Freshman QB Piakowski leads Drake past Valparaiso 34-14 to continue Bulldogs’ streak

Freshman QB leads Drake past Valparaiso 34-14

DES MOINES, Iowa — Freshman quarterback Mike Piatkowski threw two touchdowns and ran another as Drake crushed Valparaiso 34-14 Saturday for the Bulldogs’ sixth-straight victory against the Crusaders.

Drake (3-1 overall, 2-0 Pioneer) came away with points all five times the Bulldogs got into the red zone. Valparaiso (1-3, 0-1) got within three points at 10-7 early in the second quarter, but couldn’t stop Piatkowski.

Piatkowski completed 18 of 31 pass attempts for 207 yards, without an interception. He opened the scoring with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Frank Pucher in the first quarter, and hit Joey Orlando on a 39-yard scoring pass less than two minutes after Valparaiso scored in the second. Piatkowski added a third TD with a 3-yard scramble before halftime.

Drake’s Brandon Wubs nailed two field goals, including a 42-yarder. Tom Kostek scored the Bulldogs’ final touchdown on a 4-yard run.

Valparaiso quarterback Bobby Wysocki completed 14 or 36 pass attempts and a touchdown to Nicholas Henton.