THE BASICS
Drake returns to Des Moines for a key contest in the Bulldogs' quest for a third consecutive PFL title. The Bulldogs are set to host St. Thomas a noon on Saturday, Nov. 8.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Bulldogs earned their 23rd PFL win in their last 24 games with a 24-19 road win at Butler. The Bulldogs turned Butler over three times en route to a crucial conference dub.
 
THROW IT TO TAJ
Receiver Taj Hughes totaled triple digit yards through the air for the third straight week. He logged 106 yards against Davidson and Marist before a 104-yard effort at Butler.
 
CONVERSIONS ON CONVERSIONS
The Bulldogs are first in the PFL when converting on third (46.2%) and fourth downs (88.9%). Drake's defense also leads the conference in opponent fourth down rate with competing teams converting at just a 15.7 percent clip.
 
HERMAN'S THE MAN
Freshman running back Nick Herman is fifth in the PFL with 494 rushing yards on the season. He is averaging 61.8 yards per game, 6.4 yards per carry, and has scored four touchdowns on the ground.
 
INAGAWA IS EFFICIENT
Rookie signal caller Logan Inagawa might rank last among qualifying PFL quarterbacks in passing yards with 986 to his credit, but the freshman phenom has been ultra-efficient. Inagawa leads the league with a complete percentage of 72.6.
 
SHUT 'EM DOWN, SEAN
Senior linebacker Sean Allison, a preseason honoree on the Buck Buchanan Watch List, boasts the top tackling average in the PFL with 10.3 stops per game. He is second in the conference with 82 total tackles and is the only defender averaging double-digit tackles this season.
 
BALKE'S THE BEST
Harry Balke has been one of the premier kickers in the PFL this season. He leads the league with 7.6 points per game, is one of two players with a 84+ percent success rate on field goals, and has made two kicks of 50 or more yards.
 
BALL BALL BALL
Defensive back Garrison Codde is one of 11 players in Pioneer Football League play to force multiple fumbles this season.
 
DRAKE STAT LEADERS                                                                                                                                     
SCOUTING ST. THOMAS
The Tommies enter this weekend at 6-3 overall and 4-2 in conference play. St. Thomas opened its year with a 35-13 drubbing of scholarship team Lindenwood before dropping a 1-score game at No. 11 Idaho. St. Thomas lost its first two league meetings at San Diego and vs. Butler before outscoring its next four opponents 209-40 over a 4-game winning streak.
 
The Bulldogs and Tommies have developed a respectable regional rivalry since UST's jump to the Division I level. In just four years, the two teams have split the all-time series with Drake winning the most recent two tilts.
 
St. Thomas is led by long-time head coach Glenn Caruson. The Tommies' head man is in his 17th year in St. Paul and has been with the team since well before its elevation to the FCS ranks. He is 163-37 all-time at St. Thomas.
 
Up Next
Drake will hit the road for its final road game of the 2025 regular season. The Bulldogs will visit Dayton on Nov. 15.