The Basics
Drake football hits the road for its final game of the 2024 regular season. The Bulldogs are set to kick things off at Stetson in DeLand, Fla. on Saturday with a chance at their second straight Pioneer Football League championship.
Bulldog Bites
Drake dropped a heartbreaker to Morehead State, 29-20. A Drake win would have secured the Bulldogs' second straight outright Pioneer Football League title. Drake also celebrated Senior Day last weekend as 30 important individuals were honored for their commitment to Drake football. The Bulldogs' 17-game Pioneer Football League winning streak was ended in their last game vs. Morehead State. Their winning trend was the longest active conference winning streak in the FCS.
Despite last weekend's loss, Drake still controls its own destiny. A win over Stetson would still clinch the league championship for the Bulldogs alone. A Drake victory paired with a Morehead State loss would also end the title race.
The Bulldogs have not lost a game in 2024 when they allow 20 points or fewer (5-0), possess the ball for 30 minutes or more (6-0), total 300+ yards of offense (6-0), allow 100 rushing yards or fewer (4-0), and do not commit a turnover (3-0). Drake currently ranks second in the Pioneer Football League in rushing defense, passing offense, and net punting yards.
Bulldog Leaders
Rushing
Davion Cherwin | 51 rush, 263 yds, 4 TD
Luke Woodson | 64 rush, 221 yds, TD
Blake Ellingson | 34 rush, 160 yds, 2 TD
Passing
Luke Bailey | 201-309, 2145 yds, 10 TD, 7 INT
Blake Ellingson | 9-13, 40 yds, TD, INT
Receiving
Trey Radocha | 46 rec, 533 yds, 4 TD
Taj Hughes | 52 rec, 503 yds, 2 TD
Mitchell January | 38 rec, 485 yds, 2 TD
Tackles
Sebastian Adamski | 86 tck, 41 solo, 5.0 TFL
Sean Allison | 84 tck, 48 solo, 3.5 TFL
Tyler Radocha | 64 tck, 35 solo, 2.0 TFL
Sacks
Finn Claypool | 7.5 sck
Nolan Korzeniowski | 4.0 sck
Jacob Auen | 3.5 sck
Scouting Stetson
The Hatters of Stetson enter this weekend sitting at 2-8 overall and 0-6 in Pioneer Football League play. Stetson's only two wins started the season with a 41-3 victory over Ave Maria and 35-0 shutout of Warner. Since then, Stetson has lost eight straight and is coming off a 45-6 defeat at San Diego.
Stetson QB Brady Meitz has slung it around for the Hatters this season with 2,023 yards and 17 scores, plus 13 interceptions. The Hatters' gunslinger has often found his favorite target Dalton Bailey, their leading receiver with 667 yards and 6 TDs. Trey Clark leads the Stetson ground game with 346 yards an a score. Kyle Elphick has been the leader of the Stetson defense this season with 93 total tackles, 9 TFLs, and 5.5 sacks.
Drake is 4-1 all-time against Stetson and has won the last two meetings. The Bulldogs are undefeated on the road vs. the Hatters with their only loss coming in Des Moines.
Brian Young is in his fourth season head coaching the Hatters and ninth year overall at Stetson. Young is 12-29 during his 4-year tenure.
Hatter Leaders
Rushing
Trey Clark | 68 rush, 366 yds, 2 TD
Donovan Snyder | 60 rush, 240 yds, TD
Anthony Benzija | 12 rush, 112 yds, 3 TD
Passing
Brady Meitz | 173-303, 2023 yds, 16 TD, 13 INT
Trip Maxwell | 23-51, 252 yds, 4 TD, 4 INT
Receiving
Dalton Bailey | 53 rec, 667 yds, 6 TD
Fabian Baez | 38 rec, 492 yds, 5 TD
Ronnel Johnson | 36 rec, 472 yds, 3 TD
Tackles
Kyle Elphick | 93 tck, 38 solo, 9.0 TFL
Lumpy DeWeese | 62 tck, 40 solo, 2.5 TFL
Shug Bentley | 56 tck, 28 solo, 7.0 TFL
Sacks
Kyle Elphick | 5.5 sck
Andrew Martin | 2.5 sck
Brysson Stouffer | 2.0 sck
Up Next
A win by the Bulldogs clinches their trip to the NCAA FCS Playoffs. The first round of playoff action would start on Nov. 30 with location to be determined.
