With this triumph, Tarleton State, boasting an overall record of 10-3, is set to face the fourth-seeded South Dakota (9-2) in the second round of the playoffs on December 7.
The game kicked off with Drake taking an early lead, establishing a 14-3 advantage late in the first quarter. Blake Ellingson initiated the scoring for the Bulldogs with a 2-yard touchdown run, followed by a 9-yard touchdown pass from Luke Bailey to Taj Hughes. However, the Texans quickly responded; Britten made his impact known with a 6-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter. His subsequent 1-yard scamper helped to widen the Texans’ margin to 29-14 by the end of the third quarter.
Gabalis further asserted the Texans’ dominance with a 49-yard touchdown pass to Cooper, bringing the score to 36-21 with just over ten minutes left in the game. Gabalis completed an impressive 26 of 36 passes, accumulating 337 yards and tossing two touchdowns. Cooper’s performance was remarkable, with 11 receptions, while Britten added a robust 146 yards on the ground with 29 attempts. Kyle Weber also contributed to the Texans’ scoring with two short-yardage touchdowns.
Despite the loss, Bailey connected again with Hailey for a 10-yard touchdown late in the third, bringing the Bulldogs closer at 29-21. Bailey had a productive day as well, completing 31 of his 49 passes, contributing three touchdown passes with two interceptions. Taj Hughes was a reliable target for Drake, making 11 catches for 63 yards as the Bulldogs concluded their season with an 8-3 record.
