Football 9/19/2011 3:42:00 PM Drake Athletics

Bulldogs Travel To Butler Saturday To Open Pioneer Football League Play

DRAKE BULLDOGS (2-1) at BUTLER BULLDOGS (2-1)
Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011 | 12 p.m. EDT | Butler Bowl (5,400) | Indianapolis, Ind.
RADIO: KRNT 1350 AM, Des Moines, Iowa (Play-by-Play: Sean Neugent)

Monday, Sept. 19, 2011

The 2-1 Drake Bulldogs return to the road this week to open Pioneer Football Conference play when they travel to Indianapolis, Ind., to take on 2-1 Butler. Kickoff at the Butler Bowl is set for Noon ET (11 a.m. CT). Drake looks to continue its knack for making big plays in the clutch, which propelled it to back-to-back home wins the past two Saturday nights. The Bulldogs meet the Bulldogs in the each team's conference opener, just 10 months after closing the 2010 season against one another in Des Moines. Drake won that game, 10-7.

LINKS: 2011 YEARBOOK STATS (2006-11) ONLINE ROSTER

RADIO/TV: The game will be broadcast on radio in Des Moines on KRNT 1350 AM with Sean Neugent handling the play-by-play. Fans can also listen to the game online via the official Drake Athletics website at www.GoDrakeBulldogs.com.

DRAKE-BUTLER SERIES: Drake holds a 13-6-1 edge in the battle of the Bulldogs, and has won six of the past eight matchups. The home team has won the last four in the series (at Drake 2007, '10; at Butler 2008-09). Drake's last road win in the series came in 2006 (29-0). The series began in 1932 with a game at Butler, which finished in a 0-0 tie on Nov. 5. This marks the second consecutive conference game the two teams have played against one another, following the 2010 season-finale.

ABOUT THE BUTLER BULLDOGS: Butler enters the 2011 PFL opener with a 2-1 record, fresh off a 23-6 win at Taylor in Upland, Ind. The Bulldogs opened the season with a home win over Albion (31-17), then lost at Indiana State (48-34). Butler is coached by Jeff Voris, in his sixth season at the helm. The Bulldogs rank second in the PFL in total offense (407.3) and fifth in defense (340.7), while figuring third in scoring (29.3). Sophomore RB Trae Heeter was named PFL Offensive Player of the Week for Week 3 (231 all-purpose yds.; 23-155-1TD rush.; 3-59-1TD rec.) and ranks sixth nationally in all-purpose yardage (187.3 ypg).

THE LAST TIME: Drake topped Butler 10-7 at Drake Stadium in the 2010 season finale, Nov. 13. The Drake defense collected five turnovers, led by Tyler Moorehead, who had a career-high 11 tackles, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Drake led 3-0 in the third quarter, and added to the lead with a 19-play, 9-minute touchdown drive, its longest of the season, for a 10-0 advantage. A Butler touchdown with 2:22 to play in the game made it 10-7, and Butler forced a punt to gain one final possession, but could not capitalize after taking over with 1:11 to play at its own 32-yard line. Safety Mike Ratelle's second interception of the day ended the Butler threat. Drake QB Mike Piatkowski missed the game, his second of the season, because of a concussion. RB Trey Morse led all rushers with 81 yards on 23 carries. Butler outgained Drake 363-280, and had 20 first downs to Drake's 17.

COACHES SUPPORTING MUSCULAR DYSTROPHY RESEARCH: The Drake coaching staff will be wearing Coach to Cure MD patches at this week's game to raise awareness and funding for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research. Fans are encouraged to donate online at www.CoachtoCureMD.org or donate $5 by texting CURE to 90999.

HEAD COACH CHRIS CREIGHTON: Drake football is in its fourth season under the direction of head coach Chris Creighton, who has compiled a 23-13 record (.639) over his first three-plus years, including victories in 21 of the Bulldogs' last 30 contests.

Creighton's 21 wins in his first three seasons were the most by a head coach in school history in his first three seasons at the helm. His total was two greater than that of Warren Gaer (1949-51), who compiled a record of 19-6-2 in his first three seasons.
He ranks No. 20 in career winning percentage (.761) among all head coaches with at least five seasons at four-year colleges, entering this week's game with a record of 118-37 in his 15th season of coaching.
Creighton was named a 2011 winner of the Giant Steps Award presented by the National Consortium for Academics and Sports as part of National Student-Athlete Day on April 6, 2011. Creighton, awarded for the Coaching category, was one of just five 2011 winners of the Giant Steps Award, given annually to individuals who use sport to positively affect social change, actualizing the mission of the NCAS. The awards honor student-athletes, athletic administrators, civic leaders, coaches, parents, organizations, and other individuals who demonstrate an outstanding ability to manage life on and off the field, and who demonstrate a commitment to the betterment of society. The award will be presented to October 2011.
His Wabash teams won North Coast Athletic Conference titles in four of his seven seasons at the Division III school in Crawfordsville, Ind.
In four seasons at Ottawa (Kansas) his teams won two Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference titles (1997, 2000), its first two since 1972.
An All-America quarterback at Kenyon (Ohio) College, Creighton led the school to its only North Coast Athletic Conference title in 1989 and was named conference player of the year. He was inducted into the Kenyon College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008. Creighton earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1991 and a master's degree from Concordia (Ill.) University in 1993.
Creighton was hired Dec. 22, 2007, as the 25^th head coach in the history of Drake football.

Chris Creighton's Head Coaching Career:
Drake University                          2008-present                                   23-13 (.639)
Wabash College                          2001-07                                           63-15 (.808)
Ottawa (Kansas) University         1997-2000                                         32-9 (.780)
Totals                                         15th season                                 118-37 (.761)

MEDIA PROCEDURES: To arrange interviews with Drake football players and coaches, please contact Assistant A.D./Athletic Communications Paul Kirk in advance (paul.kirk@drake.edu). Availability can be arranged either before or after practices, which generally run from 3:30-5:30 p.m. during a typical game week. Credential requests should also be directed to Kirk.

COLEMAN, BLACKMON, JANSSEN AND MOOREHEAD EARN WEEKLY HONORS: Four Drake Bulldogs have earned weekly recognition this season from the College Football Performance Awards. DE Brandon Coleman earned honorable mention recognition for Defensive Line Performer of the Week for the game at North Dakota (9/1) when he had 3.0 sacks. WR Drew Blackmon earned honorable mention at his position after Game 2 vs. Grand View (9/10) when he tied his career with nine receptions for 118 yards and two touchdowns. For Game 3 vs. Missouri S&T, the CFPA recognized K/P Billy Janssen for both kicking and punting (3-3 PAT; 2-2 FG; 47.0 ypp) and LB Tyler Moorehead for his 9 tackles, 1.0 sack, 3.0 tackles-for-loss and blocked punt.

PIATKOWSKI MOVES UP CAREER PASSING CHART: Drake QB Mike Piatkowski has already climbed from seventh to fourth on Drake's career passing yards list over the first three games of 2011, and stands poised to climb another rung this week at Butler. He started the year with 3,993 yards, and moved past previous No. 6 Rick Casko (3,935) at North Dakota (9/1); current Drake wide receivers coach and then-No. 5 Jeff Martin (4,365) vs. Grand View (9/10) and previous No. 4 Ron Royer (4,677) vs. Missouri S&T. Piatkowski needs 43 yards to pass No. 3 Gary Yakelski (4,795; 1979-82).

DRAKE CAREER PASSING YARDS LIST
1) 7,868-Ira Vandever (1999-2002)
2) 6,525-Connor Jostes (2002-05)
3) 4,795-Gary Yagelski (1979-82)
4) 4,757-Mike Piatkowski (2009-curent)
5) 4,677-Ron Royer (1963-66)

OFFENSIVE NOTES FROM GAME 3 VS. MISSOURI S&T (9/17/11):
--RB Pat Cashmore accounted for 127 all-purpose yards and one touchdown, which proved to be the game-winner, in the fourth quarter. He rushed for 75 yards (third-most of his career) on 21 carries, and caught two passes for a career-high 52 yards and a score. Among his rushes he carried three times for 14 yards on the final possession to help Drake run out the clock and preserve the win.
--QB Mike Piatkowski (230 passing yards, 2 TDs) moved into fourth place on Drake's career passing yardage list (4,757), edging out Ron Royer (4,677; 1963-66) in the second quarter. It was his 14^th career game with 200 or more passing yards, and 10^th with multiple touchdown passes.
--Six players caught at least two passes, led by WRs Drew Blackmon (4-34) and Nick Rosa (3-47) and RB Nathan Paddock (3-41, TD).

DEFENSIVE NOTES FROM GAME 3 VS. MISSOURI S&T (9/17/11):
--LB Tyler Moorehead led the way with a game-high 9 tackles (7 solo), including a sack (-8) and 3.0 tackles-for-loss (-13), and blocked a punt that was returned for a touchdown. It was the second game this season he has led or tied for the team lead in tackles.
--S Michael Ratelle posted a season-best 7 tackles (6 solo), incuding 1 tackle-for-loss (-10) and had two pass breakups.
--DE Brandon Coleman notched 1.5 sacks (-3) to raise his team-leading total to 4.5 on the season.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES FROM GAME 3 VS. MISSOURI S&T (9/17/11):
--DB Brent Shelton returned a blocked punt (LB Tyler Moorehead) 28 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, the first by a Drake Bulldog since 2000 (9/30 vs. San Diego; 39 yards, Clint Martindale).
--DT John Sawhill blocked a Missouri S&T PAT attempt in the second quarter.
--K/P Billy Janssen made all three PATs and both field goal attempts, and averaged 47.0 yards on five punts with a long of 54. He has made all 42 PATs he has attempted in his career.

NUMBERS TO WATCH:
43-Passing yards needed by Mike Piatkowski to move into third place on Drake's career list, passing Gary Yagelski (4,795; 1979-82). The all-time record is 7,868 by Ira Vandever (1999-2002).

60.9%- career completion percentage for Piatkowski (427-701); best in school history. His 62.8% mark in 2009 (203-323) is the best single-season figure ever by a Bulldog, and he is completing 63% of his passes thus far in 2011 (63-100).

42-consecutive made PAT attempts for Billy Janssen, dating back to the beginning of the 2010 season. Janssen was 35-35 last year, four short of the single-season record of 39-39 by Henrik Mike-Mayer in 1980. Mike-Mayer holds the school record of 52 consecutive made PATs, encompassing the 1980 season and the first five games of 1981.

3-number of receptions needed by Drew Blackmon (97) to amass 100 career catches.

AT HOME IN DRAKE STADIUM: Drake has won six home games in a row and is 16-3 at Drake Stadium since Chris Creighton became head coach in 2008. His '08-'09 teams won seven in a row at home.

OVERTIME NOT SO COMMON OCCURRENCE FOR DRAKE: Drake's Sept. 10 overtime win against Grand View was just the third played by the Bulldogs, and the first since Oct. 25, 2003. That game was a 51-45 loss at Valparaiso. Drake's first overtime game came a year earlier, Oct. 12, 2002, when the Bulldogs defeated Albany 49-42 in double overtime at Drake Stadium. Drake is 2-0 at home in overtime games and 0-1 on the road.

LEADERSHIP FROM THE CAPTAINS: Drake's players voted during the summer to elect one team captain for the entire season, and chose fifth-year senior cornerback/return specialist Michael Lahart to serve in that role. One game captain has joined Lahart each week: Wk. 1 at North Dakota (9/1/11) and Wk. 3 vs. Missouri S&T (9/17)-Fifth-year senior kicker Billy Janssen; Wk. 2 vs. Grand View (9/10), senior linebacker Tyler Moorehead.

DEPTH AND EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHT 2011 ROSTER: The Bulldogs return 17 starters from the 2010 squad that finished 7-4 (6-2, 3rd place PFL). In all, 38 lettermen return, and are joined by an incoming freshman class of 38 student-athletes.

BULLDOGS AMONG THE BEST: Drake ranks 20th in overall victories (565) among the 123 schools that make up the Division I Football Championships Subdivision (FCS). The game versus Butler will be the 1,079th in school history, dating back to the initial campaign in 1893. The Bulldogs' all-time record is 565-484-29 (.537).

THE ROSTER BREAKDOWN-BY THE NUMBERS: A group of nine fifth-year seniors provides the leadership for this year's team, along with four more "graduating seniors" playing their final seasons as Bulldogs. Those 13 are joined by 14 seniors who have redshirted, 19 juniors, 23 sophomores and 38 freshmen.

PRESEASON HONORS: Six Bulldogs earned preseason All-PFL projections from Phil Steele's College Football Preview and three have been recognized by the College Football Performance Awards as 2011 "Players to Watch."

PHIL STEELE'S PRESEASON ALL-PFL

1st Team:
T Evan Lawrence (Moline, Ill./Moline)
LB Tyler Moorehead (Mason City, Iowa/Newman Catholic)

2nd Team:
WR Drew Blackmon (Florissant, Mo./St. Louis University High)
G Stephen Flynn (Davenport, Iowa/Bettendorf)
DL John Sawhill (Jefferson, Iowa/Jefferson-Scranton)
CB/RS Michael Lahart (Chariton, Iowa/Chariton)

CFPA "PLAYERS TO WATCH"
K Billy Janssen, CB/RS Michael Lahart, QB Mike Piatkowski

"TUPANDE KILELENI": The theme for the 2011 season is "Tupande Kileleni," a Swahili term that means "Let's climb to the summit." The analogy is borrowed from the team's May 2011 trip to Africa to play in the inaugural Kilimanjaro Bowl, but also applies to the long journey of a college football season. "It's really the theme for the entire 2011 year," said head coach Chris Creighton said. "There is so much to do before the season before you can climb. We are using the analogy of having done that climb of Mt. Kilimanjaro in May and relating that to the season. We have come up with six "climbing realities" that have to be embraced before we can climb to the summit. Climbing takes Preparation; Sacrifice; teamwork; going one step at a time; a competitive spirit not to be denied and overcoming adversity. That's our trail map to the season. We know if we're taking care of those six areas, we can get to the summit of the mountain."

PFL COACHES VOTE DRAKE THIRD IN PRESEASON POLL: Just as they finished a year ago, the Bulldogs have been picked to finish third in the Pioneer Football League in 2011, according to preseason voting by the league's coaches. The poll, issued Aug. 8, tabs 2010 co-champions Jacksonville and Dayton as the champion and runner-up, respectively. Jacksonville received eight of 10 possible first-place votes and 80 of a possible 81 points as coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team. Dayton was picked second with 69 points and one first-place vote. The Dolphins and Flyers each finished 2010 with unblemished 8-0 marks but did not face each other during the regular season. However, the two teams will meet in 2011 - an Oct. 8 contest in Jacksonville will be their first meeting since 2008. Drake was picked to finish third with 61 points and nabbed the remaining first-place vote. San Diego was picked to finish fourth with 59 points and Butler rounded out the top half of the preseason poll with 47 points for fifth place. The second half of the poll has Morehead State (38 points), Campbell (33), Marist (31), Davidson (23) and Valparaiso (nine).

NORTH DAKOTA WAS 33rd STATE TO HOST DRAKE BULLDOGS: The 2011 season-opener at North Dakota marked the first time Drake played a game in the state of North Dakota. It made that state the 33rd to play host to a Drake road game in 118 years of football, joining Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, N. Mexico, New York, N. Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Penn., S. Dakota, Tenn., Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.

POSTGAME QUOTES (VS. MISSOURI S&T, SEPT. 17, 2011):

Head Coach Chris Creighton:
(general)
"Well, winning is fun. We have five program goals and one of them is to win. We're making it exciting, more interesting than I would like it to be, but I'm proud of our guys for finishing the game."

(on players who stood out)
"We do cheers after the game and I think both of them (Cashmore and Moorehead) got two because people couldn't hear. It's a team sport and Cashmore doesn't do any of that without blocking. He'll be one of the first ones to tell you that, but he really did take over the game. Then number 44 (Moorehead) is a pretty good player too.

(on areas that still need some work)
"We always have to watch film before we can figure things out, but it's definitely not just one phase of the game. Offensively it was a frustrating evening for us. Defense played great at times and there are going to be times when they are very frustrated. And then special teams, Billy (Janssen) was booming some punts, kicking field goals. Special teams, there's a bunch of them. Some need work and some did pretty well. Just gotta keep getting better. Our deal is climbing the mountain, and you don't get to the top in one day. You just have to keep climbing, moving up."

(on the conference opener at Butler)
"We finished with Butler here last year in a close game. Butler's a good football team, there's no question, and we have not beaten them at their place in my tenure here. We've played there twice and lost both of them, both really tight games, and one for a championship. This is a huge, huge week for us and I think the guys are probably pretty excited."

(on his confidence in the defense)
"They're coming up big, there's no question. I think that our team just really needs each other. We're a team where all three phases are really dependent on each other. That's a good place to be, but it also means that if you're getting through a piece of a game where one of those phases is struggling, you know it can be a rough spot. We need all three phases and our defense, those guys are fighting hard and making plays. We've got some real veterans out there who are leading us and we're going to keep on leaning on them."

(on the special teams)
"There are some things to work on. We punted the ball out of bounds after taking a safety...missing tackles, no question. But when you score a touchdown on special teams, had a couple field goals, and some booming punts...I think we had close to 80 offensive plays (71), and I would imagine they had a similar amount (67) so there is a lot of right and a lot of wrong. The film really humbles you. When you feel as if you've played well, the film humbles you. And when you feel as though it's been a disaster, you look at the film and you notice some things you did better than you thought."

LB TRAVIS MERRITT
(on the defense stopping Missouri S&T's final threat)
"Our defense has really been coming through in the clutch, which has been good. We're starting to learn a little more about the defense and really step it up when we need to, so it's been looking good."

(on the close games and tense finishes)
"It's not our goal to do that, but it's fun to do it and come out on top. Hopefully next week we can extend the gap a little so we're not sitting on the edges of our chairs."

(on the up-and-down nature of the defense's play)
"Our first three games we've just been getting better and better every game. I think that as the season is going to go on, even next week, once we start meshing well together, I think we're getting there. We need some work, obviously, but I think we'll be a force. It's just mental errors and getting into the film room. I think that we're all playing our hardest, we've just got to quit making some mental mistakes and we'll be there."

(on next week's conference opener at Butler)
"Butler's always a huge game for us, kind of a rivalry for us. In practice we'll just have to really focus on getting our fits every down. No mental errors, like I said earlier. It's a huge week for us that we'll have to look forward to and work hard for."

RB PATRICK CASHMORE
(on his connection with QB Mike Piatkowski)
"Michael and I both stayed this summer, we have a good relationship and we practiced on passing to each other every day. I'm mainly the third or fourth options on our passing plays, we call it a check down and today they kind of left me open. Mike found my eyes, my eyes got really big, he found me the ball and somehow I got to the end zone."

(on the nerves he may feel in pressure situations)
"After my touchdown when Missouri S&T marched down and scored I was a little nervous but I have complete faith in our defense. They always pull us out of tough times. On that 4^th-and-12 play they got the stop and I knew right then and there we won the game. I was never really nervous, but when you have a big touchdown and the other team comes back and matches that it makes you think a little".

(on facing Butler this week)
"Every conference game will be a rivalry game, you can't take one off, but Butler's been very good these past years and they've kind of had our number at home so we kind of want to come out with a chip on our shoulder, some passion, some emotion. Going into their place we want to leave with a 'W', and a loss won't be acceptable."

THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED:

Last time Drake played an overtime game -at Drake 28, Grand View 21 (one overtime), Sept. 10, 2011

Last time Drake played an overtime game on road -Valparaiso 51, Drake 45, (one overtime), Oct. 25, 2003

Last shutout by Drake - 19-0 vs. Missouri S&T, Oct. 10, 2009

Last shutout by Drake at home - 19-0 vs. Missouri S&T, Oct. 10, 2009

Last time Drake shut out - 16-0 at North Dakota, Sept. 1, 2011

Last time Drake shut out at home - 37-0 by San Diego, Oct. 21, 2006

Last Drake kickoff return for touchdown - 90 yards, Augustine Agyei vs. Waldorf, Sept. 8, 2007

Last Drake punt return for a touchdown - 49 yards, Mike Lahart vs. Marist, Oct. 2, 2010

Last time Drake blocked a punt for a touchdown - 28 yards, Brent Shelton vs. Missouri S&T, Sept. 17, 2011

Last time Drake blocked a punt for a safety - Mike Bialas vs. Butler, Oct. 6, 2007

Last Drake pass interception for a touchdown - 95 yards, Ben Morrison vs. San Diego, Oct. 30, 2010

Last Drake fumble return for a touchdown - 22 yards, Mike Piatkowski vs. Davidson, Oct. 23, 2010

Last Drake player to rush for 100 yards - 112 (15 carries) Pat Cashmore vs. San Diego, Oct. 30, 2010

Two Drake players 100+ rush yards same game - 101 yards (19 carries), Willie Cashmore; 216 yards in (27 carries), Scott Phaydavong vs. Jacksonville, Nov. 10, 2006

Last Drake player to pass for more than 300 yards - 333 yards, Mike Piatkowski vs. Grand View, Sept. 10, 2011

Last Drake player to rush for three touchdowns - 3, Scott Phaydavong vs. Valparaiso Sept. 29, 2007

Last Drake player to catch three touchdowns - 3, Jason Jones vs. Jacksonville, Oct. 4, 2003

Last Drake player to pass for four touchdowns - 5, Connor Jostes vs. Upper Iowa, Nov. 6, 2004

Last Drake player to score three touchdowns - 3, Scott Phaydavong vs. Valparaiso, Sept. 29, 2007

Last Drake player to make four field goals - 4, Brandon Wubs vs. Missouri S&T, Oct. 10, 2009

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