Drake pulls away late to defeat Valparaiso 23-10

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Drake capitalized on three miscues to score 16 points late in the fourth quarter and continue its dominance over Valparaiso with a 23-10 win in a Pioneer League game on Saturday. A shanked punt from the end zone gave Drake (4-4, 3-2) the ball on the 19 to set up the go-ahead touchdown -- a 3-yard run by Conley Wilkins -- and a fumble recovery led to the clinching field goal. Another lost fumble at the 21 led to a 4-yard TD run for Wilkins, keeping Valparaiso winless in 10 trips to Des Moines. The Bulldog defense kept the Crusaders (1-7, 1-4) bottled up except for a 73-yard touchdown pass from Eric Hoffman to Tony Taibi for a 10-7 lead early in the second half. Valparaiso was limited to 183 yards of total offense, just four on the ground. Drakes's Andy Rice threw for 297 yards, 104 to Eric Saubert .