DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University football team returns to campus Saturday to kick off a three-game homestand with a 1 p.m. contest against visiting Valparaiso.

Saturday's game is also Drake's annual 'Take a Kid To the Game Day' with all children age 12 or younger getting free admission to the contest with a paying adult.

The Bulldogs take to their home turf where they have won 13 straight Pioneer Football League contests in search of No. 14 against a Valparaiso team that is 1-6 overall and 1-3 in the PFL. However, the Bulldogs know that record is not indicative of the challenges the Crusaders will present.

“The always give us a battle because they're a good football team,” Drake head coach Chris Creighton said. “They play incredibly hard and we have a lot of respect for them. Their record is not what they want it to be but they're very, very close and I think they know it.”

Meanwhile, Drake is 3-4 overall and 2-2 in the PFL after falling at league-leading Butler last weekend, 24-14. That loss followed a pair of wins against Jacksonville and Davidson. Despite falling two games behind the leaders in the PFL title race, the Bulldogs returned to practice in high spirits this week.

“There was definite pain and major disappointment,” Creighton said. “But the depth of character of our guys and their will and commitment to each other is awesome.”

“We're not as good as we wish we were right now and there's a lot of work to do.” Creighton added. “The reality of it is that we have as tough of a challenge as we've had here in six years. That gets us fired up. It's about 'who are we, really?' There's a lot to play for us to play for.”

Saturday's game will also feature two of the nation's top defenders in Valparaiso's Alex Green and Drake's John Hugunin. Green ranks fifth nationally in tackles with 11.3 per game while Hugunin is sixth at 11.1 per game. Hugunin also checks in at No. 4 nationally in solo tackles.

Hugunin lines up behind a Drake defensive line that has specialized in game-changing plays this season. Fifth-year senior defensive end Brandon Coleman (Cary, Ill.) has been involved in  four fumbles this season, two of which were recovered for a touchdown. The most recent came last weekend when he scooped up a dropped lateral and charged 17-yards into the endzone. Fellow team captain Mike Ratelle (Edina, Minn.) has led the defensive backfield with two interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, and five passes deflected.

That defense, combined with an offense that has generated two 100-yard receivers, a 100-yard rusher and a 300-yard passer in the last two games, will try to up Drake's all-time record against the Crusaders. The Bulldogs are 17-3 all-time against Valparaiso and have won nine straight games.

Following Saturday's contest, the Bulldogs remain at Drake Stadium and continue their homestand against Morehead State on Nov. 2 at 1 p.m.