2019 Drake Bulldogs football team

2019 Drake Bulldogs football
2019 Drake Bulldogs football
Conference	Pioneer Football League
Record	6–5 (6–2 PFL)
Head coach	Todd Stepsis (1st season);
Offensive coordinator	Brad Pole (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Allen Smith (1st season)
Home stadium	Drake Stadium
Uniform
	Seasons ← 2018 2020 →

The 2019 Drake Bulldogs football team represented Drake University as a member of the Pioneer Football League (PFL) during 2019 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by first-year head coach Todd Stepsis, the Bulldogs compiled an overall record of 6–5 with a mark of 6–2 in conference play, tying for second place in the PFL. The team played its home games at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.

2019 Pioneer Football League standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
San Diego $^	8	–	0	9	–	3
Dayton	6	–	2	8	–	3
Drake	6	–	2	6	–	5
Davidson	5	–	3	8	–	4
Stetson	4	–	4	7	–	4
Marist	4	–	4	4	–	7
Morehead State	3	–	5	5	–	7
Butler	2	–	6	3	–	9
Jacksonville	1	–	7	3	–	9
Valparaiso	1	–	7	1	–	11

$ – Conference champion ^ – FCS playoff participant

Preseason

Coaching changes

In January 2019, it was announced that with the resignation of 5-year head coach Rick Fox, that defensive coordinator, Todd Stepsis would be promoted to head coach.^[1]

Preseason coaches' poll

The Pioneer League released their preseason coaches' poll on July 30, 2019. The Bulldogs were picked to finish in third place.^[2]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	San Diego	79 (7)
2	Dayton	66 (2)
3	Drake	64
4	Marist	52
5	Davidson	48
6	Stetson	44
7	Butler	37
8	Jacksonville	30
9	Morehead State	15
9	Valparaiso	15

Preseason All–PFL teams

The Bulldogs had eleven players selected to the preseason all–PFL teams.^[3]

Offense

Second team

Steve Doran – WR

Grant Snow – OL

Defense

First team

Nathan Clayberg – DL

Gavin Dineen – DL

Kieran Severa – LB

Jabari Butler – DB

Will Warner – DB

Second team

Erin Morgan – DL

Connor Willis – LB

Sean Lynch – DB

Special teams

First team

Danny Donley – K

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 31	4:00 p.m.	at North Dakota*	Alerus Center Grand Forks, ND	MC22/Pluto TV	L 7–47	8,545
September 7	6:00 p.m.	Truman*	Drake Stadium Des Moines, IA	MC22	L 7–10	2,529
September 14	1:00 p.m.	at No. 3 South Dakota State*	Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium Brookings, SD	ESPN+	L 10–38	11,565
September 28	12:00 p.m.	at Marist	Tenney Stadium at Leonidoff Field Poughkeepsie, NY	Red Fox Network	W 41–17	3,918
October 5	2:00 p.m.	Valparaiso	Drake Stadium Des Moines, IA	MC22	W 35–6	3,060
October 12	12:00 p.m.	at Butler	Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl Indianapolis, IN	YouTube	W 42–7	2,578
October 26	1:00 p.m.	Morehead State	Drake Stadium Des Moines, IA	MC22	W 36–17	2,134
November 2	4:00 p.m.	at San Diego	Torero Stadium San Diego, CA	WCC Network via Stadium	L 7–49	1,556
November 9	1:00 p.m.	Jacksonville	Drake Stadium Des Moines, IA	MC22	W 28–14	1,670
November 16	1:00 p.m.	Dayton	Drake Stadium Des Moines, IA (rivalry)	MC22	L 29–46	1,767
November 23	12:00 p.m.	at Davidson	Richardson Stadium Davidson, NC	Davidson All Access	W 31–28	1,243
*Non-conference game Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

^[4]^[5]

Game summaries

At North Dakota

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	0	0	7	0	7
Fighting Hawks	10	2	21	14	47

Truman

	1	2	3	4	Total
Truman Bulldogs	0	3	7	0	10
DU Bulldogs	0	0	7	0	7

At South Dakota State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	0	3	0	7	10
No. 3 Jackrabbits	10	7	14	7	38

At Marist

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	13	14	0	14	41
Red Foxes	0	3	7	7	17

Valparaiso

	1	2	3	4	Total
Crusaders	0	3	3	0	6
Bulldogs	0	21	14	0	35

At Butler

	1	2	3	4	Total
DU Bulldogs	7	14	21	0	42
BU Bulldogs	7	0	0	0	7

Morehead State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Eagles	7	3	0	7	17
Bulldogs	3	12	7	14	36

At San Diego

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	0	0	7	0	7
Toreros	7	28	14	0	49

Jacksonville

	1	2	3	4	Total
Dolphins	7	0	0	7	14
Bulldogs	7	7	7	7	28

Dayton

	1	2	3	4	Total
Flyers	7	18	7	14	46
Bulldogs	14	8	0	7	29

At Davidson

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	7	14	3	7	31
Wildcats	7	7	7	7	28

References

^ Reister, Scott (January 31, 2019). ""Dream come true" for new Drake coach". KCCI.com. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
^ "Defending Champion San Diego again edges Dayton in PFL Preseason Coaches' Poll". Pioneer-Football.org. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
^ "Four-Time First-Team selections Christian and Smith Highlight 26th All-PFL Teams". Pioneer-Football.org. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
^ "2019 Drake Bulldogs Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
^ "2019 Football Schedule". Drake University Athletics. Retrieved September 11, 2019.

[1] Reister, Scott (January 31, 2019). ""Dream come true" for new Drake coach". KCCI.com. Retrieved May 23, 2019.

[2] "Defending Champion San Diego again edges Dayton in PFL Preseason Coaches' Poll". Pioneer-Football.org. Retrieved August 10, 2019.

[3] "Four-Time First-Team selections Christian and Smith Highlight 26th All-PFL Teams". Pioneer-Football.org. Retrieved August 10, 2019.

[4] "2019 Drake Bulldogs Football Schedule". FBSchedules.com. Retrieved May 23, 2019.

[5] "2019 Football Schedule". Drake University Athletics. Retrieved September 11, 2019.

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