RUNNING BACK TOM KOSTEK (B3) puts the moves on a Valparaiso defender during the Bulldogs’ 34-14 win over the Crusaders. Kostek leads the team with 271 rushing yards on the season. Drake’s win Saturday at Davidson moved the team to 6-1 on the season and 4-0 in the PFL, the best start for the team since it also raced out to a 6-1 start in 2006 en route to a 9-2 record and a second-place PFL finish. Photo: Sarah Andrews

The Bulldogs scored 14 points in the third quarter en route to a 21-16 victory Saturday on the road against Pioneer Football League opponent Davidson.

The win marks Drake’s fourth straight and puts the Bulldogs’ record at 6-1 on the season and 4-0 in conference play. More importantly, it capped a 2-0 road trip that took the Bulldogs first to the west coast – against San Diego – then to the east coast for Saturday’s matchup.

At 4-0, Drake is tied with Dayton and Butler atop the PFL standings.

“It has been a hectic two weeks and we were presented with a tall order,” Drake Head Coach Chris Creighton said in a Drake Athletics press release. “Our emotion level was pretty drained and we didn’t have any intensity to start the game. But when we challenged our team to impose their will, they shifted gears at midstream and made some big plays.”

The Bulldogs grabbed the lead early on a nine-yard touchdown run by running back Steve Platek (B4). The score capped a four-play, 77-yard drive that started with a 64-yard reception by Platek from quarterback Michael Piatkowski (B2).

“We’re not a big-play offense, but we got a couple today and needed them,” Creighton said in the press release.

Piatkowski was consistent for the Bulldogs, completing 17 of 26 passes for 220 yards and one interception.

Davidson controlled the second quarter, however, scoring 10 points including a last-second field goal to take a 10-7 lead going into halftime.

The Bulldogs took back the lead in the third quarter thanks to two game-changing touchdowns in a span of three minutes.

Drake first took back the lead after Platek dashed 63 yards for his second touchdown of the contest. Platek rushed just five times in the game but scored twice out of Drake’s new “wildcat” offense and totaled 75 yards on the ground.

With a 14-10 lead, the Bulldogs allowed the Wildcats to drive into their territory. When Davidson lined up for a field goal attempt, however, the Bulldogs were ready.

With just less than five minutes left in the third quarter, senior linebacker Ben Morrison (E4) got a hand on the 42-yard attempt that was then returned 58 yards by junior Michael Lahart (P1) for the decisive touchdown.

“It came down to special teams play last year to beat Davidson,” Creighton said. “Without us scoring our first special teams touchdown of this season, it would have been tough to win today.”

Davidson scored late in the fourth to cut the lead to 21-16, but failed to make the two-point conversion that would have brought them within a field goal. The Drake defense closed out the game for the Bulldogs, clamping down on the Wildcats’ offense.

The Bulldogs defense was again stellar, allowing the Wildcats just 240 yards on offense. Creighton said he recognizes that the defense has been the foundation for the team’s success so far this season.

“Our defense is good,” Creighton said in the press release. “They play so hard and together. There is a huge comfort as a head coach when your defense is as good as ours.”

The first place Bulldogs are now in control of their destiny in their quest for the conference title as they play both Dayton and Butler in the coming weeks.

Next weekend, Drake begins a three-game home stand against 2008 PFL champion Jacksonville. Kickoff is at 1 p.m. at Drake Stadium.

The Bulldogs then host Campbell and Dayton before traveling to Butler for the season finale.