Drake Football takes opening game loss to North Dakota State

In a number of methods, beginning off their season towards North Dakota State was an unfortunate draw for the Drake College Soccer workforce. 

Whereas the tough 56-14 loss that Drake took away from the Fargodome might seem to be a waste of time at first look, the training alternatives it gave Drake’s gamers day one pays large dividends down the road. 

Within the days main as much as the sport, head coach Todd Stepsis alluded to the sheer power of a workforce like North Dakota. 

“You may sort of take that have, of the velocity and energy and take that with you,” Stepsis stated, “I do know what the very best of the very best looks like, how can I replicate that in my recreation.”

Drake in the end did not put up a lot of a struggle, permitting over 300 dashing yards and three dashing touchdowns on the day. At one level within the recreation, North Dakota scored 14 factors straight with out their offense stepping on the sphere, scoring on a blocked area objective and punt return. 

Altogether, Drake’s offense put up simply over 200 yards offensively and 14 complete factors. This got here after Stepsis put an emphasis on Drake needing to enhance offensively to maintain up with the power their protection confirmed final season. 

“Regardless of how good the protection is, when you can’t put the ball within the endzone you’re going to have a tough time on this recreation,” Stepsis stated. 

One spotlight for the workforce offensively was Sophomore working again Dorian Boyland, who racked up 70 dashing yards on 14 carries, averaging 5 yard per carry. On prime of this, Boyland caught 2 passes for six yards and a landing, making an impression on an offense missing manufacturing this previous Saturday. 

Defensively, Drake struggled. They did not power a turnover and let up 5 complete touchdowns, permitting North Dakota to push up and over the 50-point mark within the second half. 

As for North Dakota, highlights got here with ease, as that they had 5 separate gamers take the ball into the endzone offensively, not mentioning the blocked area objective and punt return landing late within the second half. 

North Dakota’s head coach Matt Entz was excited for his workforce, citing the success that they had in all three phases of the sport within the postgame press convention. 

“We scored 56 factors, I’ll take that. We scored in about each conceivable approach that there’s,” stated Entz.

Above all, Drake head coach Todd Stepsis hopes to see the Bulldogs play with ardour and goal, and to proceed to be who they’re as a workforce. 

“Our expectation is to go up there and be who we’re. I wish to see us play with some ardour on each single snap,” Stepsis stated. 

Drake College will face off towards Missouri right here at dwelling subsequent weekend, hoping to proper the ship as they transfer into the primary leg of the 2022 season.