» Davenport had their three-game win streak to start the season snapped by second-ranked Ferris State last Saturday. The game featured strength versus strength heading into the contest. The Bulldogs rushing attack against the run defense for the Panthers. DU was ranked fourth in NCAA Division II allowing just 46 yards per game, but the Bulldogs pounded the rock 64 times for 317 yards and five scores. The 317 rushing yards were the most given up by a Panther defense. The previous high was 276 against Wayne State in 2017. In the season's first three games, the opponent had a total of 138 rushing yards.

» The running game for the Panthers had also been a key to starting the year at 3-0. However, the Bulldogs limited the DU attack which carried 28 times for minus-9 yards. That total is the lowest in a game and broke the nine yards gained as a team at Saginaw Valley State in 2017. 

» The Panther defense entered the week as the top-ranked unit for sacks in Division II, but could not record a sack on just 13 passing attempts by Ferris State. DU did record five tackles for loss, but that number was six less on average than the previous three games.

» The Panther defense was on the field a lot and finished with a total of 97 tackles. Senior linebacker Kye Black was involved in nearly one-fifth of those finishing with a school-record 20 tackles. He had nine solo and 11 assisted stops. He broke his own record of 18 tackles set at Michigan Tech in 2017. In addition to Black, Jalen Robinson set a career-high with 10 tackles and had a pass breakup. Jeremy Kelly had a season-high nine tackles including four solos. Patrick McMahon registered a career-high eight tackles with a half tackle for loss.

» This week, the Davenport national statistics show the Panthers are 20th in total defense (273.8 ypg), 10th in team sacks (3.75 a game), 11th in pass efficiency defense (89.2) and 40th in scoring defense (18.8 ppg). The offense has made the most of all their trips into the red zone. They are just one of four teams in Division II to post 100 percent success rate inside the 20. Out of eight trips inside the red zone, they have five touchdowns and three field goals.

» The Ferris State game turned in the third quarter as the Bulldogs scored 21 points. The Panthers had allowed just seven points coming out of the halftime locker room in the first three games of the season.

» Taking a look at individuals ranked nationally, Black is now 30th and fourth in the GLIAC with 9.8 tackles per game. Robert Clanton is 11th in sacks (1.13 per game) and second in the conference. Chris Ahmed is one of just six kickers who is perfect in field goals this season. He is 4-for-4 and in addition is 8-of-8 in extra points. Deion Powers is currently 10th nationally in interceptions per game (0.8) and that also leads the GLIAC.
 
» The Panthers strength of schedule this year currently ranks tied for 74th out of 167 schools. The past opponents are 8-8 overall and their future opponents are currently 16-13.

» Senior Nate Couturier is one catch shy of 1,500 yards in his career at Davenport. He currently has 107 receptions for 1,498 yards and 13 touchdowns. He is averaging a career-best 15.5 yards per catch this season.

» Ashland comes into this contest riding a major high after a 20-17 win at then No. 9 Grand Valley State last Saturday night. In a clip that went viral, the Eagles scored as time expired on a 52-yard hail mary pass from Austin Brenner to Logan Bolin. That score capped off a 20-point fourth quarter by Ashland who trailed 10-0 heading into the final quarter on an abysmal weather night in Allendale. Brenner used his legs from 28 yards to cut the lead to 10-7 with 5:01 remaining. Gei'vonni Washington then put the Eagles ahead with 2:34 to play on a 44-yard scamper (14-10). GVSU retook the lead 17-14 on an eight-play drive covering 75 yards in 1:45. Cole Kotopka found Jacob Miller over the middle from 23 yards with 49 seconds to go. AU took over at their own 25 and Brenner rushed for 18 yards and then a five-yard completion and timeout set up the game's final heroics.

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