The Basics
Well-rested off a bye week, the Bulldogs will travel to Vermillion, South Dakota to take on a highly ranked University of South Dakota squad on Saturday, September 21 at 1 p.m. The showdown against the Coyotes is the final non-conference tilt for Drake before Pioneer Football League play begins.
 
Bulldogs by the Numbers
Drake is 1-0 on the season, with their first victory coming in upset fashion on Sep. 7 at Eastern Washington. The Bulldog victory over Eastern Washington was an upset thriller. The game went into overtime, where Drake came through with a 35-32 victory. Quarterback Luke Bailey was the catalyst for Drake's victory, tallying 380 yards and two touchdowns in the air. He relied heavily on receivers Mitchell January and Trey Radocha who each had 101 yards receiving. Bailey connected with Radoca and Parker Olthoff for touchdowns. Running backs Dorian Boyland and Luke Woodson each added a rushing touchdown to the winning equation. On the defensive side, Sean Allison, Sebastian Adamski and Jacob Auen recorded sacks, and CJ Grisar and Adamski forced fumbles. Their victory over the Eagles was a historic result as it marked the first win over a scholarship team since 2007 and fifth in program history since the Bulldogs dropped scholarships themselves in 1986.
 
The Bulldogs' first game of the season against Quincy was ruled a no-contest after the game was canceled at halftime due to lightning and rain.
 
Drake Stats Leaders
Rushing
Dorian Boyland | 8 rush, 25 yds, TD
Luke Woodson | 5 rush, 19 yds, TD

Passing
Luke Bailey | 28-48, 380 yds, 2 TD
Blake Ellingson | 1-1, 13 yds

Receiving
Mitchell January | 5 rec, 101 yds
Trey Radocha | 4 rec, 101 yds, TD
Taj Hughes | 11 rec, 83 yds

Tackles
Sean Allison | 15 tck, 8 solo, 1.5 tfl
Tyler Radocha | 13 tck, 8 solo, 0.5 tfl
Sebastian Adamski | 11 tck, 4 solo, 1.0 tfl

Sacks
Jacob Auen | 1.0 sck, 10 yds
Sean Allison 1.0 sck, 4 yds
Sebastian Adamski 1.0 sck, 3 yds
 
Scouting the Competition
South Dakota is 1-1 in the young season, defeating NCAA Division II foe Northern State University 45-3 and losing to the University of Wisconsin 27-12. They are coming off an impressive 10-3 season in 2023 where they won a game in the FCS playoffs. Last week, the Coyotes put together a valiant effort against the Badgers in which they entered the fourth quarter down by just four points, but they couldn't claw back against the Big 10 opponent.
 
South Dakota quarterback Aidan Bouman threw for 114 yards and no turnovers in the loss to Wisconsin. Bouman is a third-year starter for the Coyotes; he boasted a 156.7 pass efficiency rating last season, threw for 2,551 yards and recorded 15 touchdowns. Bouman was aided by running back Charles Pierre Jr. against Wisconsin, as the redshirt sophomore recorded 83 yards on 12 carries for an average gain of 6.9 yards. Pierre Jr. started in the NCAA playoffs for South Dakota last season and recorded 473 rushing yards on the year. Bouman's number one target in the air is senior Carter Bell. The senior recorded 908 receiving yards and five touchdowns last season but has been limited to five receptions for 57 yards in the 2024 campaign thus far.
 
Drake is 0-3 all-time against South Dakota, but the two teams haven't faced since 2017 when South Dakota won 77-7.
 
South Dakota Stats Leaders
Rushing
Charles Pierre, Jr. | 25 rush, 219 yds, 2 TD
Travis Theis | 21 rush, 107 yds, TD
L.J. Phillips, Jr. | 5 rush, 34 yds, TD

Passing
Aidan Bouman | 21-35, 199 yds

Receiving
Carter Bell | 5 rec, 57 yds
Travis Theis | 4 rec, 43 yds
JJ Galbreath | 4 rec, 33 yds

Tackles
Gary Bryant III | 19 tck, 6 solo, 1.0 tfl
Nick Gaes | 12 tck, 9 solo, 3.0 tfl
Mi'Quise Grace | 11 tck, 6 solo, 2.5 tfl
Dennis Shorter | 11 tck, 6 solo

Sacks
Nick Gaes | 2.0 sck, 18 yds
Mi'Quise Grace | 1.0 sck, 13 yds
 
Up Next
Drake will return home for the PFL opener on Sep. 28 when San Diego visits Des Moines. The Bulldogs will welcome the Toreros to town for Family and Homecoming Weekend.