Football 9/26/2011 5:10:00 PM Drake Athletics

Drake Welcomes Campbell Saturday For 2011 Homecoming Game

Monday, Sept. 26, 2011

DRAKE BULLDOGS (3-1) vs. CAMPBELL FIGHTING CAMELS (1-2)
Saturday, Oct. 1, 2011 | 1 p.m. CDT | Drake Stadium | Des Moines, Iowa

RADIO: KRNT 1350 AM, Des Moines, Iowa (Play-by-Play: Sean Neugent / Analyst: John Pugh)
ONLINE VIDEO: True Blue TV at www.GoDrakeBulldogs.com

The Drake Bulldogs (3-1/1-0 PFL) welcome fellow Pioneer Football League foe Campbell (1-2/0-1 PFL) to Drake Stadium Saturday for the third time in the last four seasons. Kickoff for this year's Homecoming Game is set for 1 p.m. The Bulldogs have won six consecutive home contests and three in a row overall after Saturday's 24-14 win at Butler in the PFL opener.

QB Mike Piatkowski has thrown for 1,040 yards on the season and last week moved into third place on Drake's all-time list with 5,033 passing yards.
DE Brandon Coleman is the PFL's Defensive Player of the Week. He had 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss Saturday to raise his season total to 6.0, T-3rd in NCAA Division I FCS.
Drake ranks fifth in NCAA DI FCS in tackles for loss (9.25/gm; 1st PFL) and sixth in sacks (3.5/gm; 2nd PFL).
The Bulldogs also rank first in the PFL in rushing defense (104.0, 17th NCAA) and second in scoring defense (18.5, 15th NCAA) and total defense (328.3, 33rd NCAA).
Drake has won six in a row at home, and is 16-3 at Drake Stadium under Chris Creighton.
The Bulldogs have won four consecutive home conference games, and 10 of its last 11 PFL contests at Drake Stadium under Creighton.
LB Stoy Hall is the first Bulldog to make the prestigious 22-member Allstate/AFCA Good Works Team. He will take part in events at the 2012 Sugar Bowl and be recognized at the game.

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

RADIO/TV: The game will be broadcast on KRNT 1350 AM with Sean Neugent handling the play-by-play and former Drake player John Pugh providing color commentary. Fans can also listen to the game online via the Drake Athletics website at www.GoDrakeBulldogs.com. A video webstream of the game is also available with a subscription via the website.

PREGAME TAILGATE: All fans are invited to enjoy the pregame tailgate activities at Drake Stadium. The tailgate will open in the west lots of the stadium at 11 a.m. Saturday. A variety of activities and a Kids Zone provide fun for the whole family. A limited number of reserved parking passes are available; to request a pass call (515) 271-4003. All other parking is on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early. Charcoal grills and glass containers are prohibited.

DRAKE-CAMPBELL SERIES: This is just the fourth meeting in a series that began in 2008 when Campbell joined the Pioneer Football League. Drake has won all three matchups, including two in Des Moines (45-0 in 2008 and 49-6 in '09).

ABOUT THE CAMELS: Campbell brings a record of 1-2 into Saturday's contest. The Fighting Camels lost to 2010 PFL co-champion Jacksonville at home last week, 57-21, in a game that was tied at 21 in the third quarter. Campbell is the PFL's No. 1 rushing team (194.7; No. 24 NCAA DI FCS) and ranks second (7th NCAA) in tackles for loss (8.67) and third in sacks (3.33; No. 8 NCAA). Sr. RB C.J. Oates averages 7.5 yards per carry (32-247) with 4 TDs; Jr. QB Braden Smith (47-87-430) has 5 TD passes and WR Preston Dodd leads the receiving corps (17-180-10.6-3). Soph. CB Jeff Swinton is the leading tackler (25, 13 solo). Head Coach Dale Steele is in his fourth year (8-28). Campbell began intercollegiate play in 2008.

HEAD COACH CHRIS CREIGHTON: Drake football is in its fourth season under the direction of head coach Chris Creighton, who has compiled a 24-13 record (.649) over his first three-plus years, including victories in 22 of the Bulldogs' last 31 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 (.763) among all head coaches with at least five seasons at four-year colleges, entering this week's game with a record of 119-37 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.
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                             24-13 (.649)
Wabash College                     2001-07                                      63-15 (.808)
Ottawa (Kansas) University   1997-2000                                    32-9 (.780)
Totals                                        15th season                           119-37 (.763)

BULLDOGS-CAMELS: THE LAST TIME: The Bulldogs edged the Fighting Camels 14-12 in their first visit to Campbell on Oct. 16, 2010 to raise their record to 4-3 (3-1 PFL). Campbell failed on a two-point conversion try with 17 seconds to play that would have tied the game and possibly forced overtime. The score was 7-6 in the fourth quarter when quarterback Mike Piatkowski engineered an impressive scoring drive that was capped by a 42-yard touchdown pass to Drew Blackmon. Piatkowski had two key runs on the drive to set up the scoring play, which gave Drake a 14-6 lead with 4:40 to play. The Bulldogs' first touchdown came with 2:23 remaining in the first half on a 4^th-and-goal run from the 2-yard line by Patrick Cashmore. The Fighting Camels came into the game averaging 189 yards per rush, and gained 159 in the game .

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 third on Drake's career passing yards list over the first three games of 2011. He started the year with 3,993 yards, and moved past previous No. 6 Rick Casko (3,935; 1977-80) at North Dakota (9/1); current Drake wide receivers coach and then-No. 5 Jeff Martin (4,365; 1973-76) vs. Grand View (9/10); previous No. 4 Ron Royer (4,677) vs. Missouri S&T and previous No. 3 Gary Yagelski (4,795) at Butler. The top five list is below.

DRAKE CAREER PASSING YARDS LIST
1) 7,868-Ira Vandever (1999-2002)
2) 6,525-Connor Jostes (2002-05)
3) 5,033-Mike Piatkowski (2009-curent)
4) 4,795-Gary Yagelski (1979-82)
5) 4,677-Ron Royer (1963-66)

NUMBERS TO WATCH:

1,492-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).

61.3%- career completion percentage for Piatkowski (452-737); 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 64.7% of his passes thus far in 2011 (88-136).

OFFENSIVE NOTES FROM GAME 4 AT BUTLER (9/24/11):
--WR Drew Blackmon caught his 100th career pass (3-55)
--RB Patrick Cashmore rushed for 115 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries, all in the
first half, the second-highest rushing total of his career. Cashmore has 250 all-purpose yards and three touchdowns in his last two games
--QB Mike Piatkowski (276 passing yards, 1 TD) moved into third place on Drake's career passing yardage list (5,033), edging out Gary Yagelski (4,795; 1963-66) in the first quarter. It was his 15th career game with 200 or more passing yards, and fourth this season.
--WR Nick Rosa (7-74), RB Nathan Paddock (6-59) and TE Kevin Marshall (5-56, 1 TD) each set career highs for receptions and receiving yards.
--Drake's 441 yards, 30 first downs, 67.6 third-down percentage and 33:54 time of possession were among the season highs set in the game.

DEFENSIVE NOTES FROM GAME 4 AT BUTLER (9/24/11):
--LB Tyler Moorehead grabbed his first interception of the season to end Butler's final scoring threat inside 1:00 to play.
--S Nick Chenier made a season-best eight tackles to lead the team
--DE Brandon Coleman notched 1.5 sacks (-7) for the second consecutive week to raise his PFL-leading total to 6.0 on the season and earn PFL Defensive Player of the Week honors. Coleman has notched multiple sacks in three of Drake's four games this season (3, 1.5, 1.5).
--CB Michael Lahart played his first game of the season after injury and had 3 tackles, 1 pass breakup and one QB hurry.
--The defense made three sacks, six tackles for loss and two interceptions, holding high-powered Butler to 7 points until late in the game.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES FROM GAME 4 AT BUTLER (9/24/11):
--CB Michael Lahart returned two punts for 16 yards (8.0) in his first action of the year.

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. Furthermore, under Coach Creighton Drake is 10-2 in PFL home games, including wins each of its last four conference games.

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; Wk. 4 at Butler (9/24)-junior linebacker Jake Underwood.

BULLDOGS AMONG THE BEST: Drake ranks 20th in overall victories (566) among the 123 schools that make up the Division I Football Championships Subdivision (FCS). The game versus Campbell will be the 1,080th in school history, dating back to the initial campaign in 1893. The Bulldogs' all-time record is 566-484-29 (.538).

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 - 115 (19 carries, 2 TDs) Pat Cashmore at Butler, Sept. 24, 2011
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 have 100 or more yards receiving - 118 yards (9 receptions, 2 TDs), Drew Blackmon vs. Grand View, Sept. 10, 2011
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

POSTGAME QUOTES (AT BUTLER, SEPT. 24, 2011):

Head Coach Chris Creighton:

(on the importance of winning the PFL opener, and the satisfaction of doing so at Butler)
"This is a big game for both teams, no question. We beat a really good team today, a classic football team, and they're going to do well throughout this season. I think they're in the same situation we are, where we're good football teams, but our League is really good and so it's just going to be a week-in, week-out battle probably a lot like this. We were fortunate to play well in the first half. We had a tough time finishing at the end, there are always things to work on, but I was proud of our team. I think all three phases had some positive things that happened here today, and we needed that. We had a little bit more emotion and intensity in the first half. I really challenged them with that, and I thought they brought that."

(on the emotion and energy his team played with)
"Our team responds to challenges. We pointed out that we need to get better in that area. It's the game of football; it's about executing, but it's also about intensity and passion, and playing for each other, having fun out there, so I think they responded. It wasn't all the way, but they answered the call for the most part."

(on the play of the defensive line, which had 3 sacks and 5.5 tackles-for-loss)
"Our D-line had a big day, no question. (Andrew Huck) is a really talented quarterback. We got some pressure on him, and when we did, he's wasn't as good as when he doesn't have pressure. That's true of every quarterback, so they really stepped up big."

(on CB/PR Michael Lahart, fifth-year senior and team captain back on field after July knee surgery)
"The game of football is the greatest game in the world, but it's also very mean. For two of our fifth-year seniors (along with LB Stoy Hall) to have really severe injuries in July, you don't have an answer for it. (Michael) has worked incredibly hard to come back and to play. I haven't even asked him how he feels, but I see him walking right now and he seems like he's doing OK, so it's just a blessing that's he's able to come back and play."

CORNERBACK/PUNT-RETURNER MICHAEL LAHART

(on his return after missing three games because of July knee surgery)
"It was unbelievable. After the weeks and weeks of rehabbing and working for this moment, words can't explain how good it felt to be out there running around with those guys."

(on whether he had doubts at any point that this day would come)
"Right when it first happened, talking to the doctor, his first thought was that it was going to be a four- to six-month recovery. I started looking at the calendar and that was going to be the whole season. Then the surgery went really well, and the tear was in a good spot, so I was able to come through with a quick recovery."

(on how he felt today)
"The first couple snaps were tough, just getting back in the speed of things, but overall it was so much fun. Practicing hard, and stuff like that, I think the coaches really had us prepared for this game."

(on the play of the defensive line today)
"It all starts with the D-linemen. When the D-linemen are on their game and creating pressure on the quarterback, it makes our job so easy. That's where it really is a team sport. You can have the best corners and safeties in the league, but without any D-linemen to rush the quarterback, anyone can pass on you, so it's a real team sport."

(on what it means to win at Butler after the 2009 loss)
"I haven't had a chance to think about that a whole lot, but it definitely feels good to finally get a win here. My first two years playing we lost games here when we were playing for championships, so it's nice to get back at them and get a win on their home field."

CHRIS CREIGHTON SEASON/THEME QUOTES

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. 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."

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