The Basics
The Bulldogs will hit the road for the first of two straight contests away from home. Drake is visiting Poughkeepsie, N.Y., this weekend for a date with Marist, which kicks at 11 a.m. CST.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Drake put together its most complete performance of the season with a 45-0 shutout of Davidson last weekend. The scored early and often with 21 first-quarter points and went on to cruise to their second straight home shutout.
 
DRAKE BEING DRAKE
After posting a 15-1 record the past two seasons, Drake has done awfully well in avoiding the spotlight in 2025. With its blanking of Davidson last week, Drake has won 21 of its last 22 PFL games.
 
SEEING RED(ZONE)
Drake's offense has been elite when traversing inside their opponents' 20-yard line. The Bulldogs are the only team in the PFL to score on every possession that reaches the red zone with 19 scores in 19 trips.
 
FEELIN' IT ON FOURTH
The Bulldogs are also first in the Pioneer Football League in fourth down conversions with an 87.5 percent rate (7-8). Drake also leads the PFL in defensive' fourth down conversion rate as opponents convert on only 10 percent of fourth down tries (1-10).
 
FRESHMAN PHENOM
True freshman running back Nick Herman added to his stellar start as a Bulldog, rushing for nearly 134 yards and a score vs. Davidson. Herman was nominated for FCS Freshman of the Week after his standout showing.
 
SWITCHING SIDES
First-year Bulldog Isaiah Bragg, who transferred to Des Moines from Northern Illinois, began the year on top of the Drake depth chart as a starting safety. Recently, Bragg has switched sides of the ball and is now part of the Bulldogs' talented wide receiver room.
 
TIED AT THE TOP
Drake is one of two teams undefeated in Pioneer Football League play. The Bulldogs are knotted atop the PFL standings with Presbyterian, who is currently 7-0 overall and ranked 19th in the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and 16th in the FCS Coaches' Poll.
 
DRAKE STAT LEADERS                                                                                                                                     
SCOUTING MARIST
The Red Foxes enter this weekend at 3-4 overall and 1-2 in conference play. Marist traded wins and losses to open the year including victories over New Haven, Wagner, and San Diego with losses to Bucknell and Butler. The Red Foxes have dropped their two most recent outings to Penn and Morehead State, both of which were on the road.
 
Drake leads the all-time series with Marist by an 9-2 margin. The Bulldogs have won the last two meetings after Marist earned its only two victories in the series. Drake is looking for its second straight win in Poughkeepsie after a 10-3 2023 result.
 
Marist is led by second year head coach Mike Willis. A Princeton graduate, Willis is 4-14 during his young tenure after 1-10 season in 2024.
 
Up Next
Drake will remain on the road for its next matchup. The Bulldogs are set for a tilt with
their canine counterparts at Butler on Nov. 1.