DELAND, Fla. – Drake football's historic run over the last two seasons will continue into the 2024 FCS playoffs as the Bulldogs ran over Stetson 49-10 this afternoon. Drake's win ended their regular season on a high note and secured the team's second straight Pioneer Football League crown and berth into the FCS bracket.
 
Drake's dominance was evident from the kick as the Bulldogs marched down the field for a score on their first drive of the game. A 32-yard Davion Cherwin rush ate up a major chunk of yardage before Luke Woodson eventually pounded one in from a yard out to give the Dogs a 7-0 lead.
 
The Drake defense turned around and made a splash play as Caleb Bowling picked off Stetson QB Brady Meitz to return possession back to the visitors. The Bulldogs' ground game got going again as Cherwin added six more points with a 7-yard touchdown carry to give Drake a two-score lead in the first half of the first quarter.
 
Stetson got on the board for their first score of the day late in the first quarter, but Drake was able to answer in the second. The Bulldogs' rushing attack continued to pack a punch as Cherwin ripped off a 91-yard scamper for six more points to make it 21-7 in favor of the Dogs. That long scamper set the new mark for longest rush in the Pioneer Football League this season.
 
Drake's "Blue Magic" defensive unit came up with another big play to kill a Stetson drive as cornerback Kemani Wilson intercepted a poor Meitz throw. The Bulldog offense went on to score again off a turnover as Luke Bailey capped the drive with a precise 24-yard toss to Hunter Johnson. That TD made it 28-10 in favor of Drake, which held until the half.
 
The Bulldogs continued to control the action after the halftime break. Finn Claypool made his presence felt on the Hatters' first possession of the third period with a chase-down sack-fumble to nip the Stetson drive. Bailey then led the Drake offense on another short scoring drive as the Bulldogs scored again after a turnover, this time on a 12-yard pass to Jaxon Laminack.
 
The Bulldogs's second straight PFL title was all but wrapped up as the third quarter ticked down. Dante DeNardo joined the scoring party with about 3 1/2 minutes to play in the period with a 5-yard touchdown catch to eclipse the 40-point margin. Drake led Stetson 42-10 with 10 minutes to play. Drake added another score in the form of a Jun Ahn rush to reach the eventual final score of 49-10.
 
"It feels great, just like you'd think it would," Drake head coach Todd Stepsis said. "They could've played tight and not-to-lose, but they didn't. They played together and I cannot say enough about the seniors and leaders on this team. Guys stepped up…the standard is excellence, and we do whatever it takes to be our best."
 
Luke Bailey finished with three touchdown tosses on 23-of-28 throwing and 204 yards. Hunter Johnson, Jaxon Laminack, and Dante DeNardo hauled in those scoring throws while Taj Hughes led Drake's receiving corps with 10 receptions and 81 yards. Elsewhere, Davion Cherwin erased his own single-game high with 161 yards on 11 carries and two TDs. Luke Woodson and Jun Ahn also notched rushing touchdowns on Saturday. The Dogs totaled 275 yards on the ground, by far their best rushing performance of the season.
 
Defensively, Sebastian Adamski and Sean Allison led the Drake Bulldogs with seven tackles apiece. Caleb Bowling and Gene Blalock each logged an interception and had six tackles and five tackles, respectively. Sam Anderson and Kemani Wilson also intercepted Stetson.
 
The win secured Drake's second straight and fifth all-time outright Pioneer Football League championship. The Dogs have now won eight total PFL crowns including co-championship honors and earned their second consecutive automatic berth and appearance in the FCS playoffs.
 
The Bulldogs' postseason assignment will be determined tomorrow morning when the FCS playoff field is announced. The selection show will air on ESPNU starting at 11:30 a.m. CT on Sunday, Nov. 24.
 
 
NOTES
 

• The win secured Drake's second straight and fifth all-time outright Pioneer Football League championship.
• The Dogs have now won eight total PFL crowns including co-championship honors and earned their second consecutive automatic berth and appearance in the FCS playoffs.
• The Bulldogs' postseason assignment will be determined tomorrow morning when the FCS playoff field is announced. The selection show will air on ESPNU starting at 11:30 a.m. CT on Sunday, Nov. 24.
• The Dogs totaled 275 yards on the ground, by far their best rushing performance of the season.
• Drake's 49 points were its most this season and highest total since putting 52 on St. Thomas last year.
• Drake outgained Stetson 478-288.
• Luke Bailey finished with three touchdown tosses on 23-of-28 throwing and 204 yards.
• Hunter Johnson, Jaxon Laminack, and Dante DeNardo hauled in those scoring throws while Taj Hughes led Drake's receiving corps with 10 receptions and 81 yards.
• Davion Cherwin erased his own single-game high with 161 yards on 11 carries and two TDs.
• Luke Woodson and Jun Ahn also notched rushing touchdowns on Saturday.
• Sebastian Adamski and Sean Allison led the Drake Bulldogs with seven tackles apiece.
• Caleb Bowling and Gene Blalock each logged an interception and had six tackles and five tackles, respectively. Sam Anderson and Kemani Wilson also intercepted Stetson.