Drake’s two year run at the top of the Pioneer Football League is coming to an end but the Bulldogs could play a huge factor in deciding this year’s champion when they close out the season on Saturday at the University of San Diego. The Toreros are part of a four-team logjam at the top of the standings and with a win would clinch the PFL’s automatic berth in the FCS playoffs.
“We’re not playing for the championship, we’re not playing for the playoffs, we’re playing at their place…they’ve got everything going for them so we get to figure out if our will without sort of the extrinsic motivation is stronger than their will with all of that extrinsic motivation. So, it’s a great, great test for us,” according to Drake coach Chris Creighton.
After a 1-3 start to the season the Bulldogs have won five of their last six after last week’s 36-10 win over Dayton. He says they have scored over 90 points in the last two weeks and says they are getting to where they want to be, but it’s not over. Creighton says it has been an emotional week for the Drake seniors who will close out their playing careers on Saturday. “It’s like they are walking on air, they soak everything up,” Creighton says.
Drake is 6-4 overall and with a victory could still finish in a tie for second in the league race.