DES MOINES, IOWA  --  Freshman redshirt quarterback Mike Piatkowski (Wheaton, Ill.), making his first collegiate start, threw a touchdown pass, while senior Brandon Wubs (Hawthorn Woods, Ill.) kicked three field goals to lead Drake to a season opening 22-0 victory past Grand View Saturday night.

It marked the first meeting between the schools which are located five miles apart.

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.

"Our defense is good," said second-year Drake head football coach Chris Creighton. "We've posted shutouts the last two games. The defensive staff has done a great job. Our seasoned veterans at linebacker and on the defensive line are older guys who know what they are doing."

Wubs, who has been the team's regular punter the last three years before also assuming place kicking duties this year, hit field goals of 37, 32 and 25 yards.

Piatkowski gave Drake a 9-0 lead after throwing a 61-yard touchdown strike to sophomore Drew Blackmon (Florissant, Mo.) 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.

"Mike (Piatkowski) has come a long way in a short time," said Creighton. "For a quarterback to come in, having not run a snap in college, he did a good job. He showed great poise and didn't get rattled. It was a pretty good start."

Sophomore defensive back Tyler Moorehead (Mason City, Iowa) led Drake with nine tackles along with a fourth-quarter interception. Fifth-year senior linebacker Cale Hunt (Littleton, Colo.) added eight tackles, while senior linebacker Josh Walkup (Littleton, Colo.) collected five tackles along with two quarterback sacks for 11 yards in losses, while forcing a fumble.

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.

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.

In the second half, Drake relied on field goals from 32 and 25 yards by Wubs.

"We got off to a decent start offensively then slowed down," added Creighton.

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.

Drake thwarted a Grand View scoring opportunity late in the second quarter when senior linebacker Ben Morrison (Long Grove, Ill.) blocked a 27-yard field goal attempt by Blake Stell. Drake junior Michael Lahart (Chariton, Iowa) retrieved the loose football, returning it 46 yards.

Junior Tom Kostek (West Des Moines, Iowa), making his first collegiate start, led Drake with 31 yards rushing in nine carries. Freshman Trey Morse (Elmo, Texas)  added 28 yards on the ground, while sophomore Patrick Oliver (Elk Run Heights, Iowa) netted 27 yards rushing in nine carries.

Blackmon, freshman Joey Orlando (Park Ridge, Ill.) and fifth-year senior Spencer Cady (Fort Dodge, Iowa) each caught a team-high three passes.

Drake has little time to salvage the victory while preparing for its Pioneer Football League opener at league newcomer Marist next Saturday (Sept. 13)

The Bulldogs, winning their third straight season opener, won't play another home game at Drake Stadium for nearly a month when they host Valparaiso Oct. 3. Besides the road game at Marist, Drake will play at South Dakota Sept. 19 before encountering a bye week on Sept. 26.

"We had our fair share of blemishes," added Creighton. "There were some definite things to improve on for next week."