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MOREHEAD, Ky. -- Morehead State suffered a 41-26 Pioneer Football League setback to Drake on Saturday afternoon at Jayne Stadium.
The Bulldogs improve to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in league play with their fifth consecutive win, while the Eagles slip to 2-4 on the season and 1-2 in conference action.
Morehead State led all Football Championship Subdivision programs in total offense (551.2 ypg) coming into the contest, but Drake tallied a 431-297 advantage in that category on Saturday.
Senior quarterback Mike Piatkowski completed 16-of-27 passes for 310 yards and three touchdowns to pace the Bulldogs. Senior Nathan Paddock added five catches for 163 yards and two scores, while senior Patrick Cashmore added 114 rushing yards on 22 attempts.
Junior quarterback Zach Lewis completed 31-of-46 passes for 265 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Eagles. Senior fullback Desmond Cox added 49 rushing yards on 13 carries, while junior wide receiver Donte Sawyer collected 47 receiving yards and one touchdown on five catches.
Senior linebacker Tony Bachman recorded six solo tackles and four assists to lead the Morehead State defense, while sophomore linebacker Thaddeus Winston and senior defensive end Mark Hall added eight stops apiece.
Drake jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first quarter. A 33-yard kick return to open the affair set up the first of four field goals from senior Billy Janssen. A blocked punt in the opening frame then led to Janssen’s second three-pointer of the afternoon.
Morehead State responded with 13 points in the second quarter. A two-yard touchdown pass from junior Kevin Thomas to freshman Kitaro Lewis capped a 76-yard drive. It was Thomas’ second TD pass this season and the first TD catch of Lewis’ career.
Senior linebacker Keaton May ended Drake’s next possession with a 24-yard interception return, which helped give MSU its only lead of the day. The 29-yard scoring drive was punctuated by a five-yard connection between Lewis and senior halfback Cory Jackson.
Drake responded with a 70-yard drive midway through the second quarter, which ended in a 35-yard Piatkowski pass to Paddock. Janssen then added a 33-yard field goal 10 seconds before intermission to give the visitors a three-point edge heading to the break.
Drake held Morehead State to only two scores in the second half, a two-yard Thomas run and 28-yard touchdown pass from Lewis to Sawyer.
The Bulldogs added three touchdowns, a Janssen field goal and safety in the second half to end the tilt on a 35-13 run.
DU finished with a 121-30 edge on the ground and 310-267 advantage through the air.
Morehead returns to action next Saturday, Oct. 15, when it travels to Jacksonville for a 1 p.m. ET game. Check MSUEagles.com throughout the week for stats, social media updates, game previews and much more.
