The Basics
Drake hits the road for their first game away from home in the 2024 Pioneer Football League season. The Bulldogs are set to travel to Valparaiso, Ind. for a Saturday afternoon tilt against the Beacons.
 
Bulldogs by the Numbers
Drake is 2-1 on the year with both wins coming in dramatic fashion. The Bulldogs replicated their 2023 victory over San Diego via Hail Mary with another buzzer-beating win to down the Toreros last week. San Diego fought back after trailing 27-9 in the fourth quarter, but a Shane Dunning field goal catapulted Drake back on top for good, 30-28.
 
Bulldog Leaders
Rushing
Blake Ellingson | 12 rush, 100 yds, TD
Dorian Boyland | 19 rush, 80 yds, TD
Luke Woodson | 11 rush, 40 yds, TD

Passing
Luke Bailey | 73-126, 750 yds, 24TD
Blake Ellingson | 3-4, 24 yds

Receiving
Mitchell January | 16 rec, 248 yds, TD
Trey Radocha | 18 rec, 200 yds, 2 TD
Taj Hughes | 16 rec, 108 yds

Tackles
Sebastian Adamski | 30 tck, 12 solo, 2.5 TFL
Tyler Radocha | 28 tck, 15 solo, 0.5 TFL
Sean Allison | 27 tck, 13 solo, 1.5 TFL

Sacks
Jacob Auen | 1.0 sck, 10 yds
Jason Christenson | 1.0 sck, 6 yds
Finn Claypool | 1.0, 9 yds
Sean Allison 1.0 sck, 4 yds
Sebastian Adamski 1.0 sck, 3 yds
 
Scouting the Competition
Both of the Beacons' wins this season have come versus non-Division I opponents Indiana Wesleyan and Roosevelt. Their three defeats came in the opener at UNI, Youngstown State, and Morehead State.
 
Landon Fox is in sixth season leading the Valparaiso football program with a record 19-38 overall.
 
Drake leads the all-time series with Valpo, 17-2. Both Beacon wins came between the 2021 spring and fall season.
 

Beacon Leaders
Rushing
Michael Mansaray | 63 rush, 335 yds, 4 TD
Caron Tyler | 46 rush, 257 yds, 2 TD
Ryan Mann | 32 rush, 108 yds

Passing
Caron Tyler | 29-54, 325 yds, 3 TD
Rowan Keefe | 9-26, 139 yds

Receiving
Chris Gundy | 11 rec, 142 yds, TD
Gary Givens III | 7 rec, 108 yds, TD
Michael Mansaray | 9 rec, 104 yds

Tackles
Nic Lendino | 27 tck, 18 solo, 1.0 TFL
Jake Birmingham | 26 tck, 11 solo, 2.0 TFL
Colin Graves | 26 tck, 12 solo
Jimmy Pouba | 26 tck, 10 solo, 1.5 TFL

Sacks
Kevin Spelman | 2.0 sck, 16 yds
 
Up Next
Drake will return to Des Moines for another Pioneer Football League rivalry contest versus Butler. The battle of the Bulldogs will take place on Oct. 12 with kickoff slated for noon.