DETROIT, Mich. - Even Mother Nature could not stop the Davenport football train from rolling on Saturday night in a 37-14 win at Wayne State. The rain impacted the game for three and a half quarters, but DU's ball control running and timely defense led to a runaway win to improve to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the GLIAC. 

The first quarter was back-and-forth with both teams putting up 14 points. Wayne State went three-and-out on their opening possession and DU started at the Wayne State 39 after a 29-yard punt into the wind. DU moved 39 yards in 12 plays as Keion Powers rushed off left guard for a one-yard touchdown out of a wildcat formation with 8:09 left in the first quarter. Wayne State answered back in five plays with Darece Roberson catching a 57-yard touchdown pass from Jake AmRhein. It was the longest play given up by DU's defense this season and it was tied at 7-7 at the 6:23 mark.

DU went three-and-out on their next drive and punted to Roberson. That proved to be costly as he raced through Panthers for a 69-yard punt return for a score and a 14-7 lead. It was the first punt return for a TD ever given up by Davenport. The Panthers marched right back down the field as Seth Acda set a school record with a 65-yard run from the DU 23 to the Wayne State 12. Four plays later, Haiden Majewski on fourth down and two from the WS 4, found Daronte Powers for a touchdown to the back of the end zone to tie it 14-14 with 40 seconds left in the quarter.

The Warriors would be held off the scoreboard for the rest of the contest as Davenport defense stiffened. The top-ranked total defense in NCAA Division II gave up 81 yards in the first quarter but then just 23 in the second, 23 in the third and minus-20 in the fourth. The scoring slowed a bit until 2:10 left in the second quarter when Majewski connected with Daronte Powers on a 12-yard slant for the duo's second connection of the game and a 21-14 lead. After the ensuing kickoff, the lightning flashed within range and the game was delayed for about 35 minutes.

Once play resumed, Wayne State took possession but punted away to end the first half. Due to the lengthly delay at the end of the second quarter, both teams just went right into the third quarter. DU drove inside the red zone on their first drive of the second half but misfired on 4th-and-9 at the WS 17 on an incomplete pass.

DU could not gain more cushion as they got the ball back at the DU 45 with 7:35 left in the third. Nate Couturier took a screen pass and raced inside to the WS 10, but was stripped from behind by Greg McDade and Spencer Stephenson recovered for the Warriors. The turning point from close game to a sure thing happened early in the fourth quarter. The Warriors were pinned back deep in their own end and punted from the end zone. Brent Showers blocked the punt and the ball went out of bounds at the WS 3 with 11:03 left in the game. On the next play, Keion Powers rushed around left end untouched for a three-yard score and a 28-14 lead.

The defense kept up the pressure and Wayne State lost ground on back-to-back fumbles that were recovered by them. However, they scrimmaged from their own one-yard line and QuVaughn Jones recorded a sack and safety with 5:38 left for a 30-14 lead.

WSU kicked off and DU started at their own 43. Nine plays all on the ground later it was Michael Catching rumbling into the end zone from three yards with 13 seconds to go for the final margin of 37-14. The final time of possession was a staggering 39:38 to 20:22 in favor of the Panthers. WSU gained a total of 107 yards compared to 377 total yards by Davenport, including 236 yards on the ground. DU maintained their composure throughout the night with just four penalties for 33 yards.

Majewski had another steady performance with 138 passing yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Couturier caught five passes for 64 yards. Seth Acda became the first DU running back with over 100 yards this season carrying 20 times for 136 yards. DU recorded 10 tackles for loss including three by C.J. Thornton, who also had two sacks and led the team with five tackles. Ellis Reid also finished with 1.5 tackles for loss and three tackles.