Football 10/3/2011 5:46:00 PM Drake Athletics

Bulldogs Seek Second PFL Road Win At Morehead State Saturday

Monday, Oct. 3, 2011

The 4-1 Drake Bulldogs (2-0 PFL), winners of four in a row, take to the road this week for a conference matchup at 2-3 Morehead State (1-1). The Bulldogs face an Eagles squad that is ranked No. 1 in the NCAA FCS in total offense (551.2) and passing offense (406.8). Morehead State is coming off a 38-14 win at Valparaiso, a week after a hard-fought 48-44 loss to conference co-leader San Diego. Drake looks to build on the momentum of its second straight win in conference play, 31-14 over Campbell, in which the Bulldogs gained more than 400 yards for the second week in a row (421) after compiling 441 in their Sept. 24 win at Butler.

TOP NOTES FOR THE WEEK:

QB Mike Piatkowski is the PFL's Offensive Player of the Week, National co-Offensive Player of the Week by The Sports Network/Fathead.com and National co-QB of the Week by the College Football Performance Awards (CFPA) after breaking the NCAA FCS record for completion percentage (90.9%, 30-33) in a single game (min. 30 comp.) in Saturday's win over Campbell. Piatkowski threw for a career-high 342 yards and tied his career best with 3 TDs.
DE Brandon Coleman raised his season sack total to 7 with one Saturday vs. Campbell; he leads the PFL and ranks fourth in the NCAA FCS (1.40/game).
K/P Billy Janssen leads the PFL (No. 11 FCS)in punting average (43.38) after posting a 48-yard average vs. Campbell, earning honorable mention Kicker/Punter of the Week from CFPA.
Drake ranks first in the PFL in rushing defense (98.8, 14th NCAA FCS) and second in scoring defense (17.6, 10th FCS), tackles for loss (8.0/game, 14th FCS) and passing efficiency (147.27, 18^th FCS).
The Bulldogs' other Top 20 national rankings include: Passing offense (278.6, 14^th FCS, 3^rd PFL) and sacks (3.0/game, 17^th FCS, 4^th PFL).
CB/PR Michael Lahart was announced last week as a candidate for the National Football Foundation's National Scholar-Athlete Award, and a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy as the top scholar-athlete in the nation.
LB Stoy Hall is the first Bulldog to make the prestigious 22-man 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/MEDIA INFO STATS (2006-11) ONLINE ROSTER

RADIO/TV: The game will be broadcast on KRNT 1350 AM with Sean Neugent on play-by-play. Fans can also listen to the game online at www.GoDrakeBulldogs.com.

DRAKE-MOREHEAD STATE SERIES: Drake leads 4-2 in a series that began in 2003. That includes a 3-2 regular season mark and a Drake win in the 2004 PFL Championship game at Morehead State when the conference played a divisional format. The home team has won every regular season game (2003, '07 at MSU; '04, '06, '08 at Drake). The teams have not met since 2008, and this will be Chris Creighton's first time leading the Bulldogs into battle at MSU.

ABOUT THE EAGLES: Morehead State is 1-1 in the PFL with the lone blemish a narrow 48-44 home defeat at the hands of conference co-leader San Diego, in which it led by 17 after three quarters. The Eagles lead the nation in total offense (551.2) and passing offense (406.8), and rank second in scoring (43.8). QB Zach Lewis ranks third in the nation in passing yards (339.6). MSU's rushing attack ranks third in the PFL (144.4), led by Desmond Cox who averages 93.8 per game and 5.3 per carry with six touchdowns on the season.

HEAD COACH CHRIS CREIGHTON: Drake football is in its fourth season under the direction of head coach Chris Creighton, who has compiled a 25-13 record (.658) over his first three-plus years, including victories in 23 of the Bulldogs' last 32 contests. Creighton's .658 winning percentage is the best in school history.

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 (.764) among all head coaches with at least five seasons at four-year colleges, entering this week's game with a record of 120-37 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                             25-13 (.658)
Wabash College                     2001-07                                      63-15 (.808)
Ottawa (Kansas) University   1997-2000                                    32-9 (.780)
Totals                                        15th season                           120-37 (.764)

BULLDOGS-EAGLES: THE LAST TIME (Nov. 8, 2008): The Bulldogs forced three turnovers and recorded a safety to claim a 19-15 Senior Day victory at Drake Stadium. Drake improved to 5-4 with the win, the 100^th in the career of head coach Chris Creighton, then in his first season at Drake. Senior QB Cole Ingle completed 15 of 25 for 196 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown pass to freshman Drew Blackmon that gave the Bulldogs a 10-6 lead they would not relinquish. The Drake defense recorded seven sacks, including one for a safety that pushed a 17-15 Bulldogs lead to the final score of 19-15. Drake's Michael Lahart, then a redshirt-freshman RB, scored on a 7-yard just before halftime to put Drake ahead 17-9, and then-freshman DT David Witkiewicz blocked a 30-yard Morehead State field goal attempt in the third quarter.

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.

PIATKOWSKI AND COLEMAN EARN PFL WEEKLY HONORS IN 2011: QB Mike Piatkowski was named PFL Offensive Player of the Week after setting an NCAA FCS record for single-game completion percentage (90.9%, 30-33) versus Campbell Oct. 1. It is Piatkowski's first such honor and the first time a Bulldog has been named Offensive POW since Week 1 in 2007 (Cole Ingle). Piatkowski's honor comes a week after DE Brandon Coleman was named Pioneer Football League Defensive Player of the Week in recognition of his 1.5 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss in Drake's 24-14 league-opening win at Butler Sept. 24.

FIVE BULLDOGS HAVE EARNED WEEKLY CFPA HONORS: Five 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. Drake's 31-14 defeat of Campbell earned QB Mike Piatkowski recognition as national co-Quarterback of the Week (90.9% completions, 342 yards 3 TDs) and Janssen again as honorable mention kicker/punter (4-4 PAT; 1-1 FG; 48.0 yards per punt).

PIATKOWSKI MOVES UP CAREER PASSING CHART: Drake QB Mike Piatkowski climbed from seventh to third on Drake's career passing yards list in the first four 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) 5,375-Mike Piatkowski (2009-curent)
4) 4,795-Gary Yagelski (1979-82)
5) 4,677-Ron Royer (1963-66)

NUMBERS TO WATCH:
1,150-Passing yards needed by Mike Piatkowski to move into second place on Drake's career list, passing Connor Jostes (6,525; 2002-05). The all-time record is 7,868 by Ira Vandever (1999-2002).

62.6%- career completion percentage for Piatkowski (482-770); 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 69.8% of his passes thus far in 2011 (118-169).

OFFENSIVE NOTES FROM GAME 5 VS. CAMPBELL (10/1/11):
--QB Mike Piatkowski completed 30-of-33 passes (career-best 90.9%) for a career-high 342 yards and a career-high-tying three touchdowns. His 90.9% completion rate broke the NCAA FCS record of 88.9% by Appalachian State's Richie Williams vs. Furman, Oct. 9, 2004 (40-45). It was Piatkowski's third career 300-yard game and second this season.
--WR Joey Orlando caught seven passes for 61 yards and a career-best two touchdowns, one in the first quarter and one in the second.
--RB Nathan Paddock (7-97, 1 TD) set a career high for both receptions and receiving yards for the second week in a row. Combined with last week's 6-59 performance Paddock has caught 13 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown in the last two games.
--Drake gained more than 400 yards for the second week in a row (421) and had a season-best 35:04 time of possession figure

DEFENSIVE NOTES FROM GAME 5 VS. CAMPBELL (10/1/11):
--LB Jake Underwood led the team with nine tackles (5 solo).
--LB Tyler Moorehead led the team in solo tackles (7, 8 total) and blocked a second-quarter 37-yard field-goal attempt by Adam Willets.
--DE Brandon Coleman recorded his seventh sack of the season, dropping Braden Smith on a second-quarter 3rd-and-9 play.
--S Nick Chenier grabbed his first interception of the season and first since 2009, swiping a Braden Smith pass in the fourth quarter.

SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES FROM GAME 5 VS. CAMPBELL (10/1/11):
--K Billy Janssen was perfect on all five kicks (4 PAT, 1 FG-25 yards) and averaged 48.0 yards on three punts with a long of 60.

BLOCK PARTY: Drake has blocked four kicks this season (2 FGA, 1 PAT, 1 Punt), one of three schools tied for third-most in the NCAA FCS. LB Tyler Moorehead has two blocks-a punt that was returned for a touchdown vs. Missouri S&T (9/17) and a 37-yard field goal attempt vs. Campbell (10/1). CB Dustin Davis blocked a 20-yard field goal attempt vs. Grand View (9/10) and DE John Sawhill blocked a PAT in the second quarter vs. Missouri S&T (9/17).

AT HOME IN DRAKE STADIUM: Drake has won seven home games in a row and is 17-3 at Drake Stadium since Chris Creighton became head coach in 2008. His '08-'09 teams also won seven in a row at home. Furthermore, under Coach Creighton Drake is 11-2 in PFL home games, including wins each of its last five conference games at Drake Stadium.

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), Wk. 3 vs. Missouri S&T (9/17) and Wk. 5 vs. Campbell (10/1)-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 20^th in overall victories (567) among the 123 schools that make up the Division I Football Championships Subdivision (FCS). The game versus Campbell will be the 1,081^st in school history, dating back to the initial campaign in 1893. The Bulldogs' all-time record is 567-484-29 (.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 - 340 yards, Mike Piatkowski vs. Campbell, Oct. 1, 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 (VS. CAMPBELL, OCT. 1, 2011):

Head Coach Chris Creighton:

(on quarterback Mike Piatkowski)

"Just talking to him right now in our quarterback huddle we really felt as though he saw the field well and he took what they have him today. He's a very intelligent quarterback and I thought the O-line really protected well. We were just running our offense. That's two weeks in a row now where I've felt both the run game and passing game we've been running our offense and we've had some good results."

(on being 2-0 in the PFL and on a four-game winning streak)

"It does feel good. You know we're definitely taking it week by week. One of the challenges for our team this week was, we felt pretty good after the Butler win because I think we felt we played pretty well and hadn't had a win where we felt pretty good about ourselves, so how were we going to respond having played well. We'll still watch the film and all that but this was pretty good today. We played a pretty good football team and handled them pretty well. We have a lot of respect for this team. So (that's) another challenge we can put a checkmark by and there will be plenty more, but we're very pleased to be where we are right now."

(on whether this is the best the offensive line has played)

"I thought we ran the ball well and pass-protected well. I forget which series it was we had a couple of holds back to back and got backed up, so we stubbed our toes a little bit there but other than that we feel as though we have a very good offensive line and several different people played today, and played well. There were some good running lanes and (Piatkowski) had time to throw it."

(on whether he's seen a quarterback be as accurate as Piatkowski's 30-for-33)

"I had a quarterback go 19 for 20 but 30 for 33 is pretty good. I didn't know he did that. Everybody's got to be working on that: The offensive line, the backs, the running game, the receivers. He'll be the first to tell you that, but 30 of 33 is better than pretty good, that's really good."

QB Mike Piatkowski

(on whether he has ever felt that good on the field before)

"Probably not, it was just a great feeling. The O-line did great, we had a great game plan, the receivers were getting open. I had the easy part."

(on how confident he felt)

"I wasn't really thinking about it, just trying to focus on the play at hand. I didn't even know I was 16 in a row or anything like that. It was just great play calls and then execution. Campbell has a great defense and we just executed for the first time this year I think. I actually don't really think too much of them (the numbers). It's what we should be doing. We should be executing like that every game."

RB Nathan Paddock

(on Mike Piatkowski)

"I can't recall any incomplete passes that he threw. He's a good quarterback. Every throw that I had was on the spot so it's hard to not look good whenever he's throwing perfect balls. I think the whole offense was just firing on all cylinders (and) it was one of the most full games that we had this whole season, so I'm pretty pleased at how well we did."

Print Friendly Version