DES MOINES, Iowa – Drake football continued its march through the 2024 season with another Pioneer Football League rivalry matchup on Saturday. Butler, the other Bulldogs the PFL, came to Des Moines, but the hosts left Drake Stadium with a 27-17 victory.
 
Both Bulldog squads traded punts to start the game before the Drake (4-1, 3-0) defense made the first momentum-flipping play. Butler (5-1, 1-1) was able to traverse 48 yards over 11 plays, but the host Bulldogs forced a turnover on downs. Drake's drive was coming together as a fast-moving first quarter wound to a close, still scoreless. Drake eventually stalled in the redzone, but kicker Shane Dunning was nails from 34 yards out to break the scoreless tie and give Drake a 3-0 lead. The Drake defense stood tall again on the next possession, forcing Butler to give it back on downs for the second straight drive.
 
Butler bounced right back, though, picking off Luke Bailey on a deep attempt toward Mitchell January. Devaon Holman came down with the interception to flip the mojo back in the direction of the visitors. Butler proceeded to march down the gridiron and cash in on a Reagan Andrew rush of four yards. The point-after attempt was wide right, however, so the difference remained the same with Butler on top, 6-3. That score held until the half.
 
Drake then orchestrated a methodical drive of their own to square things up again after halftime. The host Dogs went 48 yards in 11 plays and covered 6:05 on the clock. Dunning capped the trek with his second successful boot of the afternoon, this time from 44 yards, to even score at 6-6.
 
After forcing a Butler punt, the Drake offense got right back into rhythm. Bailey connected with Taj Hughes twice on the drive for a pair of big gainers. The first got Drake into Butler territory after a 21-yard pitch-and-catch. The second was even more exciting as Bailey lofted a bomb toward the goal line where Hughes ran underneath it for a score. The 38-yard hook-up was Drake's first TD of the day and gave Drake a 13-6 lead.
 
Butler took little time in cutting back into their deficit, cruising 60 yards in nine plays and 4:05 for a Ryan Short field goal. His 39-yard kick made it 13-9 in favor of Drake, which held until the end of the third quarter.
 
Drake then cashed in their second touchdown in as many drives as the fourth quarter began. The Bulldogs traversed 75 yards in just over five minutes and 10 plays, the last of which was a Blake Ellingson one-yard rush. Ellingson's score made it 20-9, Drake.
 
Drake's sensational second half continued just a possession later as true freshman Mekhi Toms broke on a hook route and jumped in front of an Andrew offering. Toms came away with his first career interception to set the Bulldog offense up well within Butler territory. The offense came through just two plays into their next series as Davion Cherwin joined the scoring party. Cherwin dashed around the left corner and down the sideline for 32 yards and a score. The clock ticked under nine minutes with Drake leading, 27-9.
 
Butler scratched a little closer with another touchdown drive with just under five minutes to play. The visiting Dogs' starting halfback Joey Suchy scored from two yards out despite a valiant effort at a goal line stand by the Drake defensive unit. The Butler score moved the tally to 27-17.
 
The 27-17 count did not change again over the final few minutes. Butler had another opportunity after a Drake punt, but an acrobatic Holden Hughes interception sealed the deal as Drake held on to win.
 
"[We have] a bunch of people that would do anything for one another," Drake head coach Todd Stepsis said. "You face some adversity, don't play great in the first half but defensively doing our thing…just came out with our hair on fire in the second half. Our team is battle-tested…you find out who you are when you face adversity and there are tough challenges, and that's how we pulled away from them in the third and fourth quarter."
 
Luke Bailey threw for 213 yards on 16-25 passing with a touchdown and a pick. It marked his eighth straight 100+ yard performance. That lone passing score, plus 127 of those passing yards, were completed by the versatile Taj Hughes. Elsewhere on offense, Davion Cherwin rushed for 55 yards and a touchdown. Defensively, Sean Allison led the team with 12 tackles while Sebastian Adamski posted 11. Adamski also recorded a fumble recovery, quarterback hurry, and pass break-up.
 
Drake will hit the road to continue Pioneer Football League play next week. The Bulldogs are slated for a tilt at Presbyterian on Saturday, Oct. 19.
 
 
NOTES

• Drake outgained Valpo 333-314.
• The Bulldogs remain unbeaten when possessing the ball for 30+ minutes in a single game. The had a time of possession of 30:39 on Saturday vs. Butler.
• Luke Bailey threw for 100+ yards for the eighth consecutive game dating back to last season.
• Taj Hughes' 127 receiving yards marked a new career high. His receiving score was also the first of his career.
• Davion Cherwin scored a touchdown for the second straight week. The 32-yard scamper was the longest scoring play of his career.
• The Bulldogs' two interceptions marked the first time Drake has recorded 2+ picks since doing so against Valpo in 2022.
• Drake is now 15-3 all-time vs. Butler with nine straight wins over their canine counterparts.
• Saturday's victory marked the Bulldogs' 14th straight win in Pioneer Football League play.