CALEDONIA, Mich. - The Davenport football team hosted No. 1 Ferris State on Senior Day and the Bulldogs came away with a 50-14 win. The Panthers honored their senior class during the pregame and then the Bulldogs showed why they haven't lost in the regular season since 2017. Jared Bernhardt, who didn't play in the first meeting between the two teams back in September, rushed for three touchdowns on eight carries and gained 120 yards. He also threw for 73 yards and an interception as one of three Bulldog quarterbacks who took a snap. 

The Panthers managed to turn the Bulldogs over four times, a season-worst for Ferris State. Mylik Mitchell also threw an interception and FSU lost a pair of fumbles including one that was returned for a touchdown by the Panthers. Davenport found themselves down 27-0 early in the second quarter before putting together a scoring drive on offense. Caleef Jenkins carried the ball on the first three plays for a first down and then Jake Jensen found Noah Benson on the sideline for a 27-yard catch to the FSU 26. Facing a third-and-11, Jensen fired a pass downfield and it was tipped by a Ferris State defender and senior Seth Acda caught it off the deflection for the touchdown. It was the first career receiving score for Acda and it came with 10:00 left in the second quarter.

The Bulldogs led 33-14 at halftime as the Panthers scored again on a 15-yard fumble return from Nick Cain with 2:29 left in the quarter. Sy Barnett went back to punt and decided momentarily to roll left and start heading upfield. Leon Crawford stepped up and jarred the ball loose and Cain scooped it up and ran it into the end zone. It was the first fumble return for a score by the Panthers since Sept. 3, 2016 at Kentucky Christian.

Ferris State scored on their first possession of the second half on Bernhardt's third rushing touchdown of the day from 44 yards. Mitchell later in the quarter fired an 11-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Wade on a diving catch in the back corner of the end zone. Barnett added a 29-yard field goal at 9:31 of the fourth quarter to conclude the scoring.

Ferris State was held to 4-of-15 on third down after coming into the game converting on 53 percent. The Bulldogs gained 396 yards but that was far below their 518.6 yards per game coming into the game. Davenport gained 94 yards on 62 plays and had to punt 12 times (a school record). The Panthers (3-7, 2-4 GLIAC) will wrap up the regular season next Saturday at No. 7 Grand Valley State for a 1:00 p.m. kickoff at Lubbers Stadium.