2018 Drake Bulldogs football team
The 2018 Drake Bulldogs football team represented Drake University as a member of the Pioneer Football League (PFL) during 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by fifth-year head coach Rick Fox, the Bulldogs compiled an overall record of 7–4 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.
| 2018 Drake Bulldogs football | |
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| Conference | Pioneer Football League |
| Record | 7–4 (6–2 PFL) |
| Head coach |
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| Defensive coordinator | Todd Stepsis (5th season) |
| Home stadium | Drake Stadium (capacity: 14,557) |
| Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. 25 San Diego $^ | 8 | – | 0 | 9 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stetson | 6 | – | 2 | 8 | – | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Drake | 6 | – | 2 | 7 | – | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marist | 5 | – | 3 | 5 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dayton | 5 | – | 3 | 6 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Davidson | 3 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Butler | 2 | – | 6 | 4 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Morehead State | 2 | – | 6 | 3 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Valparaiso | 2 | – | 6 | 2 | – | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jacksonville | 1 | – | 7 | 2 | – | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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On December 10, Fox resigned.[1] He finished his five-year tenure at Drake with a record of 33–22.
Preseason
Preseason All-PFL team
The PFL released their preseason all-PFL team on July 30, 2018, with the Bulldogs having four players selected.[2]
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Offense Steven Doran – WR Jordan Lewinsky – OL |
Defense Nathan Clayberg – DL Sean Lynch – DB |
Preseason coaches poll
The PFL released their preseason coaches poll on July 31, 2018, with the Bulldogs predicted to finish in third place.[3]
| Predicted finish | Team | Votes (1st place) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Diego | 81 (9) |
| 2 | Dayton | 72 (1) |
| 3 | Drake | 58 |
| T–4 | Butler | 48 |
| T–4 | Valparaiso | 48 |
| 6 | Jacksonville | 47 |
| 7 | Marist | 44 |
| 8 | Morehead State | 22 |
| 9 | Stetson | 19 |
| 10 | Davidson | 11 |
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 26 | 12:00 a.m. | at China All-Stars (AFLC, CAFL, & CBL)* |
| QQLive | W 77–0[lower-alpha 1] | |
| September 1 | 6:00 p.m. | William Jewell* | BV | Cancelled[lower-alpha 2] | ||
| September 8 | 2:00 p.m. | at No. 14 Montana* | GoGriz | L 16–48 | 23,132 | |
| September 15 | 1:00 p.m. | Missouri S&T* |
| BV | W 52–12 | 1,881 |
| September 29 | 12:00 p.m. | at Jacksonville | ESPN3 | W 41–9 | 1,738 | |
| October 6 | 1:00 p.m. | Butler |
| BV | W 36–6 | 3,011 |
| October 13 | 1:00 p.m. | Stetson |
| BV | L 21–23 | 1,439 |
| October 20 | 12:00 p.m. | at Dayton | Facebook Live | W 28–17 | 2,168 | |
| October 27 | 1:00 p.m. | at Valparaiso | ESPN+ | W 42–25 | 1,945 | |
| November 3 | 1:00 p.m. | San Diego |
| BV | L 10–27 | 1,522 |
| November 10 | 1:00 p.m. | Marist |
| BV | W 13–10 | 1,348 |
| November 17 | 1:00 p.m. | at Morehead State | ESPN+ | W 43–6 | 3,287 | |
| December 1[lower-alpha 3] | 11:00 a.m. | at No. 24 (FBS) Iowa State | Cyclones.tv | L 24–27 | 56,738 | |
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Game summaries
At Montana
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulldogs | 0 | 3 | 7 | 6 | 16 |
| No. 14 Grizzlies | 3 | 7 | 21 | 17 | 48 |
Missouri S&T
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miners | 0 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 12 |
| Bulldogs | 14 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 52 |
At Jacksonville
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulldogs | 14 | 17 | 0 | 10 | 41 |
| Dolphins | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 9 |
Butler
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BU Bulldogs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 |
| DU Bulldogs | 7 | 7 | 13 | 9 | 36 |
Stetson
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hatters | 0 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 23 |
| Bulldogs | 3 | 0 | 11 | 7 | 21 |
At Dayton
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulldogs | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| Flyers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
At Valparaiso
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulldogs | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 | 42 |
| Crusaders | 3 | 0 | 7 | 15 | 25 |
San Diego
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toreros | 13 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 27 |
| Bulldogs | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
Marist
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red Foxes | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| Bulldogs | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 13 |
At Morehead State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulldogs | 9 | 13 | 7 | 14 | 43 |
| Eagles | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
At Iowa State
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulldogs | 7 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 24 |
| No. 24 (FBS) Cyclones | 7 | 13 | 7 | 0 | 27 |
References
- "Drake football coach Rick Fox stepping down to follow his faith ... wherever it takes him". Des Moines Register.
- "Twelve First-Team All-PFL returnees highlight Preseason All-PFL Team". Pioneer-Football.org.
- "Defending Champion San Diego edges Dayton in PFL Preseason Coaches’ Poll". Pioneer-Football.org.
- "Drake-William Jewell Game Canceled". Drake University Athletics. September 1, 2018. Retrieved September 2, 2018.
- "Football Adds Iowa State To Schedule For A Dec. 1 Game". Drake University Athletics. November 20, 2018. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
- "2018 Football Schedule". Drake University Athletics. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
