For the first time in years the Drake football team will be playing for a post season game this season. The Pioneer Football League added Jacksonville, Davidson, Austin Peay and Moorhead State to form a southern division and the two division winners will meet in a league championship game in November. Drake coach Rob Ash says it’s tough to reach the playoffs, so the conference championship game will help. This season the champion of the North division would host the title game and Ash says with only four home games on the schedule it provides added motivation, as Drake could host if they win the conference. Fifteen starters return and Ash expects the offense to put up big numbers. There are several holes to fill on defense. All-American defensive end Mike Foster graduated and the Bulldogs will feature four new starters in the secondary. Drake opens the season at Truman State on September first.
