After getting a second open Saturday last weekend, the Stetson football team will swing back into to action in Pioneer Football League play on Saturday with a trip to face league co-leader Drake.
 
The game is scheduled for a 2 p.m. (ET) start from Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa, a place where the Bulldogs have won 33 of their last 37 PFL games. A video feed of the game, as well as live stats, will be available through the Drake Athletics web site, GoDrakeBulldogs.com.
 
In addition to their success against PFL teams, Drake has won 43-of-53 home games overall over the last nine seasons.
 
The extra time off following Stetson's last game, a 49-10 loss at San Diego, gave the Hatters (3-1, 1-1) some much-needed time to heal up. Both senior tight end Donald Parham and redshirt junior defensive end Regis Steighner missed the game at USD, but both have been cleared to return to action.
 
In addition, sophomore defensive back JJ Henderson and redshirt freshman defensive end Bryson Richards both suffered bruised sternums in the game against the Toreros. The time off allowed both of them to heal up in time to be on the field this weekend.
 
One other Hatter who has yet to see playing time this year, junior captain Shane Parton, is expected to make his season debut this week. Parton, a defensive lineman, has been out of action since suffering an injury last year and returned to active duty at practice in the last two weeks.
 
For Stetson to earn its first win in four tries against a Drake (3-1, 2-0) team that has won three straight games this year, the Hatters will have to avoid falling behind early. In past meetings with the Bulldogs, Drake has used a power ground game, combined with taking advantage of 10 Stetson turnovers, to outscore the Hatters 113-35.
 
Unlike past Drake teams, however, this Bulldogs squad has relied on a strong passing game this year. Fifth-year senior quarterback Grant Kraemer has completed 79-of-109 passes (72.5%) for 1,090 yards and 14 touchdowns this year with four interceptions.
 
Kraemer's favorite targets are seniors Devin Cates (6-4, 243) and Steve Doran (6-3, 216). That duo has combined to record 40 receptions for 597 yards and eight scores in just four games this year. Doran has surpassed 100-receiving yards in five of his last seven games and has a total of 32 receptions for 804 yards and 11 touchdowns over that stretch.
 
Drake has also been very good on defense this year, allowing just 27 total points in the three wins while allowing just 261.8 yards of total offense per game this year. The Bulldogs have forced seven turnovers and have also blocked four punts this year (plus two PAT kicks). Seven of those 11 big momentum plays have results in points, with six of the seven producing touchdowns.
 
The senior-heavy Drake defense is led by linebackers Kieran Severa and Zac Rujawitz who have 28 and 23 total tackles respectively. Junior safety Will Warner had 19 tackles to go with a pair of interceptions, one of which he returned for a score, and the Bulldogs are led up front by junior defensive end Jacob Hardy (five sacks) and fifth-year senior tackle Nathan Clayberg (four sacks).
 
For the Hatters to have success, they will need to return to the formula that worked in the win over Marist – control the clock by having success in the running game. Stetson managed just 89 rushing yards in the loss to San Diego, mostly because the score of the game dictated the need to throw the ball.
 
Having Parham – who needs just 27 receiving yards to become the all-time leader at Stetson – back in the passing game will certainly assist in opening up the ground game. His return will also give quarterback Colin McGovern an extra go-to receiver – along with junior Steven Burdette and sophomores Justin Jordan and Jack Bowen – to help open up running lanes for senior back Matt Taft as well as freshman Jareem Westcott.
 
Burdette had his best game of the year at San Diego, earning team offensive player of the week honors. His eight receptions for 121 yards were both career highs. Freshman defensive back Dwight Lawrence was named team defensive player of the week while sophomore punter Matias Gasc was selected as the team special teams player of the week.
 
Gasc will wear jersey number 37 in the game this weekend in tribute to former teammate Nick Blakely for earning the team honor.
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.