Poughkeepsie, NY — Drake football was finally back in action for the first time in three weeks Saturday in Poughkeepsie, NY on the campus of Marist College. The game was the first for head coach Todd Stepsis’ Bulldogs in three weeks following a break due to COVID protocol and a bye. The Bulldogs (2-6, 1-4 PFL) showed signs of rust on the offensive side at times and ultimately fell to Marist (4-4, 4-2 PFL) in a tight, defensive contest 7-0.
The Bulldogs first chance to score came on their second drive when they started from the Marist 45-yard line. That opportunity was cut short by a Marist interception of an Ian Corwin pass that was returned to the Drake 37-yard line. But a third down sack by Max Johnson knocked the Red Foxes out of field goal position and the game remained tied 0-0.
Marist opened the second quarter with the ball but missed a 22-yard field goal attempt. The Bulldogs embarked on a 13 play 64-yard drive and that ate of nearly 8 minutes of clock. The drive ended when a Shane Dunning 33-yard field goal attempt from the right hash that slightly missed wide right.
Back and forth action defined by defensive stops from both programs was the story of the first half as both teams were held scoreless heading into the locker room. In that first half, Drake’s defense held Marist to 37 yards on the ground and 53 yards through the air in the first two quarters of play. Despite several good drives and an even split of offense by the Bulldogs, including 70 yards on the ground and 71 through the air, several offensive Bulldog drives stalled just shy of an opportunity to points on the board.
On the first possession of the second half, Marist was pushed back eight yards on three plays, including a 10-yard sack by Tanner Pollock and Jake Hoper, as the Drake defense picked up exactly where it left off. Later in the 3rd quarter Drake’s Jakobe Davidson nabbed an Austin Day pass for an interception at the 9:54 mark.
Marist broke the scoring drought for both teams with a 70-yard, five play drive at the end of the third quarter to take the first advantage of the game 7-0.
Drake responded with a drive of its own which was jumpstarted by a 43-yard pass from Corwin to Colin Howard. The offense was unable to get into the endzone and a Bulldog field goal attempt was blocked by Marist.
Drake had one last opportunity following a goal-line defensive stand. The Bulldogs took over possession following a field goal by Marist with 2:29 to play. However, the Bulldogs could not turn the opportunity into points, and Marist took over on downs and ran out the remainder of the clock.
In his first action since October 16, Drake’s Ian Corwin completed 13 of 27 pass attempts for 144 yards. Drake used a trio of rushers to amass 104 rushing yards. Cross Robinson shouldered the bulk of the load with 45 yards on 14 attempts.
The Drake defense shined by limiting Marist to 70 yards on the ground and 186 through the air. Drake’s Alex Rogers, Declan Carr and Will Kulick led the Bulldogs with 9 tackles each.
Next up for the Bulldogs is an opponent new to PFL play. The St. Thomas Tommies will visit Drake Stadium November 13 with kickoff slated for 12 p.m.
