VALPARAISO, Ind. – The Drake University football team (1-1, 1-1 PFL) earned its 17th-straight victory over Valparaiso with a 17-6 Pioneer Football League result on Saturday afternoon at Brown Field.
Valpo (1-1, 1-1 PFL) struck first by winning the field position battle. Valpo downed a punt inside the 2-yard line and regained possession near midfield following a Drake three-and-out. The Bulldogs’ defense held firm to force a 30-yard field goal attempt, which Valpo’s Brian Bartholomew converted with 6:27 remaining in the first quarter.
Drake responded rapidly thanks to explosive plays by Caden Meis. The sophomore took a handoff on the opening play of the drive and burst forward for 19 yards. Two plays later, he found daylight down the sideline and scampered 42 yards for a touchdown, marking the Bulldogs’ longest play from scrimmage of the season. Nathan De Bruin tacked on the extra point as Drake leapt ahead 7-3 with 4:59 to play in the opening quarter.
The Bulldogs added to their lead with a 12-play, 45-yard drive on their next possession. Drake converted on fourth down with a drag route over the middle, and later moved the sticks on third down with a run up the gut by Cross Robinson. Valpo’s defense stiffened after the Bulldogs had advanced to its 5-yard line, forcing a De Bruin field goal from 20 yards. The kick pushed Drake’s advantage to 10-3 with 11:59 to go in the half.
Valpo reversed momentum when quarterback Ben Nienhuis misfired on a seam route and was intercepted by Keyon Turner, who returned it 25 yards to the Drake 30. Drake’s defense slowly bent as Valpo inched down the short field, setting up a third-and-goal from Drake’s 1-yard line. The Bulldogs earned a stop, and Max Johnson burst through the line on fourth down to corral the ball-carrier and force a key turnover on downs shortly before the end of the first half.
Drake’s defense bowed up once again on Valpo’s ensuing possession, holding strong to force a field goal attempt that sailed wide left as time expired in the first half with the Bulldogs holding a 10-3 lead.
The Bulldogs’ defense continued its stinginess in the red zone after Drake muffed a punt to set up Valpo at Drake’s 11-yard line. Valpo was held to another field goal, pulling to within 10-6 at the 6:14 mark of the third quarter despite making four trips to the red zone to that point.
Sticking with Drake’s defensive theme, Declan Carr undercut a deep pass to record his first interception of the season and returned it 15 yards to the Valpo 18-yard line. The offense cashed in as Robinson powered the pile into the endzone to give the Bulldogs a 17-6 lead with 14:12 remaining.
After a Bulldogs fumble, Danny Morales notched his first interception of the day, this time deep in Drake’s territory. He returned it 15 yards to the Drake 38-yard line.
In addition to his interception, Carr posted a team-best seven tackles and broke up two passes. Meis led the Bulldogs with 98 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, and Robinson toted 15 carries for 57 yards and a score.
Nienhuis finished 7-of-19 for 47 yards and an interception in his first career start as he filled in for an injured Ian Corwin.
Drake travels to DeLand, Fla., on March 27 to face Stetson. Kickoff is scheduled for 12 p.m.
