GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The long anticipated first football game in school history was a rousing success despite the fact that the Panthers lost 41-28 against Taylor University. Davenport had a very impressive showing in front of 1,600 fans despite a day that started off with rain showers. DU saw Taylor take the opening kick and drive 80 yards for a touchdown as Rich Giordani scored on an 11-yard run for a 7-0 lead. On the ensuing kickoff, Rashaun O'Neal took it 86 yards to the house for the first touchdown in school history to tie it at 7-7.

"It was like a movie for me where you have things go in slow motion," said O'Neal. "It was my teammates with great blocking and I found the gap and ran as hard as I could. It was good to answer their touchdown with one of our own."

The Panthers took a 14-7 lead with 2:20 left in the first quarter as Herman Brunis caught a 5-yard pass from Hunter Krause capping off a 64-yard drive that lasted 3:26. Taylor then scored the next 21 points in the second and third quarter to take a 28-14 lead. Tim Barrett ran one in from a yard out followed by a Jeremy Ramirez 32-yard fumble return for a score before halftime.

The third quarter score for the Trojans was Everett Pollard carrying in from three yards out after a Patrick Gregory punt was partially blocked on Taylor started a drive on Davenport's 26. Brunis caught his second touchdown with 14:10 left in the game from 21 yards making it 28-21. Spencer Crisp capped off an 18-play, 82-yard drive for Taylor which lasted 8:56 and gave them a 34-21 lead after a missed extra point.

The momentum continued to swing the way of the Trojans as Krause was intercepted and Tyler Gerig returned it 65 yards for a 41-21 lead with 2:46 to play. DU had one more score in them as Krause and Brunis for the third time connected on a 5-yarder with 1:05 to go for the final score of 41-28. Krause finished 25-of-44 for 259 yards. Brunis caught 12 of those passes for 120 yards. Chris Watkins led the rushing attack with 13 carries for 56 yards. Brent Showers led the defense with 12 tackles including three for loss. Kye Black recorded 10 tackles including seven solo stops.

The Panthers (0-1) will travel to Kentucky Christian for a 1:30 p.m. kick next Saturday (Sept. 3) in Grayson, Kentucky.