2010 Drake Football DRAKE BULLDOGS (1-1) at MONTANA STATE BOBCATS (1-1) 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18 Bobcat Stadium (13,500), Bozeman, Mont.

Transcription

1 2010 Drake Football DRAKE BULLDOGS (1-1) at MONTANA STATE BOBCATS (1-1) 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18 Bobcat Stadium (13,500), Bozeman, Mont. Drake Sports Information Mike Mahon, SID-Football Contact Address: mike.mahon@drake.edu Sean Palchick, Assistant SID Address: sean.palchick@drake.edu Brock Ascher Assistant SID Address: brock.ascher@drake.edu Sports Information Office Phone: (515) Fax: (515) Football Press Box Phone: (515) /3794 Drake's weekly releases and updated statistics can be accessed at: DRAKE SCHEDULE Sept. 4 LEHIGH L, Sept. 11 at Missouri S&T W, Sept. 18 at Montana State 2 p.m. Sept. 25 at Valparaiso* 1 p.m. Oct. 2 MARIST* 1 p.m. Oct. 9 at Jacksonville* 12 p.m. Oct. 16 at Campbell* 12 p.m. Oct. 23 DAVIDSON* 1 p.m. Oct. 30 SAN DIEGO* 1 p.m. Nov. 6 at Dayton* 12 p.m. Nov. 13 BUTLER* 1 p.m. Dec. 6 Gridiron Classic *Pioneer Football League game All times listed are Central GAME 3 Pregame Notes: bulldogs face former head coach GAME SIGNIFICANCE: Drake, coming off a victory at Missouri S&T, continues a three-game road trip with its sternest test of the season, traveling to No. 22 ranked Montana State. Washington State rallied from a 22-7 fourth quarter deficit behind three interceptions off deflected passes, to earn a home victory against Montana State last Saturday by making an 18-yard field goal with 2:13 left. The Bulldogs also will travel to Valparaiso in their Pioneer Football League opener Sept. 25. Under head coach Chris Creighton, Drake owns a 4-3 record in nonconference games, including a 1-2 mark on the road. RADIO: Saturday's game at Montana State will be broadcast on KRNT Radio (1350 AM) with Scott Pierce handling the play by play. Fans can also listen to the game at REUNION: Saturday's trip will be the first by a Drake football team in the state of Montana and it will feature a matchup against Drake's all-time winningest coach, Rob Ash, who moved to Montana State in Ash, a 1973 graduate of Cornell (Iowa), is in his fourth year as head coach of Montana State, owning a mark. He joins Herb Agocs as Montana State's only coaches to begin their Bobcat careers with three straight winning seasons (6-5, 2007; 7-5, 2008; 7-4, 2009) Ash ranks 20th overall among the winningest active college football coaches with 197 victories. Ash owns an overall collegiate coaching record of including a mark at Drake from and a record at Juniata (Pa.) from Ash led the Bulldogs to three outright Pioneer Football League titles (1995, 1998, 2004), along with a share of the 2000 crown. ANOTHER STATE TO VISIT The upcoming trip to Montana will mark the 32nd state the Drake football team has played a game in during its 117 year history. The Bulldogs have played games in Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.. AMONG NCAA LEADERS: Drake ranks 20th in overall victories (557) among the 123 schools which play in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The game at Montana State will be the 1,068th game in school history with Drake owning a record of for a winning percentage of.537. PRESEASON PFL POLL: Drake was picked to finish fourth in the Pioneer Football League preseason coaches' poll, receiving 54 points. Ten-time Pioneer Football League champion Dayton was the favorite in the league s preseason coaches poll, receiving four of 10 possible first-place votes. Dayton received 76 points while defending league champion Butler was picked second, receiving two first-place votes, with 69 points. Jacksonville received the four remaining first-place votes and finished third in the preseason poll with 68 points. San Diego, receiving 52 points, was tabbed fifth, followed by, Marist (45), Davidson (30), Campbell (25), Morehead State (22) and Valparaiso (nine). The 2010 PFL slate starts Saturday when Davidson travels to Campbell and Morehead State travels to Dayton. SCOUTING THE OPPONENT: Montana State has 16 returning starters from last year's team which posted a 7-4 record including a 5-4 fourth-place finish

2 2010 PIONEER FOOTBALL LEAGUE STANDINGS League Overall W L W L Butler Campbell Dayton DRAKE Jacksonville Morehead State Marist Davidson San Diego Valparaiso Saturday, Sept. 18 Games Webber International at Jacksonville, 11 a.m. Morehead State at Dayton 12 p.m. Taylor at Butler, 12 p.m. Davidson at Campbell, 12 p.m. Drake at Montana State, 2 p.m. St. Joseph's (Ind.) at Valparaiso, 7 p.m. UC Davis at San Diego, 8:05 p.m. Last Week's Games Duquesne 35, Dayton 31 Morehead State 31, St. Francis (Pa.) 21 Old Dominion 44, Campbell 13 Franklin 42, Valparaiso 7 Appalachian State 45, Jacksonville 14 Youngstown State 31, Butler 7 Lenoir-Rhyne 41, Davidson 13 Drake 28, Missouri S&T 14 Southern Utah 32, San Diego 3 Saturday, Sept. 25 Games Morehead State at Marist, 11 a.m. Jacksonville at Davidson, 12 p.m. Georgia State at Campbell, 12 p.m. Drake at Valparaiso, 1 p.m. Butler at San Diego, 3 p.m. Central State at Dayton, 6 p.m. DRAKE IN NCAA STATISTICS Rushing Defense Avg. Per Game 5. DRAKE Tackles For Loss Per Game T21. DRAKE 7.00 Scoring Defense Avg. Per Game 30. DRAKE Passing Efficiency Points 34. DRAKE Quarterback Sacks Per Game T14. Dain Taylor 1.00 Tackles For Loss Per Game T17. Dain Taylor 2.00 Interceptions Per Game T24. Akeem Campbell 1.00 Passing Efficiency Points 34. Michael Piatkowski in the Big Sky Conference. The veterans are headed by preseason All-Americans Dan Ogden at defensive tackle and Mike Person at offensive tackle. Both earned first-team all-league honors last year and were named to FCS Senior Scout Bowl preseason All-America second team and the Sports Network preseason All-America third team. Person is one of four returning starters on the offensive line. The Bobcats rolled up 407 yards total offense at Washington State. Freshman redshirt quarterback Denarius McGhee completed 24 of 37 passes for 266 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown strike to Elvia Akpla and a 47-yard scoring pass to Julius Lloyd. Orenzo Davis highlighted the Bobcats ground game producing 67 yards on 10 carries. Junior Jason Cunningham, who made 14 field goals in 2009, added field goals from 31 and 29 yards against Washington State. Behind Ogden, Montana State has led the Big Sky Conference in total defense in 2008 and Linebackers Clay Bignell, Alexi Grosulak and Jody Owens combined for 24 tackles, two sacks, five tackles for loss and one interception at Washington State. CAN YOU TOP THIS?: Montana State is the nation's only football program to win national championships at three different levels of competition, claiming the NAIA title in 1956, the NCAA Division II crown in 1976 and the NCAA I-AA championship in FAMILIAR FACES: Three former Drake football players are on the coaching staff of Rob Ash along with a former Drake assistant coach. Noah Joseph, Jamie Marshall and Dale Ploessl, who played under Ash at Drake, are assistant coaches for the Bobcats. Ploessl, who is the running game coordinator and tight ends coach at Montana State, was a three-year starting defensive lineman at Drake, receiving his business degree from Drake in He was a graduate assistant for the Bulldogs working with the running backs from He was offensive line coach from , serving as offensive coordinator in 1998 and He returned for a second stint on the Drake coaching staff in 2004 as offensive line coach before joining Ash at Montana State. Marshall, who is the defensive coordinator for Montana State, was a three-year letterwinner in the secondary at Drake from He earned second team All-PFL honors in 1997 and 1998 and finished his career with eight interceptions. Marshall was on the Drake staff from 2000 until moving with Ash to Montana State in He spent his last four years with the Bulldogs, serving as defensive coordinator. Joseph is the secondary coach at Montana State. He earned Academic All-Pioneer Football League honors and was captain of the Drake football team as a senior in Joseph, who was on the 2000 Drake coaching staff, holds the Bulldog school record for longest interception return of 100 yards at Wayne (Neb.) State in Montana State defensive line coach Bo Peck coached the Drake defensive line and kickoff team in 2002 and He earned a master's degree in adult education and leadership policies from Drake in THE SERIES: Drake won the lone previous encounter against Montana State, 56-0, in the Bulldogs' 1940 season opener, under then head coach Vee Green, played at Drake Stadium. BIG SKY PRESEASON POLLS: Montana State was picked to finish third in both the Big Sky Conference preseason coaches and media polls. Montana which finished runner-up in 2010 Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, was picked to defend its league title in both polls. DRAKE VS. BIG SKY CONFERENCE: This will mark the first time since Sept. 11, 1982 that Drake has faced a team from the Big Sky Conference when the Bulldogs suffered a home loss to Idaho State. The Bulldogs own an 11-4 record against schools from the Big Sky Conference: Idaho State: 3-4; Montana State: 1-0; Northern Arizona: 4-0; Northern Colorado: 2-0; Weber State: 1-0. REUNITED: Drake fifth-year seniors Andrew Asbell (Machesney Park, Ill.), Ben Morrison (Long Grove, Ill.), Lucas Mosier (Griswold, Iowa), Steve Platek (Arlington Heights, Ill.), Dain Taylor (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) and Josh Walkup (Littleton, Colo.) were members of Rob Ash's last recruiting class at Drake and played under Ash during his last season in FREQUENT FLYERS: The Drake football team will travel an estimated 9,682 miles this fall including trips to Montana and back-to-back conference games on the east coast at Jacksonville Oct. 9 and Campbell (N.C.) Oct. 16 as well as trips to Valparaiso,

3 NUMBERS TO WATCH 482 Number of yards Michael Piatkowski needs to reach 3,000 in career passing yardage. 62 Number of pass completions Michael Piatkowski needs to reach 300 in his career. 32 Number of yards Tom Kostek needs to reach 600 in career rushing yardage. 4 Number of receptions Steve Platek needs to reach 100 in his career. DRAKE TO PLAY HISTORIC FOOTBALL GAME IN AFRICA The Drake football team has a date with history when it will travel to the country of Tanzania in Africa to play the first American football game ever on the continent. Drake will play an all-star team from Mexico, the CONADEIP All-Stars, representing the CONADEIP Conference, in the inaugural Global Kilimanjaro Bowl on May 21, The game will be held in Moshi, Tanzania, under the shadows of Mount Kilimanjaro. The trip will begin on May 17, and following two practices, a football clinic for local youth and a safari, the two teams will meet on the field May 21. After the historic game, players from both Drake and the CONADEIP All-Stars will be doing community service projects in and around Moshi. The primary project will be working at the Kitaa Hope Orphanage in Moshi with children between four and 12 years old, while also constructing an addition to the orphanage. The final phase of the trip will feature players and coaches from both teams climbing the imposing 19,340-foot Mount Kilimanjaro - the tallest mountain in Africa! The teams will ascend Mount Kilimanjaro by different routes, culminating their climbs by meeting at the summit and hoisting their respective university and national flags in a moment sure to be captured by media worldwide and celebrated by everyone connected with these teams and their universities. I am overwhelmed with excitement as this long time vision is now becoming a reality, said Drake head football coach Chris Creighton. This trip allows for us to bring the game we love to a place and to a people who have never experienced it. This trip also provides a unique opportunity to serve those who are far less fortunate than we are and to hopefully make a positive difference. Finally, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro as a team will be one of the greatest challenges we will ever face. The Drake football program is about more than winning games in the fall each year. Our program s vision is to make playing football at Drake one of the most incredible experiences of our lives. This trip exemplifies who we are and what we are about. We want to do something special with our lives. Global Football, a Texas-based football events organization, is coordinating the trip. Drake s Mexican opposition will be selected from the CONADEIP Conference that will start its inaugural football season this fall, having restructured to provide a highly competitive schedule for the long-dominant private universities in Mexico, which previously competed under the established ONEFA organization. Ind.; Dayton, Ohio; and Rolla, Mo. The Pioneer Football League is the only NCAA conference which has member schools on both the west coast (San Diego) and east coast (Campbell, Davidson, Jacksonville). SPECIAL TEAMS: Junior nose guard David Witkiewicz (Hales Corner, Wis.) blocked his second career field goal in Drake's season opener against Lehigh. He blocked a 43-yard field goal attempt by Jake Peery in the second quarter. Witkiewicz also preserved a home victory against Davidson in 2008 by blocking a field goal on last play of game. Senior Billy Janssen (Round Lake, Ill.) averaged 43.0 yards punting in six kicks in the opener against Lehigh including punts of 48 and 57 yards. Fifth-year senior kicker Mitch Rasmussen (Long Grove, Ill.) began his collegiate career at the University of Montana in 2006 before transferring to Drake. TEAM LEADERS: After two games, sophomore Michael Piatkowski (Wheaton, Ill.) has completed 35 of 59 passes (.593) for 379 yards, including four touchdowns while having a passing efficiency rating of which ranks 34th nationally. Sophomore Joey Orlando (Park Ridge, Ill.) has caught nine passes for 123 yards (13.7 avg.), while Drew Blackmon (Florissant, Mo.) has seven receptions for 73 yards (10.4 avg.) Senior Tom Kostek (West Des Moines, Iowa) leads the team with 80 yards rushing in 26 carries (3.1) average, including one touchdown. Senior Pat Cashmore (Kansas City, Mo.) has 53 yards on the ground in 13 carries (4.1 avg.). Fifth-year senior linebacker Ben Morrison paces the defense with 17 tackles, including nine solo hits. Junior cornerback Mike Lahart (Chariton, Iowa) has 13 tackles, including nine solos while leading the team with five pass break ups. Junior safety Nick Chenier (Hinsdale, Ill.) and junior linebacker Tyler Moorehead (Mason City, Iowa) have 12 tackles apiece. PIATKOWSKI FUELS FIRST WIN: Michael Piatkowski threw three touchdown passes, while Drake's defense held Missouri S&T to just seven yards rushing en route to a victory last Saturday night. Two-time All-Pioneer Football League first team performer Steve Platek scored on a two-yard touchdown run and caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Piatkowski. But it was a special teams' play by Platek that sparked the second half fireworks allowing Drake to build on a halftime lead. As the up-back with Drake in punting formation facing a fourth down and seven-yard situation on its own 35 yardline, Platek surprised Missouri S&T's defense by completing a 19-yard pass to Tyler Moorehead for a first down. Six plays later Piatkowski found Platek open in the left corner of the endzone for a 10-yard touchdown pass to push Drake's lead to with 9:05 left in the third quarter. Senior Pat Cashmore ignited Drake's fourth touchdown drive, rushing for 17 yards in three carries before being rewarded by catching a 33-yard screen pass from Piatkowski for a touchdown to give the Bulldogs a advantage with 1:44 in the third quarter. Piatkowski completed 15 of 25 passes for 231 yards with sophomore Joey Orlando catching a team-high six passes for 92 yards. Drake scored touchdowns on its first two possessions to race to a 14-0 lead but the Miners parlayed two turnovers by the Bulldogs in the second quarter to pull within Facing a fourth down and one yard situation at the Miner 42 yardline, the Bulldogs stunned Missouri S&T when Piatkowski rolled out and spotted tight end Kevin Marshall (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) wide open for a 42-yard touchdown pass with 10:46 left in the first quarter. Drake took advantage of a mishandled snap from center that sailed over punter Will Morrison's head on the Miners' next possession. The Bulldogs took over at the Missouri S&T six yardline and needed just two plays to push their lead to 14-0 following a two-yard plunge by Platek with 7:15 remaining. DEFENSIVE LEADERS: Junior free safety Akeem Campbell (Hazel Crest, Ill.), making just his third career start, led Drake with eight tackles, including seven solo hits at Missouri S&T. He collected his first career interception to stop a drive in the second quarter. Junior strong safety Nick Chenier and cornerback Mike Lahart had six tackles apiece. Senior all-american end Dain Taylor had two quarterback sacks totaling 15 yards in losses.

4 TALE OF TWO HALVES: It was a tale of two halves for Drake in its season opener against Lehigh Sept. 4. Senior Jay Campbell rushed for three touchdowns as Lehigh jumped to a 21-0 lead before holding off Drake, Drake could muster only 37 yards total offense in the first half, while accumulating just three first downs. But the Bulldogs woke up in the third quarter, more than doubling their total offense output of the first half by accumulating 77 yards. Aided by two pass interference calls, Drake marched 88 yards in 11 plays capped off by a seven-yard touchdown run from senior Tom Kostek to get on the scoreboard with 4:45 left in the third quarter. Drake pulled within when junior quarterback Mike Piatkowski rifled a 12-yard scoring pass to junior Drew Blackmon in the left corner of the endzone with 7:44 left in the contest. The Bulldogs had a chance to tie the score on the ensuing kickoff when a pouch kick landed between two Lehigh players, allowing Drake's Nick Chenier to recover the free pigskin at the Lehigh 22 yardline. But Lehigh's defense rose to the occasion, stopping Drake on four straight plays. Campbell then broke free on Lehigh's next possession for a 28-yard touchdown scamper to push the lead to with 4:10 remaining in the game Piatkowski completed 20 of 34 passes for 148 yards. Blackmon caught a career-high five passes for 40 yards. Kostek rushed for 43 yards in 12 carries. Drake marched to the Lehigh 15 yardline on its last possession of the first half but had a 32-yard field goal attempt from Billy Janssen go wide left. MORRISON KEYS DEFENSE: After yielding 277 yards total offense in the first half, Drake's defense held Lehigh in check in the second half, allowing just 143 yards in 32 plays. Fifth-year senior linebacker Ben Morrison paced Drake's defense against Lehigh with a game-high 11 tackles, including seven solo hits. Sophomore free safety Michael Ratelle (Edina, Minn.), making his first collegiate start, added seven tackles, including six solo hits. Junior cornerback Michael Lahart also had seven tackles for Drake. DRAKE SQUAD BREAKDOWN: Drake's 98-man roster includes seven fifth-year seniors, 11 seniors, 19 juniors, 20 sophomores and 41 freshmen. There are players from 15 states, with Illinois leading the way with 44, followed by Iowa 16, Missouri and Texas six, Wisconsin five, Colorado and Kansas four, California 3,and one apiece from Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska and Ohio. HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: Drake has accumulated a home record of at Drake Stadium dating back to THE CREIGHTON ERA: Under the guidance of third-year coach Chris Creighton, Drake has won 14 of its last 18 games, while moving toward the upper echelon of the Pioneer Football League. Drake posted an 8-3 mark in 2009, including a 6-2 second-place finish. Only a last-second field goal in the season finale by eventual league champion Butler (20-17) prevented Drake from earning a share of the Pioneer Football League title. Creighton was named the 25th head football coach at Drake University on Dec. 22, In his first year at Drake, Creighton guided the Bulldogs to a 6-5 record in 2008 with the team winning four of its last five games. Prior to his arrival at Drake, Creighton ranked fourth among all active NCAA Division III football coaches in career winning percentage. He served as head coach at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, Ind., from where he constructed a record with teams winning four North Coast Athletic Conference championships, while competing in three NCAA Division III playoffs. Creighton, 41, owns an overall record of (.769 winning percentage) in 14 years as a college head coach including a 32-9 mark as head coach at Ottawa (Kan.) University from During his last three years at Wabash, Creighton led the Little Giants to a 30-5 record, including three straight league championships and appearances in the 2005 and 2007 NCAA Division III playoffs. Wabash posted an 11-2 record in 2007, competing in the NCAA Division III playoffs while being ranked No. 8 in the final NCAA Division III coaches poll. Wabash was 12-1 in 2002 and 11-1 in 2005, capping both seasons with appearances in the playoffs. As offensive coordinator at Wabash, Creighton s teams averaged 35 points per game with the multiple offense producing the school s alltime leading rusher and passer. Three starting quarterbacks received All-American honors. Under Creighton, Wabash won conference championships in 2002, 2005, 2006 and He coached 83 all-conference players, including seven who earned conference player of the year honors, along with 13 All-Americans. He was named the North Coast Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in 2002, 2005 and 2007, as well as the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year in The Seattle, Wash., native produced one of the greatest single season turnarounds in NAIA history during his first year at Ottawa in He inherited a team that posted a 1-8 record the previous season, then finished 9-2 en route to capturing its first Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference title since He also led Ottawa to a league championship in 2000, along with appearances in the NAIA playoffs in 1997 and Creighton was offensive coordinator at Concordia (Ill.) from and Manchester (Ind.) from before becoming head coach at Ottawa. As an All-American quarterback, Creighton led Kenyon (Ohio) College to its only North Coast Athletic Conference title in He was named the league s player of the year after setting single-season conference records for passing yardage (2,843) and touchdowns (29). He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Kenyon in 1991 and a master s degree from Concordia (Ill.) University in CREIGHTON RANKS AMONG NATION'S BEST: Chris Creighton ranks 36th among the winningest active college football coaches at all levels with a.769 winning percentage, owning a career mark in 14 years. CO-CAPTAINS: Senior defensive tackle Andrew Asbell, senior linebacker Ben Morrison, senior fullback Steve Platek and senior defensive end Dain Taylor have been selected as captains for the Drake football team. Platek, a two-time first-team All-Pioneer Football League selection, was named a captain for the second straight year. He was the most valuable player for the Bulldogs last fall after leading Drake with a team-high nine touchdowns. He caught a team-best 49 passes for 553 yards, including three touchdowns. He also rushed 30 times for 147 yards, including a team-high six touchdowns.

5 Taylor also earned first-team all-league honors last year after collecting 48 tackles, including 29 solos. He led Drake with 19.5 tackles for losses totaling 90 yards, while recording a team-high 10.5 quarterback sacks for 73 yards in losses. Morrison earned honorable mention All-PFL honors last year. He had 75 tackles, including 14.5 tackles totaling 57 yards in losses, while recording 4.5 quarterback sacks and forcing four fumbles. Asbell, a three-year letterwinner, earned second-team all-league honors in 2007 and was an honorable mention choice in SEASON OPENERS: The home loss to Lehigh marked the first time Drake had dropped its season opener since The Bulldogs sport a record (.621) in season openers, having won their last three season openers including a 22-0 home victory against Grand View last year and a home triumph against Upper Iowa in Drake's upset win at Illinois State in 2007 snapped a string of six straight years in which the Bulldogs had dropped their season opener with all the games played against scholarship opponents: Truman State, 40-29, 2001; Western Illinois, 64-7, 2002; at Illinois State, 27-13, 2003; at Missouri State, 31-26, 2004; at Northern Iowa, 52-17, 2005; and Northern Iowa at home, 48-7, START WITH DEFENSE: With 14 starters back, the Drake football team hopes to pick up where it left off last year when the Bulldogs posted an 8-3 record. There are eight starters returning on defense which ranked in the top 12 in five final NCAA Football Championship Subdivision team statistics in Drake was second in tackles for losses, averaging 8.73; fifth in quarterback sacks (3.27 avg.), eighth in rushing defense (90.55 yards per game avg.), and 12th in both total defense ( yards per game avg.) and scoring defense (17.07 pts. per game avg.). TAYLOR LEADS VETERAN DEFENSE: Drake senior defensive end Dain Taylor has been named to a fourth preseason All-American football team. The co-captain was selected to the preseason College Sporting News Football Championship Subdivision All-American third team. Previously, Taylor was named to the preseason All-American football team by the FCS Senior Scout Bowl selection committee. The FCS Senior Scout Bowl is a post-season all-star game showcasing the talent of senior players from the NCAA FCS Division (formerly 1-AA ) football level. Taylor was selected to the North defense second team. He also was named to The Sports Network Preseason All-America third team and the Consensus Draft Services Preseason Football College Subdivision All-American second team. He led the PFL with 19.5 tackles for losses totaling 90 yards, while recording a PFL-high 10.5 quarterback sacks for 73 yards in losses. Junior Dave Witkiewicz is back for his second year at starting nose guard, while the team welcomes the return of three-year starting defensive tackle Andrew Asbell who was redshirted in Asbell earned second-team all-league honors in 2007 and was an honorable mention choice in Senior end Josh Walkup ranked fourth in the PFL last year with eight quarterback sacks, totaling 73 yards in losses. Senior linebacker Ben Morrison was an honorable mention All-PFL choice last year after totaling 75 tackles, including 14.5 tackles for 57 yards in losses, while collecting 4.5 quarterback sacks. Morrison ranked 10th in the PFL in total tackles last year. Linebacker Tyler Moorehead was named the 2009 Pioneer Football League Freshman Defensive Player of the Year. Moorehead, along with Taylor, tied for second in the PFL in forced fumbles with four. Moorehead had 14.5 tackles for losses totaling 57 yards. The secondary has three starters returning in junior free safety Nick Chenier and cornerbacks Michael Lahart and Lucas Mosier (Griswold, Iowa). A three-year letterwinner, Mosier ranked fourth in the league with nine pass break ups. PLATEK KEYS OFFENSE: Senior Steve Platek, a two-time first-team all-league choice at fullback, headlines seven offensive starters. Platek, a co-captain, led Drake with a team-high nine touchdowns last year. He caught a team-best 49 passes for 553 yards, including three touchdowns. He also rushed 30 times for 147 yards, including a team-high six touchdowns. Junior offensive tackle Evan Lawrence (Moline, Ill.), an honorable mention All-PFL selection last fall, and senior left guard Stephen Flynn (Davenport, Iowa), a two-year letterwinner, will lead a young offensive line. Other returning letterwinners on the line include senior Dan Clinton (Gurnee, Ill.) and junior Chris Wilson (Homer Glen, Ill.). Drake heads into the fall with more certainty at the quarterback position after junior Michael Piatkowski assumed the role last year. Piatkowski passed for 2,139 yards the most by a Drake quarterback since Connor Jostes threw for 2,196 yards in 2004 including 14 touchdowns. Senior Tom Kostek and Patrick Cashmore share the slot-back duties. Kostek led the Bulldogs with 347 yards rushing in 88 carries (3.9 avg.) including four touchdowns. Cashmore rushed for 251 yards in just five games. Sophomore Trey Morse (Elmo, Texas), who rushed for 278 yards (3.5 avg.), provides depth in the backfield. Returning receivers junior Drew Blackmon and sophomore Joey Orlando caught 31 and 20 passes, respectively, last year. Junior letterwinner Ben Sabal (Arlington Heights, Ill.) is back at tight end. SPECIAL TEAMS: One of the priorities in the spring was finding a replacement for first-team all-league kicker Brandon Wubs, who also was a four-year starter as punter and made 13 of 15 field goals in his first year as the team's regular placekicker in Fifth-year senior Mitch Rasmussen and senior Billy Janssen have been neck and neck in competition for both the punting and placekicking chores. Rasmussen did make two point after conversion kicks, along with a 41-yard punt against Campbell last year. The special teams also features Michael Lahart, who led the league in punt returns, averaging 10.6 yards. Lucas Mosier ranked fifth in the conference in kickoff returns, averaging 21.4 yards. Senior Stoy Hall (Omaha, Neb.) returns for his third year as the long snapper. CUNDIFF IN NFL: Former Drake standout Billy Cundiff kicked a 25-yard field goal which proved to be the difference in the Baltimore Ravens' 10-9 season opening victory against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football. Cundiff converted 15-of-20 field goals in 14 regular-season and playoff games last year for the Ravens. Cundiff closed out his career at Drake owning 15 school and five Pioneer Football League records, including Drake career marks for points (284), field goals (49-of-79) and PATs (137-of-151). He also ranked 14th on the NCAA I-AA career field goal list, connecting on

6 49. Cundiff made eight field goals over 50 yards during his career at Drake, including a Pioneer Football League record 62-yard field goal as a junior in 2000 against San Diego. Cundiff has played in the National Football League for eight years, including stints with Atlanta, Cleveland, Dallas, Detroit, Green Bay, Kansas City and New Orleans. He signed as a free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys in His bid to beat out incumbent Dallas kicker Tim Seder was well chronicled nationally on the weekly HBO TV Show: Hard Knocks: Inside the Cowboys Training Camp. And he was rewarded for his hard work by winning the job as the regular kicker for the Dallas Cowboys. As a rookie, he made all 25 PAT conversions, along with 12 field goals. Cundiff was named the National Football Conference Special Teams Player of the Week Sept. 30, 2002, after kicking a 48-yard field goal on the game s final play to give the Cowboys a victory against NFC defending champion St. Louis. He further solidified his NFL career in 2003 by making 23-of-29 field goals, including three beyond 50 yards for Dallas. He tied a National Football League record by making seven field goals in a 2003 Monday Night Football game at the New York Giants, including a 52-yarder on the final play of regulation to send the game into overtime, followed by a 25-yard kick that gave the Cowboys a victory. His kicking shoe from the record-tying effort is on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Cundiff made 20-of-26 field goals in 2004, including three in the regular season finale at the New York Giants. He set the Dallas Cowboys record for longest field goal from 56 yards against the Detroit Lions in BRAIN TRUST: The Drake coaching staff welcomes three additions headed by new defensive coordinator Tom Allen who succeeded Neal Neathery who left to become the defensive coordinator at Texas-San Antonio. Allen had spent the previous two years as defensive coordinator at Lambuth (Tenn.) University. He also was special teams coordinator and defensive back coach at Wabash College under Chris Creighton in Casey Carlo, who served as defensive line coach at Southwest Minnesota State last year, joins the Drake staff in a similar capacity. Mark Watson, a 2010 graduate of McPherson College where he was a two-year starter, is in his first year as cornerbacks coach. Rick Fox, who had served as offensive coordinator at Centre (Ky.) College since 1999, is in his third year as Drake's special teams coordinator and offensive line coach. Aaron Selby also is back for his third year as tight ends coach. Kyle York returning for his second year as cornerbacks coach, was promoted to recruiting coordinator this past spring. FAMILIAR TRIO: Part-time coaches Bill Charles and Jeff Martin, who have been fixtures on the Drake coaching staff for more than two decades, also return along with defensive line coach George Sypniewski who comes back after a two-year absence. Charles, who is the running backs coach, began coaching at Drake under coach Chuck Shelton when the program was Division I from He also served on the coaching staffs of Nick Quartaro in , Rob Ash ( ) and Steve Loney (2007). Martin, who is the receivers coach, is in his 15th year as an assistant at Drake. The Des Moines native graduated from Drake in 1977 as owner of five school records, including career pass completions (370) and total offensive plays (982). Sypniewski, who was a three-year starting linebacker at Drake from , was an assistant coach for the Bulldogs from

7 Drake Two-Deep Depth Chart Sept. 14, 2010 BOLD indicates previous starting experience OFFENSE SE 33 Drew Blackmon, 5-9, 177, Jr. 17 Nick Rosa, 6-0, 164, So. FL 3 Joey Orlando, 5-9, 197, So. 84 Alex Cecena, 6-1, 191, So. LT 56 Matt Purdom, 6-5, 280, So. or 77 Dan Clinton, 6-7, 322, Sr. LG 76 Stephen Flynn, 6-3, 323, Sr. 73 Zach Bosch, 6-4, 303, So. OC 71 Chris Wilson, 6-0, 282, Jr. 60 Evan Lawrence, 6-5, 300, Jr. RG 77 Dan Clinton, 6-7, 322, Sr. or 70 Avery Fuhs, 6-4, 296, Jr. RT 60 Evan Lawrence, 6-5, 300, Jr. 57 Mac Stipe, 6-5, 330, Fr. TE 87 Ben Sabal, 6-4, 239, Jr. 6 Kevin Marshall, 6-4, 238, So. J Back 7 Steve Platek, 6-2, 235, 5Sr. 14 Nathan Paddock, 6-0, 202, Jr. S Back 34 Tom Kostek, 5-10, 192, Sr. 4 Trey Morse, 5-7, 198, So. or 30 Pat Cashmore, 6-0, 227, Sr. QB 10 Michael Piatkowski, 6-1, 179, Jr. 18 Cody Seeger, 5-10, 181, So. DEFENSE DE 93 Andrew Asbell, 6-5, 264, 5Sr. 32 Josh Walkup, 6-2, 254, 5Sr. DT 90 John Sawhill, 6-3, 267, Jr. 50 Brett Park, 6-2, 257, Fr. NG 58 David Witkiewicz, 6-6, 286, Jr. 46 Naser Hannoon, 6-0, 237, So. DE 95 Dain Taylor, 6-3, 251, 5Sr. 91 Brandon Coleman, 6-3, 238, So. CB 28 Michael Lahart, 5-11, 181, Sr. 15 Tyler Mosier, 5-10, 187, So. CB 23 Lucas Mosier, 6-0, 192, 5Sr. 26 Matt Hancock, 6-3, 199, Sr. MLB 54 Ben Morrison, 6-2, 226, 5Sr. 31 Stoy Hall, 5-10, 225, Sr. SLB 44 Tyler Moorehead, 6-1, 223, Jr. 51 Seth Hedman, 6-3, 221, So. WLB 13 Jim Nelson, 6-2, 222, Sr. 40 Joshua Matthews, 5-9, 196, Fr. SS 9 Nick Chenier, 6-2, 208, Jr. 6 Matt Buckley, 6-0, 189, Jr. FS 27 Akeem Campbell, 6-2, 192, Jr. 24 Brent Shelton, 6-2, 182, Fr. SPECIALISTS PK 5 Mitch Rasmussen, 6-0, 187, 5Sr. or 11 Billy Janssen 6-4, 197, Sr. P 11 Billy Janssen 6-4, 197, Sr 5 Mitch Rasmussen, 6-0, 187, 5Sr.. LS 31 Stoy Hall, 5-10, 225, Sr. 78 Tim Wold, 6-2, 248, Fr. Holder 10 Michael Piatkowski, 6-1, 179, Jr. KO Ret 23 Lucas Mosier, 6-0, 192, 5Sr. 28 Michael Lahart, 5-11, 181, Sr. Punt R 28 Michael Lahart, 5-11, 181, Sr. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED Last time Drake played an overtime game Valparaiso 51, Drake 45 (one overtime), Oct. 25, 2003, Valparaiso, Ind. Last shutout by Drake 19-0 vs. Missouri S&T, Oct. 10, 2009 Last shutout by Drake at home 19-0 vs. Missouri S&T, Oct. 10, 2009 Last time Drake shut out 19-0 at Lehigh, Sept. 6, 2008 Last time Drake shut out at home 37-0 by San Diego, Oct. 21, 2006 Last Drake kickoff return for touchdown 90 yards, Augustine Agyei vs. Waldorf, Sept. 8, 2007 Last Drake punt return for a touchdown 60 yards, Jordan Bontrager vs. Austin Peay, Sept. 24, 2005 Last time Drake blocked a punt for a touchdown 39 yards, Clint Martindale vs. San Diego, Sept. 30, 2000 Last time Drake blocked a punt for a safety Mike Bialas vs. Butler, Oct. 6, 2007 Last Drake pass interception for a touchdown 46 yards, Andy Green, vs. Davidson, Oct. 25, 2008 Last Drake fumble return for a touchdown 58 yards, Michael Lahart at Davidson, Oct. 24, 2009 Last Drake player to rush for 100 yards 100 (13 carries) Trey Morse vs. Campbell, Nov. 7, 2009 Two Drake player rush for 100 yards in same game 101 yards in 19 carries, Willie Cashmore; and 216 yards in 27 carries, Scott Phaydavong vs. Jacksonville, Nov. 10, 2006 Last Drake player to pass for over 300 yards 389 yards, Connor Jostes at Valparaiso, Oct. 25, 2003 Last Drake player to rush for three touchdowns 3, Scott Phaydavong vs. Valparaiso Sept. 29, 2007 Last Drake player to catch three touchdowns 3, Jason Jones vs. Jacksonville, Oct. 4, 2003 Last Drake player to pass for four touchdowns 5, Connor Jostes vs. Upper Iowa, Nov. 6, 2004 Last Drake player to score three touchdowns 3, Scott Phaydavong vs. Valparaiso, Sept. 29, 2007 Last Drake player to make four field goals 4, Brandon Wubs vs. Missouri S&T, Oct. 10, 2009

8 2010 Drake Football Drake Combined Team Statistics (as of Sep 11, 2010) All games Date Opponent Score Att. Sep 04, 2010 LEHIGH L Sep 11, 2010 at Missouri S&T W Rushing gp att gain loss net avg td lg avg/g Kostek, Tom Cashmore, Pat Morse, Trey Platek, Steve TM Orlando, Joey Piatkowski, Mik Total Opponents Passing gp effic comp-att-int pct yds td lg avg/g Piatkowski, Mik Platek, Steve Total Opponents Receiving gp no. yds avg td lg avg/g Orlando, Joey Blackmon, Drew Platek, Steve Rosa, Nick Sabal, Ben Cashmore, Pat Kostek, Tom Marshall, Kevin Moorehead, Ty Paddock, Nathan Total Opponents Field Goals fg pct lg blk Janssen, Billy PAT Scoring td fg kick rush rcv pass dxp saf pts Platek, Steve Blackmon, Drew Janssen, Billy Kostek, Tom Cashmore, Pat Marshall, Kevin Total Opponents Score by Quarters 1st 2nd 3rd 4th OT Total Drake Opponents Record: Overall Home Away Neutral All games Conference Non-Conference Team Statistics DU OPP FIRST DOWNS R u s h i n g 9 10 P a s s i n g P e n a l t y 5 1 RUSHING YARDAGE Rushing Attempts Average Per Rush Average Per Game TDs Rushing 2 3 PASSING YARDAGE Comp-Att-Int Average Per Pass Average Per Catch Average Per Game TDs Passing 4 2 TOTAL OFFENSE Average Per Play Average Per Game KICK RETURNS: #-Yards PUNT RETURNS: #-Yards INT RETURNS: #-Yards FUMBLES-LOST PENALTIES-Yards PUNTS-AVG TIME OF POSSESSION/Game 27:40 32:20 3RD-DOWN Conversions 13/29 11/33 4TH-DOWN Conversions 2/3 3/7 Interceptions no. yds avg td lg Campbell, Akeem Punting no. yds avg lg tb fc i blk Janssen, Billy Punt Returns no. yds avg td lg Lahart, Mike Total Opponents Kick Returns no. yds avg td lg Mosier, Lucas Lahart, Mike Total Opponents All Purpose g rush rcv pr kr ir total avg/g Mosier, Lucas Orlando, Joey Cashmore, Pat Kostek, Tom Blackmon, Drew Total Opponents Total Offense g plays rush pass total avg/g Piatkowski, Mik Kostek, Tom Cashmore, Pat Platek, Steve Morse, Trey Total Opponents

9 2010 Drake Football Drake Overall Defensive Statistics (as of Sep 11, 2010) All games Tackles Sacks Pass defense Fumbles blkd # Defensive Leaders gp ua a tot tfl/yds no-yds int-yds brup qbh rcv-yds ff kick saf 54 Morrison, Ben Lahart, Mike Chenier, Nick Moorehead, Ty Mosier, Lucas Taylor, Dain Campbell, Akeem Ratelle, Mike Witkiewicz, Dve Sawhill, John Walkup, Josh Asbell, Andrew Matthews, Josh Nelson, Jim Hancock, Matt Hall, Stoy Gianaras, Tony Kostek, Tom Flynn, Stephen Cashmore, Pat Buckley, Matt Mosier, Tyler Ens, Nick Platek, Steve Total Opponents

10 DRAKE TRAVEL ROSTER VS. MONTANA STATE SEPT. 18, 2010 No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Yr. Hometown/Previous HS/College 2 Jacob Dines WR Fr. Osage Beach, Mo./Camdenton 3 Joey Orlando* WR So. Park Ridge, Ill./Maine South 4 Trey Morse* RB So. Elmo, Texas/Parish Episcopal School 5 Mitch Rasmussen K Sr. Long Grove, Ill./Stevenson 6 Matt Buckley DB Jr. Oak Forest, Ill./Oak Forest 7 Stephen Platek*** J-Bck Sr. Arlington Heights, Ill./John Hersey 9 Nick Chenier** DB Jr. Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central 10 Michael Piatkowski* QB Jr. Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton 11 Billy Janssen K Sr. Round Lake Beach, Ill./Carmel Catholic 12 Cam Good LB So. Fox River Grove, Ill./Barrington 13 Jim Nelson** LB Sr. Wheaton, Ill./Warrenville South 14 Nathan Paddock RB Jr. Lee s Summit, Mo./Lee s Summit West 15 Tyler Mosier DB So. Lewis, Iowa/Griswold 16 Kevin Marshall TE So. Glen Ellyn, Ill./Glenbard South 17 Nick Rosa WR So. Owasso, Okla./Owasso 18 Cody Seeger QB So. Barrington, Ill./Barrington 19 Nick Ens QB Fr. Grand Rapids, Mich./Central Catholic 22 Brett Seeger WR Fr. Barrington Ill./Barrington 23 Lucas Mosier*** DB Sr. Lewis, Iowa/Griswold 24 Brent Shelton DB Fr. Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North 26 Matt Hancock** DB Sr. Kansas City, Mo./Raytown South 27 Akeem Campbell* DB Jr. Hazel Crest, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor 28 Michael Lahart** DB Sr. Chariton, Iowa/Chariton 30 Patrick Cashmore** RB Sr. Kansas City, Mo./St. Pius X 31 Stoy Hall** LB Sr. Omaha, Neb./Westside 32 Josh Walkup*** DE Sr. Littleton, Colo./Heritage 33 Drew Blackmon** WR Jr. Florissant, Mo./St. Louis Univ. High 34 Tom Kostek** RB Sr. West Des Moines, Iowa/DM Christian 35 Dustin Davis DB So. Council Bluffs, Iowa/Abraham Lincoln 40 Josh Matthews DB Fr. McKinney, Texas/McKinney North 42 Paddy O'Connell DT Jr. Orland Park, Ill./Providence 44 Tyler Moorehead* LB Jr. Mason City, Iowa/Newman Catholic 46 Naser Hannoon DT So. West Des Moines, Iowa/Valley 49 Robby Unger DE Sr. Highlands Ranch, Colo./Highlands Ranch 50 Brett Park DL Fr. Olivette, Mo./Westminister 51 Seth Hedman LB So. Tulsa, Okla./Holland Hall School 54 Ben Morrison*** LB Sr. Long Grove, Ill./Stevenson 56 Matt Purdom OL So. Elmhurst, Ill./Immaculate Conception 58 David Witkiewicz** DT Jr. Hales Corners, Wis./Whitnall 60 Evan Lawrence** OL Jr. Moline, Ill./Moline 64 Jake Underwood LB So. Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove 65 Andrew Keller OL Jr. Clarion, Iowa/Clarion-Goldfield 70 Avery Fuhs OL Jr. Chariton, Iowa/Chariton 71 Chris Wilson* OL Jr. Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport Township 72 Vince Israel OL So. Springfield, Ill./Glenwood 73 Zach Bosch OL So. Tuscola, Ill./Tuscola Community 76 Stephen Flynn** OL Sr. Davenport, Iowa/Bettendorf 77 Dan Clinton** OL Sr. Gurnee, Ill./Carmel Catholic 78 Tim Wold OL Fr. Utica, Ill./LaSalle-Peru 81 Jason Rafferty TE Fr. Darien, Ill./Hinsdale Central 82 Matt Bowie TE So. Oskaloosa, Iowa/Oskaloosa 83 Denzel Ray WR So. Waukegan, Ill./Waukegan 84 Alex Cecena WR So. Kansas City, Mo./Bishop Miege 87 Ben Sabal* TE Jr. Arlington Heights, Ill./Rolling Meadows 88 Dan Hohenstein TE Fr. Warrenville, Ill./Wheaton Warrenville So. 89 Scott Whitaker WR Fr. Norman, Okla./Norman North 90 John Sawhill* DT Jr. Jefferson, Iowa/Jefferson-Scranton 91 Brandon Coleman DE So. Cary, Ill./Cary-Grove 92 Anthony Gianaras DE Jr. Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein 93 Andrew Asbell*** DE Sr. Machesney Park, Ill./Harlem 95 Dain Taylor*** DE Sr. Highlands Ranch, Colo./Mountain Vista 97 E.J. Walter DL Jr. Overland Park, Kan./St. Thomas Aquinas 99 Zach Lozier DT Jr. Farmington, Ill./Farmington Central *Indicates number of varsity letters earned