BY MATTHEW GOGERTY | PHOTO BY KATIE KURKA
The Bulldogs were unable to continue their win streak on the road this past week. Drake fell 35-10 against Dayton last Saturday. The loss puts the Bulldogs at 2-3 overall and 1-1 in the Pioneer Football League.
At the beginning of the game the Bulldogs chose to defer and start with their defense. Drake managed to hold Dayton to a four play possession and the ball was turned over with Dayton having less than two minutes of possession time.
However, the Bulldogs defense faltered after the first possession and they were unable to continue that momentum from the starting minutes of the first quarter for the rest of the game.
Dayton found the endzone during their next possession and scored on a 48-yard drive.
As Drake struggled to gain momentum either offensively or defensively, Dayton was able to string together another drive and brought the score to 14-0 going into the second quarter.
Drake began possession in the second quarter with a lackluster four play drive that ultimately culminated in a turnover on downs.
With the Flyers back on the offense, the Bulldogs were unable to circumvent another scoring possession and fell farther behind to 21-0.
The Bulldogs found some traction on the offensive end during their second drive, which led them to a successful field goal attempt near the end of the second quarter, after a 15 -play possession. This brought the score to 21-3 going into the second half.
Coming into the third quarter the Bulldogs began on offense once again and their first drive proved to be unfruitful in decreasing the margin.
Drake’s defense was unable to stop Dayton from scoring on their possession after an 11-play, 75-yard drive. This drive by the Flyers brought the score to 28-3.
With seven minutes left in the third quarter, the Bulldogs were able to string together a scoring offensive drive bringing them their one touchdown of the game.
In the first possession of the fourth quarter Dayton was able to score one more time. A final score of 35-10 snapped the Bulldogs attempt at a win streak.
Starting quarterback Grant Kraemer had 40 attempts and had 22 completions in Saturday’s game and had the exact same stats the Saturday prior, with slightly better numbers in his opener against McKendree going 24-42.
The Bulldogs will be on the road again this Saturday to face Valparaiso University.