CALEDONIA, Mich. - The Davenport football team went into overtime at home for the second time this season in the season finale against Saginaw Valley State. But unlike the Northern Michigan game, the Panthers could not pull out a win in a 24-17 loss to the Cardinals. Davenport started the season with a 6-0 record, but could not find another win to finish the season with a 6-5 record overall (3-5 GLIAC).
The snowfall from the night before caused the game to start 20 minutes behind schedule. After the delay, both teams failed to score on their first two possessions. SVSU took over for their third drive with 3:44 left in the first quarter. Ryan Conklin then found Chad Gailliard for a 73-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead. The first quarter belonged to the Cardinals as they held a 122-14 edge in total yards and did not allow the Panthers to convert a first down.
Davenport capitalized on their first drive of the second quarter as they drove 59 yards in 10 plays. The Panthers converted on 3rd-and-10 at the SVSU 28 on a 14-yard pass from
Haiden Majewski to
Daronte Powers and then
Seth Acda carried over right end for a 14-yard touchdown run.
Chris Ahmed's extra point tied it at 7 with 7:50 left in the quarter.
A couple of quick possessions led to Davenport having to punt from their own 22 late in the quarter.
Max Tiraboschi had his punt blocked and recovered by Bryce Anderson at the five-yard line and carried it into the end zone for a 14-7 lead with 1:31 left until halftime. The Panthers got a score at time expired as Ahmed booted a school-record 42-yard field goal to make it 14-10 at the break. DU's defense stepped up in the quarter allowing just eight yards.
Davenport took their first lead on their second drive of the third quarter. Jacob Matus punted 72 yards to the DU 9, but that did not deter the Panthers from driving 91 yards in 11 plays for the go-ahead score.
Keion Powers had a one-yard TD run with 6:28 left in the quarter to get a 17-14 lead.
That lead held until early in the fourth quarter when the Cardinals drove 50 yards in 11 plays and Connor Luksic drilled a 31-yard field goal for a 17-17 tie with 11:16 left in the fourth quarter. The teams exchanged fumbles on their next drives coupled with three-and-outs to set up the final drive for the Cardinals. SVSU took over with 3:19 left in regulation as Conklin had a 27-yard run to the DU 25. The Cardinals drove to the DU 14 and Luksic set up for the game-winning kick. Davenport burned two timeouts to ice the kicker and perhaps to worked as Luksic pushed the kick wide right from 32 yards to set up overtime.
The Panthers won the toss and selected to play defense first. Conklin on the second play rushed for 21 yards to the house and Luksic's PAT made it 24-17. Davenport got their chance as well as Acda carried for 20 yards on their first play to set up first and goal. Two negative yard rushing plays set up 3rd-and-goal at the 8. Majewski looked for Acda through the air with no success and then on their last gasp could not find the end zone as Acda was bumped on his route in the right flat and the ball fell into the end zone with no one in the area.
The final numbers were 248 yards for SVSU compared to 232 for Davenport. DU had the ball for 33:32 including 12:02 in the third quarter. DU went 4-of-17 on third down and gave up four sacks. Conklin rushed for 65 yards and threw for 179. Acda finished with 93 rushing yards on 13 carries for the Panthers. Michael Alexander led SVSU with 13 tackles.
C.J. Thornton led DU with 11 tackles including 2.5 tackles for loss.
Robert Clanton had eight tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.
