GAME SIGNIFICANCE: Drake, matching its best start since the 1998 campaign, continues a pivotal three-game homestand entertaining Campbell. The Bulldogs, riding a five-game winning streak, seek to maintain a share of first place in the Pioneer Football League. But the three-team logjam for first place will break up when co-league leaders Butler and Dayton face each other on Saturday.
   
Campbell, in its second year as a member of the Pioneer Football League, won its first ever league game with a 31-22 home victory past Morehead State last Saturday. The school dropped football in 1950 with the onset of the Korean conflict. Campbell announced the return of football in 2006, naming Dale Steele as head coach. The staff had two years to recruit players before fielding a team for the first time in 2008.
   
DRAKE RADIO: Saturday's game with Campbell will be broadcast on KRNT Radio (1350 AM) with Scott Pierce handling the play by play. Fans can also listen to the game at www.GoDrakeBulldogs.com

DRAKE QUARTERBACK CLUB: The final Drake Quarterback Club luncheons, featuring Drake head football coach Chris Creighton, will be held  Nov. 10 at All-Play in downtown Des Moines, starting at 11:30 a.m. The public is invited.

FAST START: Drake's 7-1 record is the best start at the school since the 1998 team, under head coach Rob Ash, also went 7-1.

STREAKS: Drake's five-game winning streak is the longest under Coach Creighton's two-year tenure at Drake. The Bulldogs had won three straight games - all at home - last year against Campbell (45-0), Davidson (20-17) and Morehead State (19-15).
   
This also marks the sixth straight season, dating back to 2004, in which Drake has won at least three straight games.
   
Drake's current six-game Pioneer Football League winning streak is the longest at the school since the Bulldogs won six straight league games in 2004 en route to winning the Pioneer Football League championship.
   
Finally, Drake's three-game PFL road winning streak is the longest at the school since the 2006 Bulldogs won four consecutive league road games at Valparaiso (21-7), Butler (29-0), Dayton (35-15) and Jacksonville (47-28). If one carries over other seasons, the PFL road winning streak covered five games including the 2005 PFL finale at Valparaiso (49-24).

AMONG LEADERS: Drake ranks 19th in overall victories (555) among the 123 schools which play in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
   
The game against Campbell will be the 1,062nd game in school history with Drake owning a record of 555-477-29 for a winning percentage of .535.

PRESEASON PFL POLL: Drake was picked to finish sixth in the Pioneer Football League preseason coaches poll, receiving 40 points. Drake won four of its final five games in 2008 to finish fifth in the league standings with a 4-4 mark.
   
For the fourth consecutive season, San Diego was tabbed as the favorite in the PFL Preseason Coaches’ Poll, receiving five of 10 possible first-place votes. Only six points separate the Toreros from Dayton and Jacksonville who were picked to finish tied for second. Dayton picked up three first place votes and 71 points, while 2008 PFL Champion Jacksonville received the other two first place votes and also finished with 71 points.
   
Following Jacksonville and Dayton were Morehead State (51) and Butler (42) to round out the league’s top five. Drake (40) was sixth, followed by Davidson (37), Marist (32), Valparaiso (20) and Campbell (nine).

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT: Campbell leads the Pioneer Football League and ranks 13th nationally in rushing (191.4 yards per game). The Camels also rank No. 3 in the league in total offense, averaging 349.8 yards. Redshirt junior quarterback Daniel Polk ranks sixth in the PFL in total offense (177.3) and seventh in passing efficiency (107.90).  Redshirt sophomore Carl Smith gained 128 yards on the ground against Morehead State, becoming the first running back to eclipse 100 yards against the Eagles this season. Harrison Jordan caught a 46-yard touchdown strike from Polk against Morehead State and also had a 27-yard touchdown run.
   
Sophomore Cody Lyon is the reigning PFL Defensive Player of the Week after intercepting two passes in the victory against Morehead State, including a 45-yard return for a touchdown.   
   
Campbell's redshirt sophomore kicker Adam Willets was named the Pioneer Football League's Special Teams Player of the Week Oct. 25 and Oct. 31 after making three field goals in  23-16 loss to co-league leader Butler and the victory against Morehead State
   
Dale Steele, a 1976 graduate of South Carolina, served as an assistant head coach at Elon from 2004-06, before being named the head coach at Campbell. He is in his 32nd year as a collegiate football coach with previous stops at East Tennessee State (2003), Baylor (1999-2002), Northern Nash High School (1995-98), East Carolina (1989-94), Kansas State (1987-88), Wichita State (1984-86), St. Charles High School (1983), Tulsa (1980-82) Wisconsin (1978-79), Ball State (1977) and A.C. Flora High School (1976).  His previous head coaching experience was at Northern Nash High School from 1995-98 where he also served as the athletic director.

LAST YEAR: Drake 45, Campbell 0 (Oct. 18, 2008, Des Moines, Iowa) -  With five players scoring touchdowns, Drake rolled up a season-high 496 yards total offense in the inaugural meeting between the schools.
   
It marked the first time Drake posted a shutout in the PFL since earning a 29-0 victory at Butler Oct. 14, 2006. Drake's defense held Campbell to 167 yards total offense, including just 64 yards rushing in 33 carries.
   
The Bulldogs also forced the Fighting Camels into three turnovers that keyed Drake with an interception and fumble recovery in the third quarter to halt drives by Campbell. Sophomore linebacker Jeff Grovak (Mt. Prospect, Ill.) and junior linebacker Ben Morrison (Long Grove, Ill.) led Drake with six tackles apiece while also forcing fumbles. Morrison also had a three-yard quarterback sack and two tackles for nine yards in losses.
   
Drake pounded out a season-high 298 yards on the ground, averaging 6.2 yards per rush. Four running backs scored touchdowns with sophomore Pat Cashmore (Kansas City, Mo.) leading the way with second-half scoring jaunts of seven and two yards.
   
Sophomore Michael Lahart  (Chariton, Iowa) and Tommy Kostek (West Des Moines, Iowa) scored touchdowns for Drake on runs of five and 13 yards, respectively.
   
A 30-yard field goal by fifth-year senior Logan Rees with 14:56 left in the second quarter gave Drake a 3-0 lead. The Bulldogs extended a 10-0 halftime lead on a one-yard touchdown plunge by Steve Platek with 11:32 left in the third quarter.
   
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: Drake has accumulated a record of 66-15-1 at Drake Stadium dating back to 1994. The Bulldogs have won 15 of their last 19 Pioneer Football League home games, including the last five in a row against Campbell, Davidson, Morehead State, Valparaiso and Jacksonville.

TEAM LEADERS: After eight games, redshirt freshman quarterback Mike Piatkowski (Wheaton, Ill.) leads Drake in passing with 1,684 yards, completing 150 of 236 passes for 63.6 percent, including 10 touchdowns.
   
He is well on his way to passing for the most yards by a Drake quarterback in a season since Connor Jostes threw for 2,196 yards in 2004.
   
Senior J-Back Steve  Platek (Arlington Heights, Ill.) has caught a team-high 37 passes for 476 yards, including three touchdowns. Fifth-year senior Spencer Cady (Fort Dodge Iowa) has 27 receptions for 290 yards including two touchdowns. Sophomore Drew Blackmon (Florissant, Mo.) has caught 21 passes for 342 yards.
   
Junior Tom Kostek (West Des Moines, Iowa) paces a balanced running attack with 312 yards in 68 carries (4.6 avg.), while freshman Trey Morse (Elmo, Texas) has 163 yards in 60 carries.
   
Brandon Wubs leads Drake in scoring with 59 points, making 12 of 14 field goals.
   
Fifth-year senior linebackers Cale Hunt (Littleton, Colo.) and Ben Morrison (Long Grove, Ill.) lead the Drake defense with 62 tackles apiece. Hunt has 35 solos, one quarterback sack and one interception. Morrison has 24 solo tackles, including 7.5 tackles for 23 yards in losses. Senior safety Skye Buckner Petty (Florissant, Mo.) has 51 tackles, including 27 solo, along with a pass interception and a fumble recovery.
   
Senior end Dain Taylor (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) leads the team with 13.5 tackles for 65 yards in losses and 7.5 quarterback sacks for 52 yards in losses. Senior linebacker Josh Walkup (Littleton, Colo.) has 5.5 quarterback sacks totaling 28 yards in losses.

RED ZONE EXPRESS: Drake has converted on 31 of 36 (.860) red-zone opportunities once it has crossed inside the opponents' 20 yardline. The Bulldogs have turned 20 of those opportunities into touchdowns, while also converting 11 into field goals.

KICKING AWAY TO SCHOOL RECORDS: Fifth-year senior Brandon Wubs has set a Drake school record for career punting yardage with 8,408 yards punting, surpassing the previous school mark of 8,108 yards by Ryan Horvath from 2002-05.
   
In his first year handling the placekicking chores, Wubs also has made 12 field goals - approaching the mark of 14 field goals made by Logan Rees last year - with three games still left in the season.
   
Wubs punted four times for a 43.5 yard average against Jacksonville, including a school n
nonscholarship record 75-yard punt in the third quarter.

RESERVE RESCUES DRAKE: Redshirt freshman Peter Badovinac (Inverness, Ill.) came off the bench to engineer two fourth-quarter touchdowns as Drake rallied from a 28-10 deficit to post a 45-38 Pioneer Football League victory past defending conference champion Jacksonville last Saturday in Des Moines.
   
Badovinac, who is scheduled to have shoulder surgery following the season, scored on a fourth-down attempt at the one-yardline on a  quarterback sneak with 11:21 left enabling Drake to tie the score at 38-38.
   
The Bulldogs' Rashad Stewart (Smyma, Ga.) forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff with teammate Hans Broman (Fort Collins, Colo.) recovering at the Jacksonville 26 yardline.
   
Badovinac then directed Drake on a five-play, 26-yard game winning touchdown march, capped off by a two-yard run by fifth-year senior Steve Platek to give the Bulldogs a 45-38 advantage with 9:04 remaining in the game.
   
With Drake trailing 38-32, Badovinac entered the game on third play from scrimmage in the fourth quarter when starting quarterback Mike Piatkowski suffered a sprained right ankle after completing a 32-yard pass to Spencer Cady. Badovinac completed an 18-yard pass to senior Aaron Weis (Waukee, Iowa) on his first play down to the Jacksonville nine yardline. Five plays later he scored the game-tying touchdown.

PIATKOWSKI MAKES STATEMENT: Redshirt freshman Mike Piatkowski had thrown three touchdown passes against Jacksonville and scored on a two-yard run before his injury.
   
After Jacksonville mounted a 14-0 lead, Piatkowski threw a 35-yard touchdown strike to Steve Platek with 2:31 left in the first quarter. A 26-yard field goal by Brandon Wubs pulled the Bulldogs within 14-10. Jacksonville pushed its advantage to 28-10 following a 35-yard interception return for a touchdown by Kennan Bowe with 1:14 left in the second quarter.
   
Drake wasn't to be denied in the waning minute. Piatkowski completed passes of seven and 21 yards to Platek and  Spencer Cady, respectively, that marched the Bulldogs to the Jacksonville 38 yardline.
   
Drake took advantage of 24 yards in penalties by Jacksonville to keep the drive alive, moving down to the eight yardline. Two plays later, Piatkowski rolled around the left end for a two-yard touchdown with four seconds remaining in the first half to pull Drake within 28-17. Piatkowski threw third-quarter touchdown passes of eight and five yards to Cady and freshman Mike Bilton (Lincolnshire, Ill.), respectively, that moved Drake within 35-32.
   
Cady led Drake with seven receptions for 93 yards. Platek followed with four receptions for 53 yards. Junior Tom Kostek paced a balanced rushing attack with 53 yards in 13 carries, while junior Pat Cashmore (Kansas City, Mo.) added 25 yards on the ground in seven attempts.

MORRISON, BUCKNER-PETTY KEY DEFENSE:  Senior linebacker Ben Morrison led Drake with 11 tackles, including seven solo hits. He also had three tackles  totaling 16 yards in losses, along with two quarterback sacks for 14 yards.
   
Drake's defense rose to the occasion late in the game, stopping Jacksonville on a fourth-down conversion attempt at the Bulldog 28 yardline. After Drake had grabbed the 45-38 lead, Jacksonville drove to the Bulldogs' one yardline where center Ian Osking snapped a grounder past running back Rudell Small who was operating out of the Wildcat formation. Drake safety Skye Buckner-Petty scooped up football, returning it 46 yards to the Jacksonville 37 yardline before fumbling it back to the Dolphins. Buckner-Petty finished with nine tackles, including six solos.

3RD QUARTER FLURRY KEYS WIN: Drake scored two touchdowns in a three-minute span midway through the third quarter to earn a come-from-behind 21-16 Pioneer Football League victory at Davidson Oct. 24.
   
First-team All-Pioneer Football League performer Steve Platek, running out of the Wildcat offense, scored two touchdowns for Drake while accounting for 139 yards in all-purpose running. The Bulldogs had grabbed a 7-0 lead on a nine-yard touchdown burst up the middle by Platek with 3:24 left in the first quarter to cap a four-play, 77-yard drive. Freshman redshirt quarterback Michael Piatkowski teamed up with Platek on a 64-yard pass on the first play of the touchdown march.
   
Trailing 10-7, Platek gave Drake the lead for good when he took the snap from center on a first-down play and rambled along the left sideline for a 63-yard scoring gallop with 7:58 left in the third quarter.
   
 Piatkowksi completed 17 of 26 passes for 220 yards. Sophomore Drew Blackmon and freshman Joey Orlando (Park Ridge, Ill.) caught five passes apiece for Drake. Platek finished with 75 yards rushing in five carries, while junior Tom Kostek added 39 yards on the ground in 10 carries.

MORRISON KEYS SPECIAL TEAMS, DEFENSE: The Bulldogs relied on special teams plays to preserve a 20-17 home victory against Davidson last year when nose guard David Witkiewicz (Hales Corner, Wis.) blocked a 28-yard field goal by Davidson on the last play of the game.
   
Drake used a similar script in the second half last Saturday to improve its record to 6-1 overall when senior linebacker Ben Morrison blocked a 42-yard field goal by Davidson's Ben Behrendt with 4:59 left in the third quarter. Drake teammate Michael Lahart (Chariton, Iowa) scooped up the loose football, rambling 58 yards to give the Bulldogs a 21-10 advantage with 4:53 left.
   
Morrison thwarted Davidson's opening drive of the game with an interception at the Drake 31 yardline.  He finished the game with seven tackles.
   
Senior linebacker Cale Hunt  led Drake with 10 tackles, while senior end Dain Taylor had eight tackles, including a six-yard quarterback sack and 1.5 tackles for nine yards in losses. Sophomore defensive back Tyler Moorehead (Mason City, Iowa) also had eight tackles, including three for seven yards in losses.

WUBS HONORED AGAIN: For the second consecutive week fifth-year senior Brandon Wubs (Hawthorn Woods, Ill.) was named the Pioneer Football League Special Teams Player of the Week  for his effort in the 21-14 victory at San Diego. Wubs punted eight times for a 41.0 average, including a 56-yard punt. He had three punts downed insider the 20-yardline.
   
Wubs was honored Oct. 11 after making four field goals from 36, 33, 45 (career best) and 29 yards in a 19-0 victory past Missouri S&T. He also punted three times, averaging 35.3 yards including a long of 46 yards. Wubs also was recognized by the PFL in Drake's season opener against Grand View Sept. 5.

RUSHING ATTACK POWERS WIN: Senior Steve Platek scored two touchdowns, including a game-winning pass with 4 minutes 23 seconds left, as Drake rallied for a 21-14 victory at preseason Pioneer Football League favorite San Diego Oct. 17. Drake junior Patrick Cashmore (Kansas City, Mo.) playing in his first game of the season, rushed for a career-high 127 yards, while catching a 20-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.
   
The Bulldogs snapped a four-game losing streak to the Toreros, while earning their first victory in San Diego since 2004.
   
The Bulldogs netted a season-high 179 yards rushing with junior reserve Tom Kostek adding a career-high 69 yards on the ground in nine carries. Kostek gained 58 yards in the last 9:31 of the game on just five carries, while igniting the game winning touchdown drive. On Drake's first play from scrimmage with 5:21 left in the game, Kostek broke free for a 36-yard gallop down to the San Diego 17. Two plays later freshman redshirt quarterback Mike Piatkowski rifled a 20-yard scoring strike to Platek on the left sideline which proved to be the difference in the game.
   
Kostek also kept San Diego's offense from getting another possession late in the game with consecutive runs of 12 and 11 yards in the waning minutes.
   
A one-yard touchdown burst by Platek with 6:32 left in the first quarter capped a time consuming 14-play, 63-yard scoring drive that allowed Drake to tie the score at 7-7.Platek finished with four receptions for 57 yards, while freshman Mike Bilton (Lincolnshire, Ill.) caught three passes for 16 yards. 

GETTING DEFENSIVE: San Diego, which entered the game at San Diego ranked second in the PFL in rushing offense with a 157.2 yard average, was held to a season-low 19 yards on the ground in 16 carries against Drake.
   
Senior linebacker Ben Morrison and strong safety Skye Buckner-Petty led Drake with nine tackles apiece. San Diego scored on its first possession of the first half as well as the second half but was nullified the remainder of the game.

HE'S B-A-A-A-C-K!: Junior Patrick Cashmore, who had missed the first five games of the season while recovering from mononucleosis, became the first Drake player to rush for more than 100 yards this season. Cashmore gained 92 yards in just 13 carries in the first half, while catching a 20-yard touchdown pass from Mike Piatkowski with to give the Bulldogs a 14-7 second quarter lead.

TEAM EFFORT SPURS HOMECOMING WIN: Fifth-year senior Brandon Wubs kicked four field goals and redshirt freshman Michael Piatkowski passed for a careeiatkowski opened the game by completing 11 of his first 12 passes for 122 yards, but Drake only owned a 3-0 lead early in the second quarter. The 340 yards passing by Piatkowski were the most by a Drake quarterback in a game since Connor Jostes passed for 389 yards at Valparaiso Oct. 25, 2003.
   
Senior J-back Steve Platek caught seven passes for 118 yards, while fifth-year senior Travis Bogaard (Pella, Iowa) caught a career-high five passes for 102 yards. Platek scored Drake's lone touchdown on a one-yard plunge with 1:17 left in the first half to cap a six-play, 49-yard drive. Piatkowski opened the scoring drive by completing passes of 22 and 15 yards to Bogaard and Platek, respectively.
   
The Bulldogs lost fumbles on two of their first three possessions which ended drives. Drake took the opening kickoff, marching to the Missouri S&T four yardline before freshman running back Trey Morse coughed up the football.
   
The Bulldogs marched down to the Miners' 18 yardline on their next series before having to rely on a 36-yard field goal by Wubs with 6:31 left in the first quarter. Wubs added a 33-yard field goal on the last play of the first half and then connected on a career-long 45 yard field goal with 10:52 remaining in the third quarter. He closed out Drake's scoring with a 29-yard field goal midway through the third quarter. Morse and junior Tom Kostek led Drake's rushing attack with 36 yards apiece.

DEFENSE PITCHES SHUTOUT: Drake's defense posted its fifth shutout since the third game of the 2008 campaign. Drake held Missouri S&T to just 120 yards total offense including 55 on the ground in 31 attempts. The Miners crossed midfield on just two of their 14 possessions. Senior linebacker Ben Morrison led Drake with seven tackles, including two tackles for three yards in losses, while also forcing a fumble. Linebacker Cale Hunt and senior Sean Kitts, making his first start at nose guard, added six tackles apiece.

DEFENSE DELIVERS: Drake limited Valparaiso to just 89 yards rushing in 27 carries, while defensive backs Skye Buckner-Petty and Michael Lahart (Chariton, Iowa) had interceptions. Drake's defense forced Valparaiso into six straight three and out punting situations midway through the game. Drake junior end Dain Taylor thwarted Vaparaiso's opening drive when he recovered a fumble at the Crusaders' 27 yardline.  But the Bulldogs couldn't capitalize and had to wait until their third possession of the game to get on the scoreboard. Buckner-Petty's 13-yard interception return set up a career-long 42-yard field goal by senior Brandon Wubs to push the score to 10-0 with 1:07 left in the first period. Wubs closed out the first half by making a 27-yard field goal with five seconds remaining.
   
He also enjoyed a solid punting performance including a long punt of 58 yards and six kicks inside the Valparaiso 20 yardline.
   
Senior defensive back Lucas Mosier led Drake with 10 tackles, including two pass break ups. Senior linebacker Cale Hunt added nine tackles, including six solo hits. Taylor finished with two quarterback sacks for 13 yards in losses, along with three tackles for 15 yards in losses.

ROOKIES KEYS DRAKE TO PFL WIN:  Four freshmen played prominent roles in Drake's 34-14 Pioneer Football League home victory against Valparaiso Oct 3. Freshman redshirt quarterback Mike Piatkowski threw two touchdown passes and ran for another for the Bulldogs, who were playing their first home game since a season-opening 22-0 victory past Grand View Sept. 5. It also marked Drake's sixth straight victory against Valparaiso while keeping its home record against the Crusaders perfect at 8-0.
   
Piatkowski spotted fifth-year senior Frank Pucher (Skokie, Ill.) open for a 10-yard touchdown pass with 3:26 left in the first quarter to give Drake a 7-0 lead it would never relinquish.
   
Piatkowski accounted for both of Drake's touchdowns in the second quarter. He rifled a 39-yard scoring strike to freshman Joey Orlando (Park Ridge, Ill.)  with 7:05 left and then capped a seven-play, 74-yard scoring march with a three-yard touchdown burst that gave the Bulldogs a 24-7 cushion. Freshman Trey Morse, making his first collegiate start, led a balanced Drake rushing attack with 39 yards in 14 carries. Freshman Hans Broman (Fort Collins, Colo.) added 37 yards on the ground in eight attempts.
   
Piatkowski passed for 207 yards with senior Steve Platek collecting a game-high seven receptions for 58 yards. Sophomore Drew Blackmon caught four passes for 65 yards. Junior Tom Kostek rounded out Drake's scoring with a four-yard touchdown run with 4:29 left in the game.

HUNT HONORED BY PFL:  Drake fifth-year senior linebacker Cale Hunt was named the Pioneer Football League Defensive Player of the Week for his effort in the Bulldogs' league opening 34-6 victory at Marist Sept. 12. Hunt led Drake with 10 tackles, including a seven-yard quarterback sack, while also collecting an interception in the fourth quarter that set up a Bulldog touchdown.
   
It marked the second straight week a Drake player was honored by the PFL. Fifth-year senior kicker Brandon Wubs was named the PFL Special Teams Player of the Week Sept. 7.

DEFENSE KEYS DRAKE IN PFL OPENER: Drake's defense converted six turnovers into scores en route to spoiling the debut of Marist in the Pioneer Football League with a 34-6 victory Sept. 12 The Red Foxes played last season as an FCS independent before becoming the tenth member of the PFL.
   
Drake held the Red Foxes to 181 yards total offense, including just 38 yards on the ground on 36 carries. The Bulldogs recorded six quarterback sacks totaling 55 yards in losses. Linebacker Cale Hunt led Drake with 10 tackles, while senior cornerback Lucas Mosier and senior end Josh Walkup  added eight tackles apiece. Mosier added an 11-yard quarterback sack. Senior linebacker Ben Morrison added six tackles while forcing a fumble and recovering a fumble. Junior defensive back Tyler Moorehead  forced two fumbles while Morrison, senior end John Meehan (St. Louis, Mo.) and sophomore nose guard David Witkiewicz (Hales Corner, Wis.) recovered fumbles.
 
PLATEK SETS MARK: All-conference J-Back Steve Platek set a school nonscholarship record with 13 receptions for 112 yards at Marist, capping the day with a 10-yard touchdown reception from Mike Piatkowski with 7:56 left in the game. Aaron Overton held the previous Drake single-game mark of 12 receptions at Truman State in 2002.

OPPORTUNISTIC OFFENSE: Trailing 6-3, Drake reeled off 31 straight points scoring on all six red zone opportunities inside the 20 yard line. Mike Piatkowski completed 22 of 33 passes for 184 yards, while senior Brandon Wubs kicked field goals of 27 and 29 yards for Drake.
   
On Marist's second play of the game, Drake linebacker Ben Morrison stripped running back O'Neil Anderson of the football at the seven yard line with cornerback Lucas Mosier recovering to set up Wubs' first field goal. Piatkowski teamed up with Platek on consecutive passes of 26 and 15 yards early in the second quarter that set up a 14-yard touchdown run by Tom Kostek which gave Drake a 10-6 lead it never relinquished.
   
A 26-yard interception return by sophomore free safety Nick Chenier (Hinsdale, Ill.) halted the opening drive by Marist to start the second half while setting up Drake's second touchdown. A  six-yard touchdown gallop by sophomore Patrick Oliver with 10:10 left in the third quarter capped an eight-play 34-yard scoring drive. Spencer Cady rounded out Drake's scoring with a two-yard touchdown burst with 3:51 left in the game. The scoring drive was set up after linebacker Cale Hunt intercepted a pass at the Marist 31 yardline.

HE'S NO ROOKIE:  Freshman redshirt quarterback Mike Piatkowski making his first collegiate start, threw a touchdown pass, while senior Brandon Wubs kicked three field goals to lead Drake to a season opening 22-0 victory past Grand View Sept. 3
   
Piatkowski gave Drake a 9-0 lead after throwing a 61-yard touchdown strike to sophomore Drew Blackmon with 52 seconds left in the first quarter. Piatkowski played the entire game completing 23 of 34 passes for 248 yards which marked the most passing yards by a Drake team since the 2007 season finale against Dayton. He completed passes to 10 receivers. Blackmon, freshman Joey Orlando and fifth-year senior Spencer Cady each caught a team-high three passes.

SECOND STRAIGHT SHUTOUT: The Drake defense, posting its second straight shutout dating back to last year, limited Grand View to just 144 yards total offense including 58 yards in the first half. The Bulldogs have posted four shutouts dating back to a 36-0 blanking of William Penn at home Sept. 13, 2008.
   
Drake thwarted a Grand View scoring opportunity late in the second quarter when senior linebacker Ben Morrison  blocked a 27-yard field goal attempt by Blake Stell. Drake junior Michael Lahart (Chariton, Iowa) retrieved the loose football, returning it 46 yards. Sophomore defensive back Tyler Moorehead led Drake with nine tackles along with a fourth-quarter interception. Fifth-year senior linebacker Cale Hunt  added eight tackles, while senior linebacker Josh Walkup collected five tackles along with two quarterback sacks for 11 yards in losses, while forcing a fumble.

BALANCED BACKFIELD: Seven players rushed the ball for Drake in the season opener. Junior Tom Kostek, making his first collegiate start, led Drake with 31 yards rushing in nine carries. Freshman Trey Morse added 28 yards on the ground, while sophomore Patrick Oliver  netted 27 yards rushing in nine carries. A three-yard touchdown burst by sophomore Nathan Paddock (Lee's Summit, Mo.) pushed Drake's lead to 16-0 with 11:47 left in the second quarter.

WUBS EARNS PFL HONOR: Drake senior kicker Brandon Wubs was named the Pioneer Football League Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts in the Bulldogs' 22-0 season opening victory past Grand View. Wubs, who has been the team's regular punter the last three years before also assuming place kicking duties this year, hit all three field goal attempts from  37, 32 and 25 yards. Wubs also enjoyed a solid punting effort by averaging 44.5 yards on four punts, including a long of 51 yards in the second quarter. He also handled kickoff duties where his six kickoffs averaged 57.7 yards. Wubs converted his first field goal - from 37 yards - with 4:37 left in the first quarter after Drake stopped Grand View on its opening drive when the Vikings failed to convert a fourth-down gamble at the Drake 35-yard line. In the second half, Drake relied on field goals from 32 and 25 yards by Wubs.

DRAKE SQUAD BREAKDOWN: Drake's 97-man roster includes 11 fifth-year seniors, 14 seniors, 11 juniors, 27 sophomores and 34 freshmen. There are players from 13 states with Illinois leading the way with 42, followed by Iowa 22, Missouri nine, Colorado 6, Kansas 5, Minnesota 3, Oklahoma 3 and one apiece from Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Nebraska and Texas.

THE CREIGHTON ERA: Chris Creighton, who was named the 25th head football coach at Drake University Dec. 22, 2007, has a 13-6 year in two years with the Bulldogs. Creighton, 40, owns an overall record of 108-30 (.778 winning percentage) in 13 years as a college head coach to rank 14th among all time winnnigest percentage coaches at any college level.
   
He served as head coach at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind., from 2001-07 where he constructed a 63-15 record with teams winning four North Coast Athletic Conference championships, while competing in three NCAA Division III playoffs. He was 32-9 as head coach at Ottawa (Kan.) University from 1997-200.   
   
During his last three years at Wabash, Creighton led the Little Giants to a 30-5 record, including three straight league championships and appearances in the 2005 and 2007 NCAA Division III playoffs. Wabash posted an 11-2 record in 2007, competing in the NCAA Division III playoffs while being ranked No. 8 in the final NCAA Division III coaches poll. Wabash went 12-1 in 2002 and 11-1 in 2005, capping both seasons with appearances in the NCAA Division III playoffs.
   
As offensive coordinator at Wabash, Creighton’s teams averaged 35 points per game with the multiple offense producing the school’s all-time leading rusher and passer. Three starting quarterbacks received All-American honors.
   
Wabash won conference championships in 2002, 2005, 2006 and 2007. He coached 83 all-conference players, including seven who earned conference player of the year honors, along with 13 All-Americans. He was named the North Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2002, 2005 and 2007, as well as the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 1997.
   
The Seattle, Wash., native produced one of the greatest single season turnarounds in NAIA history during his first year at Ottawa in 1997. He inherited a team that posted a 1-8 record the previous season, then finished 9-2 en route to capturing its first Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference title since 1972. He also led Ottawa to a conference championship in 2000, along with appearances in the NAIA playoffs in 1997 and 2000. Creighton served as offensive coordinator at Concordia (Ill.) from 1991-92 and Manchester (Ind.) from 1993-96 before becoming head coach at Ottawa.
   
As an All-American quarterback, Creighton led Kenyon (Ohio) College to its only North Coast Athletic Conference title in 1989. He was named the league’s player of the year after setting single-season conference records for passing yardage (2,843) and touchdowns (29). He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kenyon College in 1991 and a master’s degree from Concordia (Ill.) University in 1993.

CO-CAPTAINS: Fifth-year senior linebacker Cale Hunt and fifth-year  senior offensive lineman Eric Mora (Roselle, Ill.) and senior fullack Steve Platek have been named captains for the 2009 Drake football team. Hunt was a co-captain last year, starting the first four games before suffering a season-ending elbow injury against San Diego. At the time he led the Drake defense in tackles with 35.
   
Platek earned first-team All-Pioneer Football League honors after moving from starting linebacker to J-Back in Drake's new offense during the 2008 preseason camp. He was Drake's second leading receiver with 41 catches for 468 yards (11.4 avg.), including four touchdowns. Mora will enter his third season as starting offensive guard.

THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED
Last time Drake played an overtime game —Valparaiso 51, Drake 45 (one overtime), Oct. 25, 2003, Valparaiso, Ind.
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 shutout — 19-0 at Lehigh, Sept. 6, 2008
Last time Drake shutoout 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 — 60 yards, Jordan Bontrager vs. Austin Peay, Sept. 24, 2005
Last time Drake blocked a punt for a touchdown — 39 yards, Clint Martindale vs. San Diego, Sept. 30, 2000
Last time Drake blocked a punt for a safety — Mike Bialas vs. Butler, Oct. 6, 2007
Last Drake pass interception for a touchdown — 46 yards, Andy Green, vs. Davidson, Oct. 25, 2008
Last Drake fumble return for a touchdown —  58 yards, Michael Lahart at Davidson, Oct. 24, 2009
Last Drake player to rush for 100 yards — 127 (18 carries) Pat Cashmore at San Diego, Oct. 17, 2009
Two Drake player to rush for 100 yards in same game — 101 yards in 19 carries, Willie Cashmore; and 216 yards in 27 carries,
Scott Phaydavong vs. Jacksonville, Nov. 10, 2006
Last Drake player to collect 10 receptions in game — 13, Stephen Platek (112 yards) at Marist, Sept. 19, 2009
Last Drake player to pass for over 300 yards —389 yards, Michael Piatkowski vs. Missouri S&T, Oct. 10, 2009
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