GAME DAY INFORMATION   DATE: Oct, 28, 2023 TIME: 1:00 PM EST LOCATION: Drake Stadium Des Moines, Iowa   GAME DAY LINK   LIVE STATS LIVE VIDEO

NEWS NEWS ROSTER ROSTER SCHEDULE SCHEDULE 2023 STATS 2023 STATS GAME NOTES

Stetson has a history with the Drake Bulldogs that spans five matchups, with the Hatters holding a 1-4 all-time record against their adversaries. The most recent clash, which took place on October 29, 2022, saw Stetson fall to the Bulldogs in a 17-24 loss. The two programs met for the first time on Nov. 22, 2014 and the Bulldogs took the inaugural game with a 27-15 win over Stetson. In their encounters with the Bulldogs, Stetson has tallied a total of 77 points, averaging 12.83 points per game.

As the Stetson football team crosses the midway point of the season, they're standing at a 3-4 record following a challenging Homecoming weekend loss to the St. Thomas Tommies with a final score of 6-38. This season, the Hatters' offense is averaging 24 points per game, securing them the third most in their conference. They've successfully reached the endzone 21 times, with 13 of those touchdowns attributed to their ground game, which has averaged 120.7 yards per game. Devon Brewer has been a driving force, accumulating 283 yards on 90 carries and scoring five touchdowns, including two crucial fourth-quarter surges against Presbyterian, which led to a significant victory.

In their most recent outing, Brady Meitz started after leading a the comeback effort in the previous game, completing 14-of-25 passes for 114 yards on Saturday. However, Matt O'Connor stepped in for relief, going 9 of 15 for 131 yards. Aanjay Feliciano emerged as a key player among the receivers, with six receptions for 74 yards, including a remarkable 30-yard toe-drag reception that set up Brewer for a touchdown rush at the 1-yard line.

Gabe Atkin has been leading the receiving department, boasting 34 receptions, 427 yards, and three touchdowns. His impressive stats tie him for third in the conference in receptions and sixth in yards. Jalon Warthen-Carr has also been a reliable target, securing 16 passes for 252 yards, with a notable 37-yard reception in their most recent game, despite the loss to the Tommies.

On the defensive front, Stetson has limited their opponents' passing game, allowing only an average of 179.86 passing yards per game in their conference. They've conceded just seven touchdowns through the air this season. Leading this defensive charge is linebacker Nicholas Lerew, who has accumulated a remarkable 79 total tackles, ranking as the second-highest in the Pioneer Football League (PFL) and 11th in all of FCS. In the most recent game, Lerew and CJ Davis stood out with 13 and 12 tackles, respectively.

The secondary of Stetson's defense has been actively intercepting passes this season, with Rassie Littlejohn, David Stubbs, and Jaylon Johnson all contributing with two interceptions each, including a crucial interception by Johnson in the closing seconds of the first half in their last game. Notably, Littlejohn returned an interception for a 30-yard touchdown against Butler earlier in the season, and he's now just one interception away from tying the career record of 16, set by Chris Atkins in 2013. 

Drake University's football team enters the game with a 4-3 overall record and an impressive 4-0 in conference play.

They faced a challenging early-season slate of games, taking on formidable opponents such as the 17th-ranked North Dakota and the top-ranked South Dakota State. After that, the Bulldogs have gone on a four-game winning streak. But the defining moment came when the Bulldogs snapped a 10-game losing streak to San Diego, securing a victory against the Toreros for the first time since 2012. Notably, they also clinched a win in San Diego for the first time since 2009.

One of the key factors behind the Bulldogs' success has been their potent offense. Drake averages an impressive 21.57 points per game, fueled by a conference-leading air attack that amasses 281.43 passing yards per game. At the heart of this aerial assault is senior quarterback Luke Bailey.

Bailey's performance has been turning heads across the FCS. He ranks in the top 20 nationally in various individual categories: 10th in passing yards (1,871), 12th in passing yards per game (267.3), tied for 13th in passing touchdowns (14), and 18th in passing yards per completion (13.7). Bailey's efforts were recognized as he earned the FedEx Ground FCS National Offensive Player of the Week and the PFL Offensive Player of the Week honors for his remarkable display in a signature 52-21 win over St. Thomas. In that game, the Lemont, Illinois native set career-highs in passing yards (411) and passing touchdowns (five), coming just one touchdown pass shy of tying the program record for the most thrown in a single game.

The Bulldogs' offensive arsenal doesn't stop with Bailey. The rushing game is also a force to be reckoned with, led by Dorian Boyland, who has accumulated 306 yards and 2 touchdowns on 76 attempts, and Christian Galvan, who has contributed 159 yards and 1 touchdown on 61 attempts.

In the passing department, Bailey is the maestro, completing 137 of 241 attempts for 1,871 yards and 14 touchdowns, with just 3 interceptions. His favorite targets include Mitchell January, who boasts 15 receptions for 372 yards and 4 touchdowns, and Trey Radocha, with 18 receptions for 305 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Defensively, the Bulldogs have also demonstrated their prowess. Jacob Thompson and Sean Allison lead the team in tackles, while Tyler Radocha, Holden Hughes, and Joey Lukrich each have interceptions to their name. Finn Claypool and Jacob Auen have been relentless in getting to the opposing quarterbacks, with 5.0 and 3.0 sacks, respectively.

NEXT UP
The Hatters will hit return home for a meeting with the Davidson Wildcats for their Military Appreciation Game. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 PM on Saturday, Nov. 4 at Spec Martin Stadium.