INDIANAPOLIS – The Drake University football team edged Butler, 6-3, Saturday afternoon in Pioneer Football League at the Sellick Bowl.
Drake (2-3, 1-1 PFL) snapped a three-game losing streak behind a Cross Robinson touchdown run and a huge timely turnover from its defense. Much of the first half of the game was played in steady rain in the Indianapolis area.
Drake, which trailed 3-0 at halftime, forced Butler (2-2, 0-2 PFL) to punt out of the break and took over the football at its 10-yard line. The Drake Bulldogs marched ninety yards in nearly 6:30 minutes with a heavy dose of running from Robinson, Caden Meis and Dorian Boyland. Drake took its first lead after Robinson powered into the end zone from four yards out. However, Shane Dunning’s extra point was no good but the Drake Bulldogs led 6-3.
On its next drive, Butler was on the verge of taking the lead back but defensive lineman Max Johnson forced reserve quarterback Nick Orlando to fumble at Drake’s one-yard line. Linebacker Declan Carr dove on the football in the end zone for a touchback and kept the lead at 6-3.
Following the turnover, Drake’s PFL-leading 11th of the season, Drake’s offense couldn’t add to the lead. But it had multiple long drives, including one that were extended by a timely first down catch by Colin Howard. Howard finished with a game-high 92 yards on just four catches. Dunning missed a 49-yard field goal with 5:53 left in the game.
Freshman quarterback Blake Ellingson made his first career start. Ellingson started in place of Luke Bailey, who had started the past two games in place of injured QB Ian Corwin who started the first two games of the season. Ellingson finished with 181 passing yards on 13-of-23 passing. Most importantly he and the offense didn’t have any turnovers. Ellingson spread the football around as he connected with 11 different receivers.
Drake’s defense held Butler’s offense to just 244 total yards, including just 109 through the air. After the turnover, Butler never reentered Drake’s side of the field. Safety Alex Rogers had a team-high nine tackles while Carr and safety Danny Morales had six each. Morales made an instant impact after missing the past two games due to injury.
Drake returns to Drake Stadium Oct. 9 to host Dayton at noon.
