Football | 11/14/2019 11:29:00 AM
ONE FOR THE ROAD
» The Panthers will conclude the 2019 season just as it began with a road game on Saturday. DU will travel to Saginaw Valley State for a 1 p.m. kick against the Cardinals in the third meeting between the teams. The Cardinals have won the previous two meetings by scores of 33-0 (2017) and 24-17 in overtime (2018).
» Davenport enters this week with a 2-2 record on the road and are 8-11 all-time in road contests since the start of the program in 2016. DU is averaging 17 points per game in their four road games this season. They have played even across the board in the first three quarters with both sides scoring 14 in the first, 19 in the second and 14 in the third. The slim difference is fourth-quarter points which go 26-21 to the opposition.
» DU in terms of total offense has a 1,279-1,048 edge on the road this season. The Panthers are averaging 319.8 yards per game and allowing 262. In addition, DU quarterbacks are completing 53.3 percent of their passes for 804 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions.
NEWS AND NOTES
» Here is a synopsis of the Panthers opening drive from each game:
Lake Erie - 9 plays, 49 yards - TD - 3:49 elapsed
Northern Michigan - 5 plays, 78 yards - TD - 2:42 elapsed
Lindenwood - 6 plays, 19 yards - Punt - 2:27 elapsed
Ferris State - 3 plays, 0 yards - Interception - 0:44 elapsed
Ashland - 14 plays, 54 yards - Turnover on Downs - 6:52 elapsed
Michigan Tech - 2 plays, 13 yards - Interception - 0:35 elapsed
Grand Valley State - 3 plays, minus-8 yards - Fumble - 1:10 elapsed
Wayne State - 5 plays, minus-1 yard - Punt - 2:42 elapsed
Northwood - 5 plays, 12 yards - Punt - 2:30 elapsed
»
Nate Couturier is currently tied for the single-season receiving touchdowns record with five. He tied his own record set in 2016 and
Keion Powers also had five in 2018.
Chris Ahmed is currently holding the best extra-point percentage mark going 16-of-17 this season for 94.1 percent. Ahmed also holds the best field goal percentage going 4-of-5 in that category. As a team, DU has blocked more kicks this year (4) than any other. On the defense, DU has allowed the fewest opponent passing yards in a season (1,433) and touchdowns (9).
» Being able to establish the run has been critical for the Panthers this season. They are 4-0 this season when able to rush for 130 or more yards as a team. They had a season-high in carries (48) and yards (173) a week ago against Northwood.» Saginaw Valley State enters the game with a 5-5 overall record and are 3-4 in the GLIAC. They started off with a 3-0 record just like the Panthers. The Cardinals had a four-game losing streak snapped last Saturday with a convincing 56-10 win at Northern Michigan. SVSU jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. Nate McCrary had a three-yard touchdown run  on their next possession and then Chad Gailliard caught back-to-back touchdown passes on the next two drives. The first was an 87-yard strike from Ryan Conklin on the second play of the drive and then next was 61 yards from Conklin on the third play of the drive. The Cardinals totaled 250 yards in the first quarter alone and finished with 657 yards. That yardage was the 16th-best offensive performance in NCAA Division II this season. Conklin tossed four touchdowns and went 10-of-15 for 319 yards. McCrary carried 11 times for 151 yards and two scores. Gailliard caught four passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns.
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