College gameday: Quincy University travels to Drake

QUINCY — The Quincy University football team will open its season — and the Jason Killday coaching era — with a road trip to face an FCS opponent. The Hawks will square off with Drake University, a member of the Pioneer Football League that is coming off an 8-4 season and an FCS playoff appearance.

Here’s what you need to know about the matchup:

When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Where: Drake Stadium, Des Moines, Iowa.

TV/Livestream: ESPN+

Radio: WGEM 105.1 FM

Previous meeting: Sept. 3, 2016 — Quincy 38, Drake 35. Robbie Kelley’s 4-yard touchdown run in the opening minute of the fourth quarter gave the Hawks a 10-point lead they never relinquished. Kelley threw for 293 yards and two touchdowns, while Jaylan James rushed for 178 yards and two scores.

Scouting the Bulldogs: Finn Claypool may be the best defensive player the Hawks will see all season. The 6-foot-1, 232-pound defensive end was the Pioneer League Defensive Player of the Year last season when he recorded 12.5 sacks, is a preseason All-American and was named to the Buck Buchanan FCS National Defensive Player of the Year Award preseason watch list. Bulldogs quarterback Luke Bailey is one of 35 players named to the Walter Payton Award preseason watch list. Bailey threw for 2,557 yards and 16 touchdowns last season.

Scouting the Hawks: Expect the Hawks to try to run the ball as efficiently as they can with the return of second-team All-Great Lakes Valley Conference running back Teon Dollard and senior quarterback Drake Davis, who is healthy after suffering a knee injury last season. Defensively, the Hawks are experienced at every level and will lean on All-GLVC linebacker Brock Inman and all-league safety Joseph Webb. Killday will try to become the first QU head coach to win his debut since Ron Taylor led the Hawks to a 36-25 victory at Kentucky Wesleyan in 1993.