DES MOINES, Iowa – Missouri S&T was unable to overcome a pair of double-digit deficits Saturday night, as its rally efforts fell short in a 27-23 loss to Drake University.

The Miners trailed by 17 points in the first half and by as many as 13 in the fourth quarter. They cut significantly into both leads, getting to within four late in the contest, but was unable to mount a scoring drive on their final possession after getting great field position in the final minutes and dropped to 1-2 on the season.

The Bulldogs broke on top just past the midway point of the first quarter, scoring on a 16-yard pass from Mike Piatkowski to Nathan Paddock. Piatkowski completed a 14-yard pass to Drew Blackmon on fourth-and-13 one play prior to the touchdown pass and completed five-of-six passes on the scoring drive for 78 yards.

After the teams traded punts, the Miners drove from their own eight-yard line to near midfield, but Will Morrison (Rolla, Mo./Rolla) had his punt blocked and Brent Shelton returned the loose ball 28 yards for a score to increase the Bulldogs' lead to 14-0.

Billy Janssen added a 45-yard field goal to make it 17-0, but the Miners came back and got on the scoreboard with a 71-yard scoring drive that culminated with a seven-yard scoring run by Adam Clark (Inglewood, Calif./University). S&T quarterback Josh Firm (Lancaster, Calif./Quartz Hill) completed three passes of at least 20 yards on the drive, including a 21-yard completion to Kevin Dillon (Plano, Texas/Plano East) that set up the Clark scoring run.

However, the extra point was blocked to keep the score at 17-6.

Before the first half ended, Smook Thomas (Quincy, Fla./East Gadsden) returned a punt to the Drake 24-yard line and followed that by catching a pass that gave S&T first-and goal just inside the 10. After a sack, Firm threw a 14-yard touchdown pass to a leaping Leon Moody (St. Louis, Mo./DeSmet Jesuit HS) for a touchdown with 23 seconds to go in the half; Dillon caught a two-point conversion pass to cut the lead to 17-14.

Janssen kicked a 37-yard field goal with just over three minutes to go in the third quarter to extend the Bulldog lead back to six. Later in the period, the Miners were unable to move the ball after being pinned deep in their own territory and punted it back to Drake, allowing it to set up shop at the S&T 39 as the fourth quarter started.

The Bulldogs took advantage of the field position as Piatkowski threw a 27-yard scoring pass to Patrick Cashmore.

S&T answered the score quickly as Firm completed a 57-yard pass to Thomas to get the Miners inside the Drake 10-yard line. Two plays later, Firm threw a four-yard touchdown pass to redshirt freshman Jake Giljum (St. Louis, Mo./Bishop DuBourg) to make it 27-21 with 10:47 to play.

With less than six minutes to play, Morrison pinned the Bulldogs with a punt that was downed at the three-yard line. On third down, Piatkowski fumbled as he was being sacked, but recovered the ball at the two. Faced with a punt from the back of the end zone, Janssen stepped out of the back of the end zone for an intentional safety that cut the Drake lead to four.

Janssen followed by putting the free kick out of bounds, allowing S&T to open its possession at the 50-yard line. But the Miners were unable to get a first down and surrendered the ball on downs; Drake was able to run out the clock after getting a first down.

The Miners finished the night with a season-high 261 yards of total offense, as Firm finished with 227 yards on 22-of-38 passing. Thomas had nine receptions for 131 yards and had 166 all-purpose yards on the evening.

Chris Emesih (Houston, Texas/Westfield), Cameron Williams (Princeton, Ky./Caldwell County) and Hilton Dawson (Compton, Calif./) all finished with six tackles apiece to lead the Miners. S&T also had interceptions from Sean Martin (South Holland, Ill./Seton Academy) and Chris Horn (Tulsa, Okla./Booker T. Washington) as it held the Bulldogs to 287 yards.

The Miners return home next week to take on 3-0 Lindenwood University, a 55-14 winner over Saint Joseph's Saturday, in a 6:30 p.m. contest at Allgood-Bailey Stadium. Next week's game will be the Miners' annual Hall of Fame contest.