QUARTERBACK MIKE PIATOWSKI (B2) scans the field for an open receiver as he eludes several Valporaiso defenders during the Bulldogs’ 34-14 win over the Crusaders Oct. 3. Photo: Sarah Andews

The first-place Drake football team comes home for the first time in three weeks to face off with Jacksonville at 1 p.m. Saturday at Drake Stadium. The Bulldogs are coming off two road victories at San Diego and Davidson, which propelled them to a 6-1 record and an undefeated record in the Pioneer Football League.

Drake will look to stretch its winning streak to five, but it will not be easy against the defending league champions. Jacksonville holds a record of 4-3, but at 3-1 in the PFL, a win over Drake would put them in great position to repeat. Jacksonville comes in with a two-game winning streak.

The four-game winning streak the Bulldogs have is the longest in two years under Head Coach Chris Creighton. It is also the second time in the past four seasons that Drake has started 6-1. The last was in 2006, when Drake finished 9-2 and second in the PFL.

Two weeks ago, the Bulldogs traveled to preseason conference favorite San Diego and won 21-14. Jacksonville did the same last week coming away with a 34-16 victory. The Dolphins were picked to finish second in the PFL by coaches in the same preseason poll. Drake was projected to finish sixth.

The Drake offensive line will be a huge key in Saturday’s game, as Jacksonville leads the country with an average of 4.29 sacks per game. Defensive end Shaun Lewis has six sacks on the season to lead the team, including three in a 39-0 victory against Morehead State.

The Bulldog defense will also be tested, as the Dolphins are coming off a 402-yard performance at San Diego, including 240 rushing. Rudell Small leads the running game, averaging 96.6 yards per game. He is the Jacksonville career rushing leader with 3,055 yards, and leads the PFL this season with 676. He has rushed for at least 100 yards in three of the last four games, including 151 last week.

Dolphins Quarterback Josh McGregor is also a threat to the Drake defense. He holds the school record in touchdown passes with 44, and has already thrown for 20 touchdowns this season. He leads the PFL with an outstanding 155.9 passer rating. McGregor had three touchdowns on the ground and one through the air last weekend.

McGregor has taken advantage of the opportunity to learn from the best. Jacksonville Head Coach Kerwin Bell played quarterback for the University of Florida from 1983-1987. He was named the Southeastern Conference player of the year in 1984 and, at the time, set school records for passing yardage and touchdowns.

Drake will counter with a defense that is led by linebacker Cale Hunt (B4), who leads the team with 54 tackles, and defensive end Dain Taylor (B4), who has 12.5 tackles for loss, including seven sacks. The defense has been the cornerstone to Drake’s success this season, and another huge performance will be needed for the Bulldogs to move to 7-1.

Quarterback Mike Piatkowski (B2) has been efficient for Drake, completing 64.3 percent of his passes for 1,472 yards this season. He is one of the reasons the Bulldogs have been so good in the red zone, scoring on 25 out of 30 opportunities.

Kicker Brandon Wubs (B4) is 11 of 13 in field goal attempts this year and has already been named PFL special teams player of the week three times.

Last year, Drake dropped a 41-7 decision at Jacksonville. The Bulldogs trailed only 13-7 entering the fourth quarter before the Dolphins ripped off four touchdowns to run away with the game. Drake leads the all-time series 7-1, winning the last three games played in Des Moines by an average of 36 points.