LAST TIME OUT
After a Week 2 bye, Drake football will be back on the gridiron tomorrow when they visit South Dakota State in Brookings. The Bulldogs are set to square off with the second ranked Jackrabbits at 6 p.m.
 
CASTING A SPELL(MAN)
Sophomore transfer QB Chase Spellman earned his first collegiate start in Drake's opener vs. UIU and showed out in Drake Stadium. Spellman was responsible for four touchdowns in Drake's 41-7 victory against Division II Upper Iowa. Through the air, he completed 14-of-16 passes for 233 yards and tossed two touchdowns. Spellman used his legs to score another two TDs in a seven-carry, 37-yard performance. He became the first Drake quarterback to rush and throw for at least one touchdown in a game since 2021. Spellman collected PFL Offensive Player of the Week honors for his debut effort.
 
NEXT MAN UP
Quarterback Xavier Washington will make his first career start in place of Spellman, who suffered an upper body injury in the second half vs. Upper Iowa, on Saturday in Brookings. Washington, a career reserve from Rancho Cucamonga, California, went 2-for-4 for 45 yards and a score in clean-up duty against Upper Iowa.
 
2024 REVIEW
The Bulldogs saw their 17-game Pioneer Football League winning streak come to an end in their home finale against Morehead State, but Drake was still able to secure a league title for the second time in as many years with records of 8-3 overall and 7-1 in PFL play last season.
 
CHAMPIONSHIP PEDIGREE
Drake earned its second straight and fifth all-time outright Pioneer Football League championship. The Dogs have won eight total PFL crowns including co-championship honors and earned their second consecutive automatic berth and appearance in the FCS playoffs.
 
FAMILIAR FOES
Drake is seeking its first win over a Missouri Valley Conference team on the gridiron since beating Illinois State in 2007. With the exception of football (Pioneer Football League), men's tennis (Summit League), and women's rowing (MAAC), all of Drake's athletic team participate in the Missouri Valley Conference.
 
DRAKE STAT LEADERS
Rushing Leaders             
Jaden Meizinger………14 rush, 54 yds
Luke Woodson………...16 rush, 51 yds
Chase Spellman............7 rush, 45 yds, 2 TD
 
Passing Leaders
Chase Spellman............14-16, 233 yds, 2 TD
Xavier Washington.........2-4, 45 yds, TD

Receiving Leaders
Hank Foley.....................5 rec, 127 yds, 2 TD
Jackson Voth.................4 rec, 82 yds
Jaden Meizinger............3 rec, 37 yds, TD
Chase Schutty...............3 rec, 33 yds

Tackles
Sean Allison...................7 tck, 4 solo, 1.0 TFL
JR Flood........................5 tck, 4 solo
Benjamin Wilson............5 tck, 5 solo

Sacks
Jacob Auen....................1.0 sck
Trystan Anderson...........1.0 sck
Gene Blalock..................1.0 sck
 
SCOUTING SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
Perennial FCS power South Dakota State enters this week ranked second in the nation. The Jackrabbits are 2-0 on the season after beginning their schedule with a 20-3 blowout of Sacramento State and a massive double-overtime win at Montana State last weekend.
 
This is the fifth meeting on record between Drake and South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits are 4-0 all-time when playing Drake with all three of the four wins coming in Brookings and the most recent result taking place at Target Field in Minneapolis (2023).
 
Dan Jackson is in his first season leading the the South Dakota State football team as head coach. Jackson, who competed for the Jackrabbits from 2003-05, served as an SDSU assistant before stints Northern Illinois, Vanderbilt, and Idaho.
 
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs are due for another tough test on the road when they head back to the Mount Rushmore State. Drake will visit South Dakota, another highly ranked FCS squad, on Sep. 20.