<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0WcXUh_0wB0gwGj00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0WcXUh_0wB0gwGj00" width="800" height="450" ><ul><li>The Panthers have always enjoyed playing for their fans on Homecoming and enter this week's contest against Wayne State with a 7-0 all-time record on Homecoming Saturday. This will be the first time that Davenport will host the Warriors on Homecoming. Last season's homecoming game was a 28-12 win over Northern Michigan. DU gained 466 total yards in the contest and Myren Harris rushed for 141 yards and a score.</li><li>Davenport had the scheduling quirk of having to play three times in the last four years at Michigan Tech last week. It did not faze them as they picked up a critical 24-20 win to improve to 4-0 on the road this season. Since the beginning of 2022, DU is now 10-3 on the road. The Panthers got a big game from Antjuan Collins and D'Wan Mathis. Collins returned a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to break the school record and also had a 51-yard touchdown catch from Mathis. He threw for his first two touchdowns at DU and finished 14-of-21 passing for 171 yards.</li><li>The Warriors have had one of the toughest schedules in NCAA Division II this season. It ranks as the eighth hardest based on the opponent win percentage of 20-10 (.667). It is the hardest in the GLIAC to date, but there is light at the end of the tunnel as their opponents the rest of the way are 15-14 this season. Davenport checks in with the 27th-ranked strength of schedule (18-12) and their future opponents are currently 9-18 overall.</li><li>Davenport is finding a way to pull out wins in close games over the past three seasons which has led to their 20-7 record. In games decided by seven points or less since 2022, Davenport has a record of 9-1 with the lone loss coming this season against then No. 11 Central Missouri by a single point. The Panthers are 3-1 this season in those type of games and had won eight straight before the loss to the Mules back on Sept. 21. </li></ul><ul><li>Davenport built a consistent offense at Michigan Tech and was able to score in each of the four quarters against the Huskies. It marked the second time this season (Central Missouri) they have achieved that feat. The Panthers were able to score 10 points in the second half at Michigan Tech which is a step in the right direction. They have had three games this season where they haven't scored in the second half (Bowie State, William Jewell, and GVSU). In addition, the fourth quarter has been an area of concern. DU hasn't had a fourth quarter touchdown since 13:45 remained against Central Missouri and that is their only one of the season.</li><li>The Panthers have had a knack for blocking kicks this season and lead the conference with three blocks. The team also leads the league with just two lost fumbles, kickoff return defense (13.64 yards), and red zone defense (56.5). Individually, Brandon Gielow is first in field goal percentage (71.4) and Geemontae Peck has two blocked kicks.</li><li>Senior Preston Smith has played in 26 of a possible 27 games during his career having missed just the Ferris State playoff game in 2022. He has at least two catches in every game this season and a streak of 16 straight games with a reception. He has at least one catch in 25-of-26 career games with the exception of the regular season finale in 2022 against GVSU and didn't play much due to injury in that game. In two games against Wayne State, Smith had nine grabs for 112 yards and three scores in 2022 and three catches for 29 yards and a score last season. In DU history, he ranks second in receiving yards (1,356) and receiving touchdowns (15) while ranking third in receptions (97). With three more catches, he will become the third Panthers to eclipse 100 career receptions joining Keion Powers (108, 2016-19) and Nate Couturier (126, 2016-19). He is also two TD catches away from tying Couturier (17).</li></ul><p>These two teams have a handful of players that started their careers at the other school which leads to a little extra motivation on gameday. Clifton Buchanan played three seasons at Davenport and played in 15 games with 12 tackles. This season at Wayne State, Buchanan has played in five games and recorded 23 tackles and three pass breakups. Sherod Green, a reserve offensive lineman at WSU, did not see action on the active roster at DU in 2023. Myren Harris began his career with two years at Wayne State where he rushed for 1,685 yards and 16 touchdowns. In his second year at Davenport, Harris currently has a school-record of 1,325 rushing yards and six scores. He also has 34 receptions for 380 yards and three touchdowns. He was also named the 2023 GLIAC Offensive Back of the Year after rushing for a DU single-season record of 976 yards. Kendall Williams played three seasons in Detroit and amassed 1,513 rushing yards and 13 touchdown on the ground. He also caught 75 passes for 756 yards in 29 career games. He was voted First Team All-GLIAC in 2022 and 2023. In 2024 for Davenport, Williams has 26 carries for 115 yards and a score, while catching 21 passes for 173 yards and another score. Both of his scores came in week one at Thomas More. Adam Sarjo spent his first three seasons at Wayne State on the offensive line and played in 14 games. This season, Sarjo has played in five games for the Panthers and has recently been inserted into the starting lineup at tackle.</p><ul><li>The Panthers and Warriors are deadlocked at three wins apiece in the all-time series. Four of the six games have been in Caledonia and Wayne State has won three of those contests. The last encounter however was a 47-43 win for the Panthers, which was by far the highest scoring meeting. Last year's 32-3 win in the Motor City by Davenport was their largest margin of victory in the series. Former Warrior Myren Harris rushed for a DU career-high 161 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. Jason Whittaker passed for 163 yards and two scores, finding Peyton Brown and Preston Smith in the end zone. The defense held the Warriors to 134 total yards and picked off five passes, to set a program record. Wayne State completed only one more pass (6) to their own team. Current Panther Kendall Williams ran for 75 yards on eight carries for Wayne State. Brandon Gielow booted three field goals with a long of 36 yards.</li></ul><p>Live Video - (FloFootball) $</p><p>Live Audio (96.1 The Game with Rick Berkey and Bill Rohn)</p></div></body>

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Game Preview: DU hosts Wayne State on homecoming Saturday

The Panthers have always enjoyed playing for their fans on Homecoming and enter this week's contest against Wayne State with a 7-0 all-time record on Homecoming Saturday. This will be the first time that Davenport will host the Warriors on Homecoming. Last season's homecoming game was a 28-12 win over Northern Michigan. DU gained 466 total yards in the contest and Myren Harris rushed for 141 yards and a score.