CALEDONIA, Mich. - The story of Saturday's football game between Davenport and Michigan Tech was the dominant first half by the Huskies and the fight of the Panthers in the second half. Michigan Tech (4-2, 2-2) led 30-0 at halftime and then the Panthers (3-3, 1-3) outscored MTU 17-0 in the second half for a 30-17 setback. It was the third straight defeat for Davenport after starting the season at 3-0.

Michigan Tech asserted themselves early with an interception of Deondre Ford on the third play of the game. Michael Betz picked it off at the DU 43 and returned it 12 yards to set up a short field. Three plays later it was Will Ark finding a wide-open Ben Hartley in the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.

Davenport was forced to punt on a three-and-out and MTU took over at their own 37. Ark and company marched down the field in five plays and he connected with Hartley again from 11 yards as a DU defender slipped on the score.

MTU got the ball again with 5:24 left in the quarter and drove 47 yards in eight plays as Evan Gornick kicked a 22-yard field goal as time expired in the quarter for a 17-0 lead. Ark went 8-for-8 passing in the quarter for 131 yards and two scores. Davenport managed just 17 yards all through the air.

It was a second quarter of trading possessions as Ford threw his second interception of the half followed on the next play with Brandon Mangram picking off Ark at the DU 5 with 9:39 left until halftime. Gabe Ford fumbled at the DU 40 and the Huskies were again in business at the 5:49 mark. The Huskies went deep into the playbook with a wide receiver pass at Hartley got a toss behind the line and fired the ball to Jordan Janssen for a 33-yard touchdown and a 23-0 lead.

Ford was sacked and fumbled for the fourth turnover of the first half by Davenport and the Huskies took over at the DU 39 with 4:46 to go in the quarter. Ark converted a fourth down sneak to keep the chains moving and on the seventh play of the drive found the end zone on Jared Smith's one-yard run with 1:22 to play for the 30-0 advantage.

Haiden Majewski replaced Ford at quarterback late in the first half and continued under center into the second half. The Huskies received the second half kickoff and went three-and-out. Ark was back to punt and it was blocked by Keewone Parker. Ark had the heads-up move of batting it out of the back of the end zone for a safety.

Davenport got the free kick and drove down the field as Majewski completed a 15-yard pass to Nate Couturier and a 31-yard pass to Keion Powers down to the MTU 5. Lorenzo White then pushed his way into the end zone from one yard at the 10:50 mark to make it 30-9.

The Huskies held onto the three-touchdown lead into the fourth quarter and burned 7:42 on a drive that started at 13:13. Davenport took over with 5:31 to go in the game and moved 80 yards in 12 plays. Majewski tossed a seven-yard touchdown pass to Couturier with 1:11 left for the final tally of 30-17.

NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Michigan Tech gained 121 rushing yards and limited the Panthers to 17 on the ground.
- The total yardage went 339 for the Huskies and 260 for Davenport.
- MTU went 3-of-12 on third down and 2-of-2 on fourth down.
- DU went 5-of-14 on third down and 1-of-2 on fourth down.
- The Huskies scored 20 points off turnovers and DU had none.
- Emmett Boehler led all rushers for MTU with 63 yards on 18 carries.
- Ark finished 15-of-26 for 185 yards and Majewski finished 16-of-26 for 178 yards.
- Liam Cavanaugh led DU with 12 tackles and had the only tackle for loss in the game for DU. Travis Tidwell led the Huskies with nine tackles. MTU's defense had three sacks and eight tackles for loss.

POSTGAME INTERVIEW - SPARKY McEWEN