DELAND, Fla. – The Stetson Hatter football team is back in DeLand, Florida this week and will welcome Drake as well as all Hatter alumni back to their alma mater for Homecoming, presented by Watson Reality.
 
The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Victor Anderson and D'Andre Lewis on the call.
 
Drake (0-8, 0-5 PFL) has struggled but has played many opponents tough this year. The Bulldogs have faced top-ranked FCS-power North Dakota State at the Fargodome. DU has also lost once in overtime and fell to Marist in a one-score game.
 
Stetson's (3-3, 1-2 PFL) potential has been on display as the team is roughly about three plays from being undefeated in the Pioneer Football League. Saturday will be a big game just to set the tone for the remainder of the season; a win this weekend could carry moment into a pair of enormous road games coming at St. Thomas and Davidson.  
 
The pair of teams have two common opponents, Marist and Dayton. The Hatters and Bulldogs both dropped their respective games to the opponents. In the series history, Stetson is officially on a two-game win streak, but only took one on the field of play due to the 2021 contest being canceled and turned into a COVID-related forfeit for Drake. The most recent game, Stetson won 23-21 on October 13, 2018, in Des Moines, Iowa.
 
The Bulldog offense is averaging just over 100 yards rushing [102.1], with almost double that in passing yards [190.75] but has been turnover prone with 14 fumbles, six lost, and nine interceptions. Ian Corwin has played in all eight games and is 109-for-244 with 10 touchdowns, eight interceptions, with 1348 yards. Four backs carry the ball for the DU, including Corwin, spearheaded by Dorian Boyland's 111 attempts for 431 yards and two touchdowns.
 
Defensively, Tanner Pollock is the leading tackler, tallying 74 on the season with 3.5 for loss. Finn Claypool has been a menace on the defensive line with four sacks, two coming against San Diego. The rest of the squad has two combined. Tony Graham has a pair of interceptions along with four other players, each with one.
 
The need to establish the run will be paramount for the Hatters, as Drake gives up an average of 198.6 rush yards per game with teams averaging 4.8 yards per carry. The three-headed rushing attack of Jalen Leary, Kaderris Roberts and Devon Brewer could be instrumental in a Hatter win. There is a mix of the Bulldogs defending the pass well, and teams not needing to pass against Drake for offensive success. A notable pass-happy offense, Marist, achieved passing success with Brock Bagozzi throwing 25-for-38 accumulating 257 yards and a touchdown. PFL leading passer Brady Meitz will be looking to duplicate or better than number.
 
SU's defense has been in great form, holding the Flyers to 267 total yards. In bad situations, the Hatters performed admirably, with Dayton only scoring one touchdown  and putting together one drive longer than 50 yards with that coming in the fourth quarter. Majeste' Hansberry, Ja'Veon Ensley, C.J. Davis and Alex Alteus were a force last Saturday combining for 33 tackles, six tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
 
If the Hatters take care of the football, and the same defense continues to show up, then Hatter fans should be leaving happy before heading to the Sanborn Center to induct the Hall of Fame Class of 2022.
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program is driven by a shared purpose. It is what inspires, motivates and binds us together. More than a task, a reason for being. THE HATTER PURPOSE is to create and provide an experience of a lifetime through teamwork and relationships to achieve excellence. This purpose is achieved through five Core Values: Communication, Integrity, Excellence, Value People and Commitment. To learn more about the HATS program and our Core Values, visit GoHatters.com/HATS. Get in on the conversation on social media by following Stetson Athletics on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For video content, visit our YouTube channels: Stetson Hatters, Stetson Athletics and, for live events, Hatter Vision.