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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - In their first game ever as a D-I program, the Panthers made quick work of the GR Gazelles as they cruised to a 45-6 win at home on Saturday afternoon.  Seven different Panthers scored as they will now have a two week break before facing BGSU on September 18.

In 2009-10, the Panthers jumped onto the local and regional rugby scene with a season opening 100-0 win over Wayne State that catapulted them to a successful 11-3 overall record.  Making the jump to D-1 this season got off to a great start as well as they defeated GR Gazelles 45-6.

The scoring started just 3:52 into the game when Lance Cavanaugh (Toledo, Ohio) got into the middle of the Gazelles defense and got the first try of the year to put DU up 5-0 after a failed conversion.

Zebb Dewes-Taylor (Rockford, Mich.) then showed his athleticism and speed by sprinting down the sidelines for the second try of the game and after a successful conversion from Peter Soukrasmy, the Panthers had built a 12-0 lead.  Captain Fray Hatfield (Mishawaka, Ind.) added the final try of the half as DU took a 19-3 lead into the break.

The scoring continued in the second half as DU got try's from Daniel Norris (Grand Rapids, Mich.) on a great run through the GR defense, Jean Pierre Eloff (Pritoria, South Africa), Cyrus Turner (Chicago, Ill.) and Gabe Gallagher (Traverse City, Mich.).  The only scoring that GR could muster was a second penalty goal that resulted in the final score of 45-6 in favor of the Panthers.

The win gets DU off on the right foot as they will now have two weeks to prepare for a very good Bowling Green State team.  Davenport will play in Bowling Green, OH with the kickoff beginning at 1:00 PM.