Balke kick vs UST


Casey Shanaberger



Football
11/21/2025 2:09:00 PM

Drake Athletic Communications



2025 regular season to close vs. Eagles with title shot on the line



Story Links


THE BASICS
Drake’s 2025 football regular season will come to a close this weekend with a visit from Morehead State. The Bulldogs and Eagles will kick things off at Drake Stadium at noon. A win for the Bulldogs would secure Drake’s third straight Pioneer Football League title and a berth in the FCS Playoffs. The Bulldogs could also earn a playoff spot with a Presbyterian loss and San Diego win.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Drake bounced back with a 14-6 victory at Dayton last weekend. The Bulldogs rode a dominant ground game and leaned on a stifling defensive effort that included two Sean Allison interceptions to a pivotal victory.
 
TRACKING A TITLE
Drake’s win over Dayton secured at least a share of the Bulldogs’ third straight PFL title. A victory over Morehead State in this week’s regular season finale would lock up the outright championship and send Drake back to the FCS playoffs. The Dogs could still secure a playoff nod despite a loss if Presbyterian were to also lose in their finale.
 
WINNING WAYS
Drake football has been dominant in Pioneer Football League play over the last couple season. The Bulldogs have won 24 of their last 26 conference contests while posting records of 14-0 away from home and 11-2 in Des Moines during that stretch.
 
ANOTHER FRESHMAN FLURRY
Freshman running back Nick Herman had another stellar showing on the ground in Drake’s last game at Dayton. Herman racked up 153 yards on 15 carries including a 66-yard TD run, which proved to be the game-winner. He is currently the third-leading rusher in the conference with 687 total yards and an average of 68.7 per game.
 
DEFENDER OF THE WEEK
Senior linebacker Sean Allison received the most recent PFL Defensive Player of the Week honor. Allison totaled 12 tackles, including eight solo stops, and made his first two interceptions of the year against Dayton. He leads the league with 110 total tackles.
 
DEADLY SITUATIONAL DEFENSE
Drake’s defense leads the Pioneer Football League in opponent conversion rate on fourth down. Bulldog foes have converted on just five fourth downs in 18 tries for a rate of 27.8 percent.
 
DRAKE STAT LEADERS

Rushing Leaders             
Nick Herman                         104 rush, 707 yds, 5 TD
Logan Inagawa                     103 rush, 338 yds, 7 TD
Jaden Meizinger                   61 rush, 284 yds, TD
Luke Woodson                      65 rush, 274 yds, 4 TD
                                          

Passing Leaders             
Logan Inagawa                     103-147, 70.1%, 1199 yds, 8 TD
Chase Spellman                   38-56, 67.9%, 489 yds, 2 TD
Xavier Washington                6-9, 86 yds, 2 TD
                                          

Receiving Leaders
Jackson Voth                         40 rec, 504 yds, 4 TD
Taj Hughes                            39 rec, 470 yds, 2 TD
Hank Foley                            17 rec, 302 yds, 4 TD
 

Tackles
Sean Allison                          106 tck, 51 solo, 7.0 TFL
J.R. Flood                              80 tck, 29 solo, 6.0 TFL
Garrison Codde                     64 tck, 50 solo, 3.0 TFL
                                          

Sacks
Jacob Auen                            5.0 sacks
J.R. Flood                              3.5 sacks
Gene Blalock                         3.0 sacks
 
SCOUTING MOREHEAD STATE
Morehead State enters this week with a 6-5 overall record and 4-3 mark in Pioneer Football League Play. The Eagles took down two non-Division I opponents early in the year and have recently ripped off a 4-game victory streak prior to their trip to Des Moines.
 
Drake leads the all-time series with the Eagles by a 9-3 margin. Despite the Bulldogs’ dominance, Morehead State won last year’s meeting in Des Moines, spoiling Drake’s chance to win a league title at home.
 
Jason Woodman is in his second season leading the Morehead State football program. Woodman is 13-10 as an Eagle but 73-57 overall after previously spending a decade at Fairmont State.
 
Up Next
If Drake were to emerge victorious tomorrow, its playoff matchup and location would be determined at 11 a.m. on Sunday morning as part of the FCS Selection Show.

Â