2024 Drake Bulldogs football team

2024 Drake Bulldogs football
PFL champion
NCAA Division I First Round, L 29–43 at Tarleton State
Conference	Pioneer Football League
Record	8–3 (7–1 PFL)
Head coach	Todd Stepsis (6th season)
Co-offensive coordinator	Adam Gajo (4th season)
Co-offensive coordinator	Nate Thompson (3rd season)
Defensive coordinator	Allen Smith (6th season)
Home stadium	Drake Stadium
Seasons ←  2023 2025 →

2024 Pioneer Football League standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Drake $^		7	–	1					8	–	3
San Diego		6	–	2					8	–	3
Butler		5	–	3					9	–	3
Morehead State		5	–	3					7	–	5
St. Thomas (MN)*		5	–	3					6	–	6
Dayton		4	–	4					6	–	5
Davidson		4	–	4					6	–	5
Presbyterian		4	–	4					6	–	6
Valparaiso		2	–	5					4	–	7
Marist		1	–	7					1	–	10
Stetson		0	–	7					2	–	9
$ – Conference champion ^ – FCS playoff participant * – St. Thomas (MN) ineligible for FCS postseason play due to transition from NCAA Division III Rankings from STATS Poll

The 2024 Drake Bulldogs football team represented Drake University as a member of the Pioneer Football League (PFL) during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bulldogs were led by sixth-year head coach Todd Stepsis and played their home games at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 29	6:30 pm	Quincy (IL) *	Drake Stadium Des Moines, IA	ESPN+	No contest [1]
September 7	6:00 p.m.	at Eastern Washington *	Roos Field Cheney, WA	ESPN+	W 35–32 OT	4,378
September 21	1:00 pm	at No. 6 South Dakota *	DakotaDome Vermillion, SD	ESPN+	L 3–42	6,529
September 28	12:00 pm	San Diego	Drake Stadium Des Moines, IA	ESPN+	W 30–28	4,568
October 5	12:00 pm	at Valparaiso	Brown Field Valparaiso, IN	ESPN+	W 27–3	2,577
October 12	1:00 p.m.	Butler	Drake Stadium Des Moines, IA	ESPN+	W 27–17	2,571
October 19	12:00 pm	at Presbyterian	Bailey Memorial Stadium Clinton, SC	ESPN+	W 19–16 OT	2,515
November 2	1:00 p.m.	Marist	Drake Stadium Des Moines, IA	ESPN+	W 19–0	2,636
November 9	1:00 pm	at St. Thomas	O'Shaughnessy Stadium St. Paul, MN	ESPN+	W 22–19	5,370
November 16	1:00 p.m.	Morehead State	Drake Stadium Des Moines, IA	ESPN+	L 20–29	2,976
November 23	12:00 pm	at Stetson	Spec Martin Stadium DeLand, FL	ESPN+	W 49–10	1,244
November 30	2:00 pm	at No. 14 Tarleton State *	Memorial Stadium Stephenville, TX (NCAA Division I First Round)	ESPN+	L 29–43	3,583
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

^{[2] [3]}

Game summaries

at Eastern Washington

See also: 2024 Eastern Washington Eagles football team

Game One – Drake Bulldogs (0–0) at Eastern Washington Eagles (1–0) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Bulldogs	0	13	7	9	6	35
Eagles	7	7	7	8	3	32

at Roos Field • Cheney, WA

• Date: Saturday September 7, 2024
• Game time: 6:00 PM CST
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 94 °F (34 °C) • Wind: N at 5 miles per hour (8.0 km/h)
• Game attendance: 4,378
• Referee: Jim Crowley
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Austin Getz (play-by-play) and Adam Shackleford (analyst)

Game information

First quarter 9:13 EWU – Tuna Altahir 1-yard run (Soren McKee kick) (Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 5:47; EWU 7–0) Second quarter 12:33 Drake – Luke Woodson 1-yard run (Shane Dunning kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 86 yards, 4:06; Tied 7–7) 4:06 Drake – Shane Dunning 47-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 23 yards, 2:29; Drake 10–7) 1:42 EWU – Efton Chism III 1-yard pass from Michael Wortham (Soren McKee kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:24; EWU 14–10) 0:00 Drake – Shane Dunning 44-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 48 yards, 1:42; EWU 14–13) Third quarter 13:11 Drake – Parker Olthoff 3-yard pass from Luke Bailey (Shane Dunning kick) (Drive: 3 plays, 76 yards, 1:45; Drake 20–14) 7:42 EWU – Michael Wortham 2-yard run (Soren McKee kick) (Drive: 11 plays, 83 yards, 5:25; EWU 21–20) Fourth quarter 12:19 Drake – Darian Boyland 1-yard run (Luke Bailey pass failed) (Drive: 12 plays, 81 yards, 2:42; Drake 26–21) 7:42 EWU – Michael Wortham 6-yard run (Keikoa Visperis run) (Drive: 10 plays, 63 yards, 4:23; EWU 29–26) 4:29 Drake – Shane Dunning 41-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 51 yards, 3:13; Tied 29–29) Overtime EWU – Soren McKee 36-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 6 yards; EWU 32–29) Drake – Trey Radocha 14-yard pass from Luke Bailey(Drive: 4 plays, 25 yards; Drake 35–32)

Statistics	DRKE	EWU
First downs	25	23
Total yards	460	385
Rushing yards	67	206
Passing yards	393	179
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	29–49–0	23–30–0
Time of possession	24:23	35:37

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Drake	Passing	Luke Bailey	28/48, 380 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Dorian Boyland	8 carries, 25 yards, TD
	Receiving	Mitchell January	5 receptions, 101 yards
Eastern Washington	Passing	Kekoa Visperas	21/26, 177 yards
	Rushing	Tuna Altahir	12 carries, 94 yards, TD
	Receiving	Efton Chism III	9 receptions, 65 yards, TD

at No. 6 South Dakota

See also: 2024 South Dakota Coyotes football team

Game Two – Drake Bulldogs (1–0) at No. 6 South Dakota Coyotes (1–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	0	3	0	0	3
No. 6 Coyotes	14	14	7	7	42

at DakotaDome • Vermillion, SD

• Date: Saturday September 21, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 PM CST
• Game weather: Indoor
• Game attendance: 6,529
• Referee: Jason Perkins
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Jay Elsen (play-by-play) and Andre Fields (analyst)

Game information

First quarter 14:47 USD – Keyondray Jones-Logan 99-yard kickoff return (Will Leyland kick) (USD 7–0) 3:51 USD – Travis Theis 25-yard run (Will Leyland kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 58 yards, 2:39; USD 14–0) Second quarter 12:17 Drake – Shane Dunning 23-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 62 yards, 1:05; USD 14–3) 8:44 USD – Carter Bell 6-yard run (Will Leyland kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 71 yards, 3:33; USD 21–3) 3:14 USD – Charles Pierre, Jr. 1-yard run (Will Leyland kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 46 yards, 3:53; USD 28–3) Third quarter 3:14 USD – Travis Theis Jr. 4-yard run (Will Leyland kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 52 yards, 3:01; USD 35–3) Fourth quarter 3:14 USD – Charles Pierre, Jr. 20-yard pass from Aidan Bouman (Will Leyland kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 5:01; USD 42–3)

Statistics	DRKE	SDAK
First downs	18	25
Total yards	211	411
Rushing yards	93	192
Passing yards	118	219
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	18–33–1	18–26–1
Time of possession	32:17	27:43

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Drake	Passing	Luke Bailey	16/29, 107 yards, INT
	Rushing	Dorian Boyland	8 carries, 51 yards
	Receiving	Trey Radocha	7 receptions, 56 yards
South Dakota	Passing	Aidan Bouman	18/24, 219 yards, TD
	Rushing	Travis Theis	9 carries, 94 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Carter Bell	4 receptions, 56 yards

San Diego

See also: 2024 San Diego Toreros football team

Game Three – San Diego Toreros (2–1) at Drake Bulldogs (1–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Toreros	6	3	0	19	28
Bulldogs	3	10	7	10	30

at Drake Stadium • Des Moines, Iowa

• Date: Saturday, September 28, 2024
• Game time: 12:00 PM CST
• Game weather: 78 °F (26 °C)
• Game attendance: 4,568
• Referee: Jason Berg
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Chuck Reed (play-by-play) and Craig Wederquist (analyst)

Game information

First quarter 10:31 USD – Josh Heverly 17-yard pass from Grant Sergent (Aidan Lehman kick blocked) (Drive: 7 plays, 76 yards, 4:24; USD 6–0) 7:03 Drake – Shane Dunning 23-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 46 yards, 3:16; USD 6–3) Second quarter 12:17 USD – Aidan Lehman 30-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 82 yards, 5:28; USD 9–3) 6:58 Drake – Shane Dunning 42-yard field goal (Drive: 3 plays, 16 yards, 0:39; USD 9–6) 0:52 Drake – Trey Radocha 3-yard pass from Luke Bailey (Shane Dunning kick) (Drive: 9 plays, 51 yards, 4:50; Drake 13–9) Third quarter 2:24 Drake – Blake Ellingson 41-yard run (Shane Dunnings kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 60 yards, 2:45; Drake 20–9) Fourth quarter 12:53 Drake – Mitchell January 36-yard pass from Luke Bailey (Shane Dunning kick) (Drive: 1 play, 36 yards, 0:09; Drake 27–9) 11:30 USD – Logan Ginng 2-yard run (Grant Sergent pass) (Drive: 5 plays, 54 yards, 1:23; Drake 27–17) 6:34 USD – Aidan Lehman 26-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 71 yards, 2:38; Drake 27–20) 6:24 USD – Safety, Drake penalty in end zone (Drake 27–22) 1:55 USD – Peyton Smith 5-yard pass from Grant Sergent (Grant Sergent pass failed) (Drive: 7 plays, 71 yards, 2:38; USD 28–27) 0:00 Drake – Shane Dunning 48-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 62 yards, 0:44; Drake 30–28)

Statistics	USD	DRKE
First downs	23	16
Total yards	390	354
Rushing yards	98	91
Passing yards	292	263
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	25–40–1	29–49–0
Time of possession	33:45	26:15

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
San Diego	Passing	Grant Sergent	25/40, 292 yards, 2 TD, INT
	Rushing	Isaiah Smith	6 carries, 33 yards
	Receiving	Cole Monach	8 receptions, 122 yards
Drake	Passing	Luke Bailey	29/49, 263 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Blake Ellingson	4 carries, 69 yards, TD
	Receiving	Mitchell January	9 receptions, 121 yards, TD

at Valparaiso

See also: 2024 Valparaiso Beacons football team

Game Four – Drake Bulldogs (2–1) at Valparaiso Beacons (3–2) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	10	3	0	14	27
Beacons	0	0	3	0	3

at Brown Field • Valparaiso, Indiana

• Date: Saturday, October 5, 2024
• Game time: 12:00 PM CST
• Game weather: 74 °F (23 °C)
• Game attendance: 2,577
• Referee: John Shay
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Chuck Reed (play-by-play) and Craig Wederquist (analyst)

Game information

First quarter 10:31 Drake – Joe Frommelt recovered fumble in end zone (Shane Dunning kick) (Drake 7–0) 6:11 Drake – Mitchell January 5-yard pass from Blake Ellingson (Shane Dunning kick) (Drive: 6 plays, 69 yards, 3:09;Drake 14–0) Second quarter 14:03 Drake – Shane Dunning 38-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 40 yards, 3:24; Drake 17–0) Third quarter 2:24 Valpo – Ryan Hawk 22-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 33 yards, 3:48; Drake 17–3) Fourth quarter 11:22 Drake – Shane Dunning 45-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 47 yards, 5:28; Drake 20–3) 6:02 Drake – Dairon Cherwin 21-yard run (Shane Dunning kick) (Drive: 8 plays, 77 yards, 4:23; Drake 27–3)

Statistics	DRKE	VAL
First downs	17	10
Total yards	390	80
Rushing yards	128	–4
Passing yards	228	84
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	19–29–1	11–22–1
Time of possession	31:42	28:18

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Drake	Passing	Luke Bailey	17/26, 224 yards, INT
	Rushing	Davion Cherwin	10 carries, 72 yards, TD
	Receiving	Sam Rodriguez	3 receptions, 65 yards
Valparaiso	Passing	Caron Tyler	11/21, 84 yards, INT
	Rushing	Ryan Mann	12 carries, 25 yards
	Receiving	Gary Givens III	2 receptions, 23 yards

Butler

See also: 2024 Butler Bulldogs football team

Game Five – Butler Bulldogs (5–0) at Drake Bulldogs (3–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Butler	0	6	3	8	17
Drake	0	3	10	14	27

at Drake Stadium • Des Moines, Iowa

• Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 75 °F (24 °C) • Wind: N at 8 miles per hour (13 km/h)
• Game attendance: 2,571
• Referee: Jason Perkins
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Michael Admire (play-by-play)

Game information

First quarter No scoring plays Second quarter (12:08) DU – Shane Dunning 34-yard field goal (Drive: 14 plays, 46 yards, 5:57; Drake 3–0) (0:47) BUT – Reagan Andrew 4-yard run (Drive: 14 plays, 89 yards, 5:22; Butler 6–3) Third quarter (8:55) DU – Shane Dunning 44-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 48 yards, 6:05; Tied 6–6) (4:13) DU – Taj Hughes 38-yard pass from Luke Bailey, Shane Dunning kick (Drive: 6 plays, 73 yards, 3:36; Drake 13–6) (0:03) BUT – Ryan Short 39-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 60 yards, 4:02; Drake 13–9) Fourth quarter (9:48) DU – Blake Ellingson 1-yard run, Shane Dunning kick (Drive: 10 plays, 75 yards, 5:15; Drake 20–9) (8:44) DU – Davion Cherwin 32-yard run, Shane Dunning kick (Drive: 2 plays, 32 yards, 0:16; Drake 27–9) (4:54) BUT – Joey Suchy 2-yard run, Ethan Loss pass (Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 3:50; Drake 27–17)

Statistics	BUT	DRKE
First downs	28	19
Total yards	333	314
Rushing yards	119	99
Passing yards	214	215
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	25–38–2	18–28–1
Time of possession	29:21	30:39

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Butler	Passing	Andrew Reagan	22/32, 174 yards, 2 INT
	Rushing	Andrew Reagan	18 carries, 81 yards, TD
	Receiving	Ethan Loss	8 receptions, 86 yards
Drake	Passing	Luke Bailey	16/25, 213 yards, TD, INT
	Rushing	Davion Cherwin	7 carries, 55 yards, TD
	Receiving	Taj Hughes	7 receptions, 127 yards, TD

at Presbyterian

See also: 2024 Presbyterian Blue Hose football team

Game Six – Drake Bulldogs (4–1) at Presbyterian Blue Hose (2–5) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Bulldogs	0	10	0	3	6	19
Blue Hose	6	7	0	0	3	16

at Bailey Memorial Stadium • Clinton, South Carolina

• Date: Saturday October 19, 2024
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
• Game weather: Sunny, 67 °F (19 °C) • Wind: NE at 6 miles per hour (9.7 km/h)
• Game attendance: 2,515
• Referee: Brian Hilpisch
• TV: ESPN+

Game information

First quarter (0:48) PC – Justin Montgomery 2-yard run (kick failed) (Drive: 4 plays, 91 yards, 1:34; PC 6–0) Second quarter (11:33) Drake – Taj Hughes 25-yard run (Shane Dunning kick) (Drive: 7 plays, 68 yards, 4:09; Drake 7–6) (5:02) PC – Nigel Brown 1 yard pass from Collin Hurst (Peter Lipscombe kick) (Drive: 5 plays, 50 yards, 1:44; PC 13–7) (11:33) Drake – Shane Dunning 36-yard field goal (Drive: 11 plays, 56 yards, 4:54; PC 13–10) Third quarter No scoring plays Fourth quarter (4:17) Drake – Shane Dunning 37-yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 71 yards, 4:48; Tied 13–13) Overtime PC – Jett Jackson 42-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 0 yards; PC 16–13) Drake – Davion Cherwin 11-yard run (Drive: 3 plays, 25 yards; Drake 19–16)

Statistics	DRKE	PRES
First downs	22	17
Total yards	435	346
Rushing yards	60	145
Passing yards	375	201
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	30–42–2	26–35–0
Time of possession	29:56	30:04

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Drake	Passing	Luke Bailey	30/41, 375 yards, INT
	Rushing	Taj Hughes	3 carries, 34 yards, TD
	Receiving	Trey Radocha	9 receptions, 125 yards
Presbyterian	Passing	Collin Hurst	26/35, 201 yards, TD
	Rushing	Zach Switzer	7 carries, 87 yards
	Receiving	Cincere Gil	8 receptions, 75 yards

Marist

See also: 2024 Marist Red Foxes football team

Game Seven – Marist Red Foxes (0–8) at Drake Bulldogs (5–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Red Foxes	0	0	0	0	0
Bulldogs	3	10	6	0	19

at Drake Stadium, Des Moines, Iowa

• Date: Saturday November 2, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• Game attendance: 2,636
• Referee: Gregory Gompf
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Michael Admire & Jeff Woody

Game information

First quarter (9:26) Drake – Shane Dunning 29-yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 13 yards, 2:29; Drake 3–0) Second quarter (1:21) Drake – Parker Olthoff 1-yard pass from Luke Bailey (Shane Dunning kick) (Drive: 10 plays, 76 yards, 5:15; Drake 10–0) (0:21) Drake – Shane Dunning 31-yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 58 yards, 0:37; Drake 13–0) Third quarter (1:21) Drake – Davion Cherwin 25-yard run (kick failed) (Drive: 7 plays, 71 yards, 4:04; Drake 19–0) Fourth quarter

Statistics	MRST	DRKE
First downs	16	16
Total yards	239	351
Rushing yards	84	135
Passing yards	155	216
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	22–38–1	20–37–1
Time of possession	32:31	27:29

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Marist	Passing	Sonny Mannino	19/33, 120 yards
	Rushing	Tristain Shannon	7 carries, 26 yards
	Receiving	Tristain Shannon	5 catches, 44 yards
Drake	Passing	Luke Bailey	18/25, 206 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Luke Woodson	9 carries, 70 yards
	Receiving	Taj Hughes	5 catches, 79 yards

at St. Thomas (MN)

See also: 2024 St. Thomas Tommies football team

Game Eight – Drake Bulldogs (6–1) vs St. Thomas Tommies (5–4) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	0	0	0	0	0
Tommies	0	0	0	0	0

at O'Shaughnessy Stadium, St. Paul, Minnesota

• Date: Saturday November 9, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• TV: Midco Sports+

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	DRKE	STMN
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Drake	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
St. Thomas (MN)	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Morehead State

See also: 2024 Morehead State Eagles football team

Game Nine – Morehead State Eagles (4–2) at Drake Bulldogs (7–1) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	0	0	0	0	0
Bulldogs	3	10	6	0	19

at Drake Stadium, Des Moines, Iowa

• Date: Saturday November 16, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	MORE	DRKE
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Morehead State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Drake	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Stetson

See also: 2024 Stetson Hatters football team

Game Ten – Drake Bulldogs (7–2) vs Stetson Hatters (2–8) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	0	0	0	0	0
Hatters	0	0	0	0	0

at Spec Martin Stadium, DeLand, Florida

• Date: Saturday November 23, 2024
• Game time: 12:00 p.m.
• TV: Midco Sports+

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	DRKE	STET
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Drake	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Stetson	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at. No. 14 Tarleton State (NCAA Division I playoff–first round)

See also: 2024 Tarleton State Texans football team and 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football postseason

Game Eleven – Drake Bulldogs (8–2) vs No. 14 Tarleton State Texans (9–3) – Game summary

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	14	0	7	8	29
No. 14 Texans	3	19	7	14	43

at Memorial Stadium • Stephenville, TX

• Date: Saturday November 30, 2024
• Game time: 2:00 p.m.
• TV announcers (ESPN+): Peter Sousa (play-by-play) and Dave Steckel (analyst)

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Statistics	DRKE	TAR
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Drake	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Tarleton State	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

References

1. "Severe Weather Halts Season Opener". godrakebulldogs.com. August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
2. "2024 Drake Football Schedule". fbschedules.com. FBS Schedules. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
3. "2024 Football Schedule". godrakebulldogs.com. Drake Athletics. Retrieved July 2, 2024.