DES MOINES, IOWA – Drake built an early lead on a pair of
Campbell turnovers and fended off the visiting Camels for a 33-21 Pioneer
Football League win Saturday at Drake Stadium.
Drake (4-4, 3-2 PFL) led 17-0 in the first quarter after
Campbell (3-4, 1-3 PFL) turned the ball over on its first two possessions.
A muffed punt return gave Drake the ball on the Campbell
five yard line, setting up an Andrew Yarwood TD catch. After a 12 play drive
put Campbell into Drake territory, Terry Wallen picked up the first of his two
first half interceptions, returning the pick to the Campbell 17. The
interception set up a Grant Kraemer strike to Zach Zlabis to make it 14-0
Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs tacked on a field goal before the end of the
opening quarter, with Josh Lee converting a 29 yarder to put Drake ahead 17-0.
After Drake took its 17-0 lead, Campbell got on the board
two possessions later, with Aaron Blockmon’s 46 yard catch setting up a five
yard TD toss from Anthony Robbins to Austin Fleming.
Lee added his second field goal with under a minute to go in
the opening half, a 27 yard boot to make it 20-7 Bulldogs at the break.
Campbell brought the game within a score with 8:47 on the
clock in the third, with Aaron Blockmon hauling in a 25 yard touchdown catch,
dragging three Bulldogs into the endzone.
Conley Wilkins answered for Drake, scoring the first of his
two touchdowns to give the Bulldogs a 26-14 cushion, but Campbell came back
again after Jordan Ford’s interception in the endzone. A seven play, 80 yard
drive was finished off by a Jared Joyner two yard run to bring the Camels
within 26-21 with 13:27 to go in the fourth quarter.
Drake followed with Wilkins’ second TD, pushing the lead
back to 12 at 33-21. Two defensive stands iced the game for the Bulldogs, who
have not dropped consecutive home games since 1991. Drake was coming off a 38-7
home loss to PFL leader San Diego.
Grant Kraemer passed for 304 yards, completing 19-of-28
passes with two interceptions, while Eric Saubert recorded 105 yards receiving
on five grabs for Drake. Wilkins added two touchdowns with 78 yards on the
ground.
Aaron Blockmon matched a career-high with eight catches,
good for 162 yards and a touchdown. The redshirt sophomore also became
Campbell’s single-season receiving yards leader (636 yards), after coming into
the day with 474 yards. Blockmon passed Jabri Ridenhour’s 2014 mark of 497
yards.
It also marked the third time this season Blockmon surpassed
the century mark and fourth time in the sophomore’s career.
In his first start in a Campbell uniform, junior Anthony
Robbins completed 27-of-44 passes for 305 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.
Robbins logged the seventh 300 yard passing game since Campbell rebooted its
football program in 2008.
Caz Zyks led Drake with eight tackles. Jack Ryan paced
Campbell with 12 stops, including a sack and two tackles for loss.
Campbell returns home for two of its final three games of
the season, hosting in-state rival Davidson on Saturday, Nov. 5. Kickoff is set
for 4 p.m.
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