The Basics
The West Virginia Wesleyan football team is set to open up the 2021 season at Drake (Division-I FCS) on Thursday, Sept. 2. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. (ET) from Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa and the game will be televised on ESPN3.
 
Quick Hits
• Dwayne Martin enters his sixth year on staff and his first as the interim head coach of his alma mater after Tony Testa resigned as head coach on July 5.
• Devin Taylor was named MEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Week after an 88-yard kickoff return touchdown he the 2021 spring season opener at West Virginia State on March 13.
• On the offensive line, Trey Milam and Jake Folland will both served as team captains.
• Kenny Lewis Jr. led the Bobcats in touchdown receptions during the 2019 season and caught two touchdown passes against Concord on March 27 in the 2021 spring season.
• Renard Matthews returns at the linebacker position to anchor the defense. 
• Isaac (Ike) Dove and Dante Hooker Jr. lead a talented defensive line.
• Mike Maloney was promoted to associate head coach and offensive coordinator. Marcus Spearman added the titles of assistant head coach and defensive coordinator. Dominic Bornman shifted to quarterbacks coach.
 
Scouting Drake
Drake was predicted to finish third in the Pioneer Football League during the 2021 preseason poll. The Bulldogs went 2-3 in the abbreviated spring season with wins over Valparaiso (17-6) and Butler (33-7).

Senior defensive lineman Jake Hoper, senior defensive back Danny Morales and fifth-year linebacker Ryan Kriceri were each named to the PFL preseason first team after all three earned second team honors in the spring.

Junior Ian Corwin is listed as the starting quarterback for Drake after battling injuries last spring. Corwin tossed three touchdown passes in the win at Butler on April 10. 5th-year running back Cross Robinson brings experience to the Bulldog backfield and started all five games last spring.

Todd Stepsis enters his third season as the Drake head football coach after he spent the previous five years as defensive coordinator. His overall record at the helm is 8-8.
 
Up Next
The Bobcats are scheduled to welcome UNC Pembroke to Ross Field in Buckhannon for the Mountain East Conference opener. Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m.