I get that this isn’t the sexiest matchup, especially after the last two games, BUT Drake the Bulldogs (1-0) have won the Pioneer League the past two years and have competed in the FCS playoffs.  The Jacks last faced the Bulldogs at Target Field two years ago and came away with a 70-7 victory.   In that game, Drake stormed down the field on it’s opening possession going 83 yards in just 3 plays capped by a 35 yard TD.  The next possession the Bulldogs connected on a 53 yard pass but failed to score any points.  From there on out, it was all Jackrabbits.  This Drake team now has a new head coach in Joe Woodley. Over 17 years on the staff, he built one of the best NAIA programs in the country in Grand View University winning the 2024 NAIA National Championship.  This season, the Bulldogs have played just one game, a 41-7 win over D2 Upper Iowa.

The Bulldogs brought in Tennessee State transfer #2 Chase Spellman (6-3, 215) to be their QB.  He appears to be a dual threat QB.  In week one, he completed 14 of 16 passes for 2 TDs vs. 1 INT.  He also rushed for for 45 yards and another 2 TD.  He saw action in just one game for TSU and had one rush for 8 yards.

The leading rusher for their matchup with UIU was grad transfer #5 Jaden Meizinger (5-8, 190).  Meizinger had a legendary career for NAIA Keiser University.  In 58 career games he rushed for 4,100 yards and 52 touchdowns.  Incredible production!  In week one he had 51 yards and 14 attempts with a long of 23.  He also added 3 receptions for 37 yards and 1 TD  #20 Luke Woodson (5-11, 200) returns as a reserve and had 16 attempts for 48 yards.  #25 Taj Hughes (5-9, 185) is listed on the roster as a wide receiver but he had zero receptions in week one and 6 carries for 36 yards.  Last year he was Drake’s leading wide receiver with 647 yards and 4 TDs on 74 catches.

The other starting wide receivers were #11 Jackson Voth (5-11, 190) and #18 Hank Foley (6-0, 180). Foley saw action in four games as a true freshman but broke out in week one with 5 receptions for 127 yards and 2 TDs.   Voth spent his freshman season at Kansas State after being named the 2023 Kansas 3A offensive Player of the Year.  In week one he had 4 receptions for 82 yards.  #10 Mitchell January (6-0, 190) returns after an all Pioneer honorable mention season where he had 42 receptions for 520 yards and 2 TDs.

As has been noted, Drake does have a history of producing some talented tight ends.  #3 Parker Olthoff (6-3, 230) could be that guy in 2025   He finished 2024 with 22 receptions for 204 yards and 3 TDs.  However, in week one it was Northern Illinois transfer #89 Chase Schutty (6-5, 230) that earned the start and produced with 3 receptions for 33 yards.

I am unable to find what positions the starting five were in but here are the 5 that started the game.  Remember, PFL teams traditionally have a bit smaller offensive lines.  I believe this should be a matchup the Jackrabbits dominate.  This is a smaller offensive line and inexperienced.

#66 Nate Henry (6-2, 290, SR):  Made his first career start against UIU.

#70 Travis Gutierrez (6-1, 265, SO): Made his first career start against UIU.  Played in one game as a true freshman.

#73 Tyler Tortorich (6-3, 290, JR): Played in his first career game and started vs. UIU.

#77 Drew Heiss (6-4, 305, JR): Made his first career start against UIU.  Played in all 11 games in 2024.

#78 Nathan VanDeWoestyne (6-5, 300, SR): Made first career start against UIU.  Played in 10 games in 2024 and 5 games in 2023.

Defense

Defensively the Bulldogs will look to run a 4-3 defense.  I’m always impressed with the tenacity of the Drake defensive line.  They are undersized but it feels like every time we play them they have one guy who is sort of a pain in the butt.  That guy this year may be #93 Jacob Auen (6-5, 290) at defensive tackle.  He is certainly not undersized!  He was named All-PFL Honorable mention the past two seasons.  Last year he made 18 tackles and 3.5 TFL.  In week one he had a sack.  Next to him is #94 Nolan Korzeniowski (6-3, 280), also not undersized, and he was also recognized as All-PFL Honorable mention in 2024.  He had 24 tackles and 3 sacks in 2024.  In week one he had 3 tackles and a QBH.  Both Auen and Korzeniowski have contributed the past three years.  The starting defensive ends are #14 Collin Schrempt (6-4, 245) and #58 Trystan Anderson (6-4, 240).   Schrempt was injured in 2024 but in 2023 saw action in 11 games and he totaled 23 tackles and 5.5 TFL.  Anderson played in 10 games last season and made 22 tackles and had 1 sack.  Anderson has already match his sack total with a sack vs. UIU in week one.  This does seem like a solid and experienced starting defensive line.  For depth on the interior Drake is able to trot out #50 Gene Blalock (6-3, 305) who had 11 tackles and 4.5 TFL  in 2024.  In week one, Blalock had 2 tackles and a sack.

The linebacking corp is led by #33 Sean Allison (6-0, 235).  He was named All-PFL 2nd team in 2024 and HM in 2023.  He had 105 tackles, 5.5 TFL, and 2.5 sacks in 2024.  He week one he picked up where he left off with 7 total tackles, 2 PBUs and a TFL.  #7 JR Flood (6-1, 220) was second on the team in week one with 5 total stops.  In a reserve role last year, Flood had 42 tackles, 2 TFL, and 2 QBH.  He also was a key reserve in 2023.  #24 Jack Ward (6-3, 230) is listed as the 3rd starter but did not record any stats in week one.  He has played in 4 games the past two years.

Northern Illinois transfer #1 Isaiah Bragg (5-10, 190) earned the start at one CB spot opposite #2 Kemani Wilson (5-9, 165).  Bragg played in 11 career games at NIU, mostly on special teams.  He had 2 stops in week one vs. UIU.  Wilson had 3 stops of his own. Wilson has contributed for the past two years for the Bulldogs and last season had 27 tackles and 1 INT.  #26 Garrison Codde (5-10, 175) added two tackles and an INT in week one.  #39 Karson Kindred (5-7, 160) also added an INT in week one.    At safety #11 Hayes Gibson (6-2, 205) and #44 Benjamin Wilson (6-2, 200) form a veteran duo.  Gibson started his career at Iowa State, transferred to Blinn Junior College, and then was most recently at Tennessee Tech.  He did all of this as a quarterback so it is interesting to seem him as a safety now.    Wilson has contributed the past two seasons and had 1 INT in 2024.  In week one he had 5 solo tackles.

Special Teams

It also seems like Drake has either a high quality kicker or punter when we see them.  This year they may have both.  #99 Ryan Schroeder handles both the punting and kick off duties.  In week one he had 8 kickoffs for a 59.6 yard average and just one touchback.  Clearly they were trying to pin UIU deep as they averaged just 22 yards on the returns.  On his punts, Schroeder had 3 punts for a 45 yard averaged with a long of 59.  UIU didn’t have much luck in the return game with 1 return going for -1 yards and another for 6.  #90 Harry Balke was perfect on field goals on the day going 5/5 on XPs and connecting on field goals from 42 and 21 yards.  Balke joins the Bulldogs after a standout career at Benedictine College where he led all NAIA kickers in points scored during the 2024 season.

In the punt return game, #11 Jackson Voth appears to handle that as well.  He had 3 returns for 29 yards with a long of 19 in week one.  #25 Taj Hughes handles the kick returns and had just one attempt that went for 10 yards in week one.  In 2024, Hughes had 7 return attempts for 126 yards (18 yard average).

Prediction

I do feel like Drake will put up an initial fight and I do like the experience of their defensive line.  However, I have major concerns about their offensive line holding up in any real way with the #ChainGang.  Drake will have to get the ball out quickly in the passing game and I just haven’t seen any tackling issues from this Jackrabbit defense.  I’m revising my score from the A-Team show on Sunday night.

Jackrabbits 42- Bulldogs 3

Go Jacks!

Matt