The Basics
Postseason football us upon as again as the Drake Bulldogs are set for their second
ever appearance in the FCS Playoffs. The Bulldogs will travel to Stephenville, Texas for a
battle against No. 13 Tarleton State tomorrow afternoon.
Bulldog Bites
The Bulldogs routed Pioneer Football League foe Stetson in the Sunshine State by a score of 49-10 to cap off their 2024 regular season. A dominating rushing attack and suffocating defensive performance helped Drake sprint past the Hatters to get back into the win column after snapping their 17-game PFL winning streak a game earlier. Drake earned its 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 have not lost a game in 2024 when they do not turn the ball over (4-0), allow 100 yards or less on the ground (5-0), allow 20 points or fewer (6-0), and possess the ball for 30 minutes or more per game (7-0). Drake currently ranks second in the Pioneer Football League in passing offense and net punting yards and led the PFL in rushing defense.
This week's matchup between Drake and Tarleton State is the first ever meeting between the two teams and the 13th Bulldog game in the state of Texas in program history. The Bulldogs first game in Texas happened in 1925 and their most recent was held in 1984.
The Bulldogs received 20 votes in the latest edition of the Stats Perform FCS Top 25.
Bulldog Leaders
Rushing
Davion Cherwin | 62 rush, 424 yds, 6 TD
Luke Woodson | 70 rush, 276 yds, T2 D
Blake Ellingson | 36 rush, 159 yds, 2 TD
Passing
Luke Bailey | 224-337, 2349 yds, 13 TD, 7 INT
Blake Ellingson | 10-15, 39 yds, TD, INT
Receiving
Taj Hughes | 62 rec, 584 yds, 2 TD
Trey Radocha | 46 rec, 533 yds, 4 TD
Mitchell January | 39 rec, 491 yds, 2 TD
Tackles
Sebastian Adamski | 99 tck, 47 solo, 7.5 TFL
Sean Allison | 93 tck, 49 solo, 3.5 TFL
Tyler Radocha | 65 tck, 35 solo, 2.0 TFL
Sacks
Finn Claypool | 9.0 sck
Nolan Korzeniowski | 4.0 sck
Jacob Auen | 3.5 sck
Scouting Tarleton State
The Texans of Tarleton State enter the FCS Playoffs with records of 9-3 overall and 6-2 in United Athletic Conference action. The Texans split their last four matchups of the regular season but ended their schedule with a 39-14 win over Central Arkansas last weekend. Tarleton State went 3-1 in non-conference play with their lone loss coming at Big 12 foe Baylor.
Tarleton QB Victor Gabalis been sensational this season with 17 TDs and 8 picks on 144-242 passing and 2,167 yards. The Texans' signal caller has favored receiver Darius Cooper for 1,099 yards and 10 scores. The bright spot of Tarleton State's offense has been running back Kayvon Britten with 16 touchdowns and 1,775 yards on 287 carries. Defensive backs Donta Stuart and Blake Smith have been a force defensively with 78 tackles and 63 tackles, respectively, plus five combined interceptions. Pass rushers AJ Owens and Brandon Tolvert have combined for 8.5 sacks.
Todd Whitten is in his 15th season head coaching the Texans 20th year as a head
coach. He has produced a 113-56 record at Tarleton State and a 138-84 mark overall,
including a 5-year stint at Sam Houston.
Texan Leaders
Rushing
Kayvon Britten | 287 rush, 1750 yds, 16 TD
Braelon Bridges | 73 rush, 320 yds, 3 TD
Derrel Kelley III | 63 rush, 277 yds, 4 TD
Passing
Victor Gabalis | 144-242, 2167 yds, 17 TD, 8 INT
Daniel Greek | 23-40, 259 yds, 3 TD
Receiving
Darius Cooper | 56 rec, 1099 yds, 10 TD
Benjamin Omayebu | 41 rec, 432 yds
Cody Jackson | 20 rec, 325 yds, 6 TD
Tackles
Donta Stuart | 78 tck, 37 solo, 1.0 TFL
Bam Smith | 64 tck, 30 solo, 4.5 TFL
Blake Smith | 63 tck, 31 solo, 1.5 TFL
Sacks
AJ Owens | 4.5 sck
Brandon Tolvert | 4.0 sck
Caimyn Layne | 2.0 sck
Up Next
The winner of tomorrow's matchup will advance to the second round of the FCS playoffs for a date with No. 4 South Dakota in Vermillion, S.D. on Saturday, Dec. 7.
