Michael Piatkowski threw for a career-high 340 yards against Missouri S&T
DES MOINES, IOWA -- Fifth-year senior Brandon Wubs (Hawthorn Woods, Iowa) kicked four field goals and redshirt freshman Michael Piatkowski (Wheaton, Ill.) passed for a career-high 340 yards as the Drake football team celebrated homecoming with a 19-0 victory past Missouri S&T Saturday.
The Bulldogs improved to 4-1 overall, while posting its fifth shutout since the third game of the 2008 campaign.
Missouri S&T, an NCAA Division II independent, slipped to 0-6.
Second-year coach Chris Creighton was pleased with his team's play entering next Saturday's Pioneer Football League contest at San Diego.
"After last week's effort, we played much better today," said Creighton. "The focus was on bringing more passion and we took steps forward. The defense pitched a shutout and we did a lot of good things offensively."
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 (Long Grove, Ill.) led Drake with seven tackles, including two tackles for three yards in losses, while also forcing a fumble. Linebacker Cale Hunt (Littleton, Colo.) and senior Sean Kitts (Leawood, Kan.), making his first start at nose guard, added six tackles apiece.
Piatkowski 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 threw for 389 yards at Valparaiso Oct. 25, 2003.
"Mike (Piatkowski) has been very accurate for us," Creighton added. "He is poised and takes what the defense gives him. But the story of the game was the pass protection up front by our offensive line."
Senior J-back Steve Platek (Arlington Heights, Ill.) 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 (Elmo, Texas) 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 (West Des Moines, Iowa) led Drake's rushing attack with 36 yards apiece.
