CLINTON, S.C. – The Drake football team escaped South Carolina with another dramatic victory in Pioneer Football League play. The Bulldogs, who remained undefeated in conference action after Saturday's result, battled Presbyterian into overtime where a Davion Cherwin rushing score sealed the deal for Drake, 19-16.
 
The Bulldogs (5-1, 4-0) got the ball to start the game but could not make any magic on their opening possession. A Sebastian Conwell sack pushed a driving Drake offense back into their own half of the field and summoned Shane Dunning on to punt. The Drake defense then forced the Presbyterian (2-6, 0-4) special teams unit onto the field for a punt of their own, but Bulldog returner Trey Radocha muffed a line drive kick. PC's CJ Johnson jumped on the loose rock after a mad scramble, setting the Blue Hose offense up deep in Drake territory.
 
Mekhi Toms broke up a Collin Hurst heave to the endzone before Finn Claypool picked up a clutch sack of the Presbyterian quarterback. The following Blue Hose field goal attempt went awry and came up well short from just 30 yards away. Drake retook possession, still scoreless.
 
The Blue Hose eventually scored the game's first points with under a minute remaining in the first quarter. Zach Switzer ripped off an 83-yard run after Presbyterian started their drive on their own 7-yard line. A Drake penalty gave the Blue Hose a fresh set of downs with goal-to-go. Justin Montgomery promptly busted through from two yards out for a touchdown. The point-after was missed as Presbyterian built a 6-0 lead after a quarter of play.
 
Drake did not waste any time getting on the scoreboard as Luke Bailey and the Bulldogs marched right down the field on the very next drive. Blake Ellingson came on under center and gave way to Taj Hughes on a jet sweep. Hughes sprinted around the edge and leaped across the goal line for a 25-yard touchdown rush, giving Drake a 7-6 lead.
 
The Bulldog defense stood up again on the next PC possession as the Blue Hose lined up on Drake's 26-yard line on fourth down with less than a yard to gain for a new series. Linebacker Sean Allison shot through a gap to tie up Montgomery before he could hit the hole, forcing a turnover on downs.
 
After a Drake punt, with the help of a holding penalty, Presbyterian started their next drive from the midfield stripe. The Blue Hose pranced down the field and punched one in for a score as defensive lineman Nigel Brown caught a Hurst toss on a special package play. The Blue Hose recaptured the lead at 13-7 after a successful kick.
 
Drake put together an up-tempo drive as the first half clock ticked under a minute. The Bulldogs neared the endzone but were pushed back by the Blue Hose defense and eventually cashed in on a Shane Dunning 36-yard field goal to make it 13-10 at the break.
 
The Bulldogs looked to be hitting their stride after the half with another solid defensive stand and a rhythmic offensive series. Drake worked its way into Presbyterian territory with a personal foul, setting them up on the 12-yard line. Blake Ellingson entered in place of Bailey again but promptly threw his first interception of the season on a desperation heave toward the corner of the endzone. The Blue Hose took over after the touchback.
 
Neither team could muster any more production over the rest of the third period. Presbyterian maintained their 13-10 lead with just 15 minutes to play.
 
The Blue Hose started the final quarter with a bang, forcing a fumble on the period's first play. Trey Radocha coughed up the pill after securing a short pass over the middle. PC's Caleb Francis punched the ball out from behind, causing the pigskin to roll further downfield where Bradley Russ-Martin covered it up, giving Presbyterian possession. The Blue Hose drive was short-lived as another flag and Sebastian Adamski break-up forced a Presbyterian punt.
 
The Bulldogs seemed to be making some more headway but were stymied yet again. The Drake offense progressed across the 50-yard line, but that trip was halted by a tip-drill interception by Presbyterian's Anthony Thornton. Drake evaded disaster as PC's star receiver Dominic Kibby dropped a perfectly placed deep ball down the sideline, setting up a fourth down play. The Blue Hose offense stayed on the field but pulled off a pooch punt to punctuate the drive.
 
After another empty PC possession, Drake finally drew blood in the second half. Shane Dunning came on and drilled a 37-yard field goal to even the tally at 13-13 with under five minutes to play.
 
The Blue Hose took over again and leaned on their home field advantage with a lengthy drive down the gridiron. Presbyterian had possession with under a minute remaining in regulation with a fresh set of downs and goal-to-go. The Drake defense bowed up, eventually forcing a PC field goal try, which was blocked by Tyler Radocha to keep the Blue Hose off the scoreboard and send the game to overtime.
 
Presbyterian struck first in the extra period, connecting on a 42-yard field goal. Drake immediately retaliated, rattling off two first downs and inching toward the endzone. The Dogs made the final blow from the 11-yard line when Davion Cherwin bounced one outside and somersaulted over the goal line, securing the 19-16 victory.
 
Drake quarterback Luke Bailey did not throw a touchdown in Saturday's game, but still fired for 375 yards on 30-of-41 passing. Backs Davion Cherwin and Taj Hughes each notched rushing scores while kicker Shane Dunning was 2-for-2 on the day. Trey Radocha's 125 receiving yards were the most by any player in the contest and his personal best in a single game in his career.
 
Defensively, Sean Allison led the Bulldogs with 14 total tackles, 10 of which were solo stops. Tyler Radocha made 10 tackles and blocked the Blue Hose last-second kick to save the Dogs' chances. Star defensive end Finn Claypool posted two more sacks to add to his team lead.
 
The Bulldogs will be off next weekend for their second bye of the season before hosting Marist on Nov. 2.
 
 
NOTES

• Drake outgained Valpo 435-346.
• Saturday marked Drake's second road overtime game, and road overtime win, of the season. The first came via upset at Eastern Washington in September.
• The victory was Drake's first of the year when possessing the ball for less than 30 minutes in a single contest.
• Luke Bailey threw for 100+ yards for the ninth consecutive game dating back to last season.
• Bailey's 375-yard performance was his first 300+ yard outing since that same upset win at EWU.
• Trey Radocha's 125 receiving yards marked a new career high.
• Davion Cherwin scored a touchdown for the third straight week while backfield mate Taj Hughes scored a TD for the second consecutive week.
• Sean Allison logged 14 total tackles, including a career high 10 solo stops.
• Drake is now 2-1 all-time vs. Presbyterian.
• Saturday's victory marked the Bulldogs' 15th straight win in Pioneer Football League play, tying the second-longest win streak in conference history.