GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - The Davenport football team just keeps making plays and will enter this week's game at Wayne State with a 5-0 record and are 2-0 in the GLIAC. The Panthers are one of four teams in the GLIAC with a 5-0 record and are receiving votes (7) for the first time in program history in the AFCA Coaches Poll. DU is also one of 20 Division II programs that are currently undefeated. The term "Cardiac Cats" might be the best way to describe this team as they have come from behind in the fourth quarter in both GLIAC wins against Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan. The Panthers have outscored their five opponents, 39-17, in the fourth quarter this season and 21 of those points have come in the last five minutes of the contest.
The Davenport defense continues to be one of the best in Division II through five wins this season. DU ranks third nationally allowing 21.7 percent on third down and those numbers are even stingier in the second half allowing 15.1 percent. The defense is ninth in passing yards allowed (131.8) and fourth in rushing defense (63.8). In addition, they rank third in pass efficiency defense (82.37) and first in total defense (195.6). Thanks to the legs of
Nate Couturier, DU is also eighth in punt return yardage (18.33). The ball control on offense has also been top-notch ranking seventh averaging 34:36 per game.
It was a big homecoming victory last Saturday with a 31-30 overtime win over Northern Michigan. Couturier set a DU record with 253 all-purpose yards breaking his own record of 202 set last year at Northern Michigan on Sept. 23, 2017. He finished with 142 punt return yards (school record), 81 receiving yards and 30 rushing yards. For his efforts, he was named GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week. He really turned the game around with 7:45 left on an 85-yard punt return for a touchdown to get DU within 24-16. From there,
Michael Catching had an 18-yard touchdown catch out of the backfield and
Amonte Gwinn added a two-point conversion to tie it up 24-24 with 3:12 left. The Wildcats blocked the potential game-winning field goal on the last play of regulation to force overtime. Couturier hauled in a 25-yard pass from
Haiden Majewski on the first play of overtime and
Chris Ahmed added the PAT for a 31-24 lead. The Wildcats answered on their offensive possession, but rolled the dice and missed a two-point conversion to give DU the one-point win.
Deion Powers had a career-high 12 tackles from his safety spot and intercepted a pass late in the fourth quarter.
Complete Game Notes
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Rick Berkey and Bill Rohn on the DAN)
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