The Basics
Drake's PFL schedule continues this weekend for the Bulldogs' annual Family Weekend contest. Drake is set to welcome rival Dayton to Drake Stadium for a noon kickoff.
 
Bulldog Breakdown
The Bulldogs picked up their first win of the year and the first win of the Matt Walker era with a 51-32 thumping of Davidson on the road. Drake got out ahead of the Wildcats early and did not look back as they cruised to the win which featured over 600 yards of total offense.
 
Quarterback Riley Warzynski surpassed 300 passing yards for the second time this season as he was named Pioneer Football League Offensive Player of the Week. He completed 31-of-48 passes for 371 yards and three touchdowns, powering Drake to its 51-32 victory at Davidson. He also carried the ball eight times for 44 yards and was responsible for 22 first downs or touchdowns. Warzynski is ranked fourth in all of the FCS in total passing yards. He has amassed nearly 1,400 yards in four games. The Wisconsin native also ranks first in the nation with an average of 349 passing yards per game.
 
Drake currently leads the Pioneer Football League in total offense and passing offense. Behind Warzynski's right arm, Drake is averaging nearly 370 yards per game. Drake also leads the league with an average of 450.5 total yards per game.
 
Drake's win over Davidson marked the Bulldogs' fourth straight conference-opening victory. Drake has won its first PFL contest every year since 2022.
 
Key Players
Riley Warzynski | 127-211, 60.2%, 1399 yds, 9 TD, 4 int
Willis Nofsinger | 27 rec, 412 yds, 3 TD
Mitchell January | 18 rec, 197 yds, TD
Kavaughn Clark | 115 car, 65 yds, TD
J.R. Flood | 42 tck, 16 solo, 1.5 TFL

Scouting Dayton
The Flyers of Dayton come to Des Moines with a 3-0 record to their credit. Dayton opened the season with two wins over non-D1 teams Fairmont State and Thomas More. The Flyers were on bye last week after beating FCS scholarship program Eastern Kentucky on the road.
 
This weekend's meeting will be the 19th all-time meeting between Drake and Dayton. The Flyers lead the series 11-7 with wins in three of the last four meetings. Drake won last year's bout by a 14-6 score at Dayton.
 
Dayton is led by head coach Trevor Andrews. A Dayton alum, Andrews graduated from the Flyers in 1998. Since becoming the Flyers' head coach in 2023, Andrews has led Dayton to a 20-16 margin in his four years.
 
Key Players
Bryce Schondelmyer | 52-82, 63.4%, 538 yds, 4 TD, 2 int
Michael Mussari | 15 rec, 216 yds, TD
Donovan Weatherly | 10 rec, 125 yds, 2 TD
Luke Hansen | 30 car, 202 yds, 4 TD
Ross Coppock | 16 tck, 10 solo, QBH, FR
David Curl III | 16 tck, 15 solo, 4.0 TFL, 1.0 sck, QBH, FR

Up Next
Drake's next game is back on the road as the Bulldogs will visit Valparaiso on Oct. 10.