen recorded a career-best two tackles for loss.
• Drake football will play national champions in consecutive weeks.
• In the first meeting since 1997, Northwestern evened the series at 2-2.