The Basics
Drake returns to Drake Stadium for another PFL rivalry matchup as their canine counterparts from Butler come to town. The unbeaten Bulldogs, on both sides, will kick off a 1 p.m. on Oct. 12.
 
Bulldog Bites
Drake is 3-1 on the year and coming off a smothering victory over Valparaiso last weekend. The Bulldogs used a dominant defense, and special teams score to rout Valpo in the Beacons' homecoming contest, 27-3.
 
Reserve linebacker Joe Frommelt put his stamp on last Saturday's contest in a major way. The graduate student scored the game's first points as Valpo muffed a punt deep in their own territory before the ball skipped into their own endzone. Frommelt pounced on the rock just inside the endline for six.
 
Drake's star defensive end Finn Claypool had his first breakout game of the 2024 season last week with 2.5 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, and eight total stops. It marked his fifth career multi-sack effort and was enough to garner him Pioneer Football League Defensive Player of the Week.
 
Time of possession has been a primary indicator for the success of Drake football this season. When the Bulldogs own the ball for more 30 minutes or more in a game, they are 3-0 this year. When Drake has the ball for less than that 30-minute mark, they are 0-1.
 
Bulldog Leaders
Rushing
Blake Ellingson | 15 rush, 103 yds, TD
Davion Cherwin | 16 rush, 97 yds, TD
Luke Woodson | 21 rush, 71 yds, TD

Passing
Luke Bailey | 90-152, 974 yds, 4TD, 2 INT
Blake Ellingson | 5-7, 28 yds, TD

Receiving
Mitchell January | 20 rec, 286 yds, 2 TD
Trey Radocha | 22 rec, 289 yds, 2 TD
Parker Olthoff | 8 rec, 124, TD

Tackles
Sebastian Adamski | 39 tck, 19 solo, 3.5 TFL
Tyler Radocha | 32 tck, 16 solo, 1.0 TFL
Sean Allison | 31 tck, 14 solo, 2.0 TFL

Sacks
Finn Claypool | 3.5 sck
Jacob Auen | 2.0 sck
Sean Allison | 1.5 sck
 

Scouting Butler
The 2024 edition of the Battle of the Bulldogs is shaping up to be another epic clash between two high-level Pioneer Football League programs. Drake enters 2-0 in PFL play and 3-1 overall while Butler boasts unbeaten records on the year (5-0) and in conference action (1-0).
 
Both teams have pulled off significant upsets this season. Drake's first full game featured a dramatic 35-32 overtime win at Eastern Washington while Butler defeated Missouri Valley Football Conference foe Murray State 19-17 last month.
 
Butler's offense is led by the trio of Reagan Andrew (QB), Nick Howard (QB), and Ethan Loss (WR). Howard is the league's third-leading rusher with 334 yards and five touchdowns. Andrew has pitched seven passing scores while Loss has hauled in four scores. Defensively, Will Mason, Nick Bafia, and Adam Sturtz lead the team with 20+ tackles apiece.
 
Drake is 19-5 vs. Butler over the history of the rivalry. Drake has won the last eight matchups dating back to 2015 and is 6-1 against their canine counterparts at home.
 
Head coach Mike Uremovich is 19-8 in three seasons at Butler.
 
Bulldog Leaders
Rushing
Nick Howard | 49 rush, 338 yds, 5 TD
Joey Suchy | 28 rush, 229, 3 TD
Reagan Andrew | 36 rush, 206 yds, 3 TD

Passing
Reagan Andrew | 42-62, 601 yds, 7 TD, INT
Nick Howard | 23-31, 323 yds, 5 TD

Receiving
Ethan Loss | 10 rec, 253 yds, 4 TD
Luke Wooten | 7 rec, 140 yds, TD
William Enneking | 7 rec, 113 yds, 2 TD

Tackles
Will Mason | 25 tck, 14 solo, 3.0 TFL
Nick Bafia | 23 tck, 9 solo, 1.0 TFL
Adam Sturtz | 20 tck, 11 solo, 4.0 TFL

Sacks
Adam Sturtz | 2.0 sck
 
Up Next
The Bulldogs will travel to the Palmetto State for a tilt at Presbyterian on Saturday, Oct. 19 in Clinton, S.C.