The Basics
For the first time since a disappointing opening night, the Drake football team will take the field in Drake Stadium for a home game. The Bulldogs are set to host PFL rival San Diego in a pivotal matchup. Drake and the Toreros will kick off the 2024 Homecoming matchup at noon on Saturday, Sep. 28.
Bulldogs by the Numbers
Drake is 1-1 on the season, with their first victory coming in upset fashion on Sep. 7 at Eastern Washington. The Bulldogs then enjoyed a well-deserved week off before traveling to South Dakota, where they were outmatched by the sixth-ranked Coyotes in the non-conference opener.
Drake Stats Leaders
Rushing
Dorian Boyland | 16 rush, 76 yds, TD
Blake Ellingson | 8 rush, 31 yds
Luke Woodson | 6 rush, 28 yds, TD
Passing
Luke Bailey | 44-77, 487 yds, 2 TD
Blake Ellingson | 3-4, 24 yds
Receiving
Trey Radocha | 11 rec, 157 yds, TD
Mitchell January | 7 rec, 127 yds
Taj Hughes | 13 rec, 91 yds
Tackles
Tyler Radocha | 24 tck, 13 solo, 0.5 tfl
Sean Allison | 21 tck, 9 solo, 1.5 tfl
Sebastian Adamski | 17 tck, 7 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
San Diego is 2-1 this year and were one of three Pioneer Football League squads to upend a scholarship opponent this year. The Toreros opened the 2024 campaign with a 27-21 win over Cal Poly before beating Central Washington and dropping a competitive tilt at top-10 North Dakota last week.
Drake is 5-13 all-time and 1-4 during
Todd Stepsis' tenure vs. San Diego. The Bulldogs' 25-20 victory over USD last season, which came via Hail Mary from
Luke Bailey to
Trey Radocha, snapped a nine-game Torero winning streak in the series. Drake's last victory over San Diego came in 2012.
San Diego Stats Leaders
Rushing
Isaiah Smith | 39 rush, 167 yds
Matt Colombo | 15 rush, 88 yds
Logan Gingg | 9 rush, 24 yds, 2 TD
Passing
Grant Sergent | 55-95, 627 yds, 5 TD, 2 INT
Receiving
Ja'seem Reed | 21 rec, 233 yds, 2 TD
Cole Monach | 12 rec, 142 yds, 2 TD
Josh Heverly | 10 rec, 134 yds
Tackles
Giovanni Iovino | 24 tck, 17 solo, 4.5 tfl
Eric Haney | 16 tck, 13 solo, 1.0 tfl
Trey Ortega | 16 tck, 14 solo, 1.0 tfl
Sacks
Malachi Cooper | 2.0 sck, 6 yds
Up Next
Drake will head to Valparaiso, Ind. for their first road matchup in PFL play. The Bulldogs will battle Valpo on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 12 p.m.
