The Basics
Drake's non-conference schedule ramps up in difficulty as the Bulldogs are ready for a trip to Missoula, Montana. The Bulldogs will face off against 3rd-ranked Montana tomorrow afternoon with kick-off scheduled for 2 p.m. central time.
 
Bulldog Breakdown
The Bulldogs got some rest last weekend with their first bye week of the year. Drake's bye came after a big road loss at in-state rival Northern Iowa by a 56-14 margin. Drake's loss to the Panthers came against for Bulldog head coach and PFL Champion Todd Stepsis, plus a handful of Stepsis' former Drake student-athletes.
 
Drake's opening loss to South Dakota Mines was its first against a non-Division I opponent since losing to defending NAIA National Champion Northwestern College in 2023. 2023 also marked the Bulldogs' last 0-3 start as Drake dropped games to Northwestern College in Week 2, right in between a 55-7 loss at #17 North Dakota and 70-7 defeat to #1 South Dakota State in a neutral site meeting at the Minnesota Twins' Target Field in Minneapolis.
 
First year Bulldog Riley Warzynski established a new team record with 535 passing yards in his Drake debut. Warzynski's total outdid the previous mark of 455 yards set by Mike Grejbowski in 1970. Veteran linebacker J.R. Flood racked up 18 total tackles in Drake's season opener. Flood's 18 stops were the most by any PFL player in two years. Drake's comeback vs. S.D. Mines was punctuated by a Karson Kindred blocked punt touchdown. It was the first blocked punt TD by Drake since John Hugunin did so in 2012.
 
Drake was slotted second in the Pioneer Football League Preseason Poll for the second year in a row. The Bulldogs collected 88 points and five first-place votes, behind only San Diego's 90 points and matching five first-place nods, in the listing. Drake will be seeking its fourth consecutive league crown.
 
Key Players
Riley Warzynski | 96-163, 58.9%, 1028 yds, 6 TD
Willis Nofsinger | 18 rec, 285 yds, TD
Hank Foley | 14 rec, 215 yds, TD
Kavaughn Clark | 10 car, 21 yds
J.R. Flood | 35 tck, 10 solo, 0.5 TFL
Tyson Shivers | 10 tck, 6 solo, 2.0 TFL, 2.0 sck

Scouting Davidson
The Wildcats of Davidson are an even .500 this season with a 2-2 record on the year. Davidson opened its season in a similar fashion to Drake with a loss to NCAA D-II foe Concord University. Most recently, the Wildcats took down scholarship squad VMI at home on Sep. 19.
 
This weekend's meeting will be the 14th all-time meeting between Drake and Davidson. The Bulldogs are 10-3 vs. Davidson despite two Wildcat wins in the last three matchups. Drake is looking to improve upon its 4-2 record at Davidson.
 
Davidson is led by Saj Thakkar in his second season as a Wildcat. Thakkar is 4-12 at Davidson and 18-18 in his four-year head coaching career with two additional seasons at Bentley.
 
Key Players
Casey Bullock | 91-159, 57.2%, 996 yds, 5 TD, 55 car, 292 yds, 3 TD
Jacary Lightsey | 29 rec, 335 yds, 2 TD
Alani Ajigbotosho | 12 rec, 153 yds, 2 TD
Will Jones | 40 car, 153 yds, TD
Hudson Altenburg | 23 tck, 10 solo, 0.5 TFL

Up Next
Drake will return to Des Moines for its annual Family Weekend contest as the league-leading Dayton Flyers visit Drake Stadium on Oct. 3.