Two of the top three teams in the Pioneer Football League (PFL) North Division square off Saturday as UD travels to Waukee, Iowa, to take on the Drake Bulldogs.

At 5-0, Dayton is ranked a consensus No. 1 in all NCAA Division I-AA Mid-Major polls. The Flyers are coming off of a 49-17 victory over Jacksonville last weekend, but UD faces its toughest test of the season to date.

'You're challenged every play,' said UD head coach Mike Kelly of playing Drake. 'Every play from sideline to sideline, offensively and defensively.'

The Bulldogs are 3-2, but have won three straight games after beginning the season with losses at Northern Iowa and at Illinois St. Drake is fresh off a 58-17 thrashing of Davidson.

Drake is led by senior starting quarterback Connor Jostes. Jostes is completing 66 percent of his passes and has thrown for 934 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2005. He is joined by sophomore tailback Scott Phaydavong, a 5-6, 161-pound back who averages 129 yards per game on the ground and has scored two touchdowns. Phaydavong's running mate, Michael Bialas, has chipped in with six TD runs this season.

Because of construction and renovations being made to their stadium, the Bulldogs are without a home for the 2005 season. Drake head coach Rob Ash said the Bulldogs are playing each of their four home games at high schools in and around the Des Moines area.

In the last meeting between these two teams, Drake bested the Flyers 13-6 last season at Welcome Stadium. This year, UD looks to avenge that loss and improve its record to 6-0.

The Flyers are led by quarterback Kevin Hoyng, who leads the PFL in total offense with an average of 276.6 yards per game. The redshirt sophomore signal caller is also the only QB to be among the PFL's top ten rushers. Hoyng leads the team and is eighth in the league with an average of 57.7 rushing yards per game.

Linebacker John Hoppe anchors the defense and was named PFL Defensive Player of the Week this week. Hoppe, a senior from Northbrook, Illinois, made nine tackles and intercepted two passes in UD's win over Jacksonville. He returned his second interception 47 yards for a touchdown. Hoppe leads the Flyers with 44 tackles (22 solo) on the season.

UD is ranked third in Division I-AA in scoring defense, allowing just 9.4 points per game. The Flyers rank fifth in total defense and have given up an average of 232.6 yards in the 2005 season.

Fellow league member San Diego is 4-1 overall, and begins PFL North play Saturday at home against Butler. The Toreros should not be ignored, but the Dayton-Drake winner will certainly be in the driver's seat as the favorite to take home the PFL North Division Championship. Saturday's game will be held at Waukee High School and kickoff is set for 2 p.m.