Game 6: RV Davenport (5-0, 2-0 GLIAC) vs. Wayne State (1-5, 0-2 GLIAC)

Date: Saturday, Oct. 15
Kickoff: 12:00 p.m. ET
Location: Caledonia, Mich.
Stadium: Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex
Surface: Artificial Turf
Tickets: Hometown Ticketing
Live Stats: dupanthers.com | Live Stats

Live Video: FloSports
Announcers: Rick Berkey (play-by-play), Bill Rohn (analyst)

Radio: Magic 104.9 FM (Grand Rapids)
Pregame Show: Begins at 11:15 a.m.

All-Time Series: WSU leads, 3-1
Series in Caledonia: WSU leads, 3-0
Last Meeting: WSU 16, DU 3 (2021)
Current Series Streak: 2 by WSU (2019, 2021)

OPENING DRIVE
● The Panthers survived an overtime scare at Northern Michigan last Saturday to remain undefeated at 5-0, 2-0 in the GLIAC. DU won 27-24 at the Superior Dome and needed some late-minute heroics to make it happen. DU trailed 24-21 for the first time with 45 seconds left in regulation. The Panthers moved the ball 49 yards in six plays and used just 37 seconds before Brandon Gielow booted a 36-yard field goal to send the game into overtime. Gielow then connected from 27 yards in overtime and the defense got a big third down interception by Devin McGee to seal the win.
● Wayne State is looking to hit the reset button and build momentum for the rest of the season. The Warriors have dropped four straight and are 1-5 overall and 0-2 in the GLIAC. Those two conference losses however are by a total of just eight points against Northern Michigan (37-30) and Michigan Tech (35-34). The Huskies needed some last-minute magic to pick up the win as Will Ark's one-yard touchdown run with 27 seconds left and the subsequent extra point by Drew Wyble proved to be the difference. The Warriors had a monster day on the ground with 414 rushing yards. Myren Harris and Kendall Williams each carried for two touchdowns. Harris finished with 296 yards, which is the third-highest total in NCAA Division II this season. Williams added 121 yards and 11 yards per carry. This week's highlight stat will be Wayne State's rushing offense (180 yards per game) versus the Davenport rush defense (102.4 yards per game).
● Davenport is looking to snap a two-game losing streak against the Warriors who won last year's contest by a final of 16-3 in Caledonia. DU scored first in the game with a 26-yard Brian Plegue field goal but the Warriors scored in each of the final three quarters for the win. Myren Harris carried 19 times for 137 yards and a score for WSU. DU finished with 288 total yards (216 rushing).

DAVENPORT NOTEBOOK
● Davenport played their sixth-ever overtime game last week and are now 3-3 all-time in overtime games. Before last week, the last overtime game came back on Nov. 10, 2018 against Saginaw Valley State. The Panthers have now defeated Northern Michigan twice in overtime with the last one coming on Sept. 29, 2018. 
● If the Panthers can get a win today, it would equal the best start (6-0) in school history set during the first six games of the 2018 season.
● Brandon Gielow stepped up in a major way last Saturday with the game-tying field goal as time expired in regulation plus the game-winning field goal in overtime. He scored nine points coupled with three extra-point kicks on the day. Gielow is one of just two kickers in the GLIAC who have not missed a field goal this season (5-for-5) and he is 22-of-24 in extra-point attempts. He is also just one of six NCAA Division II kickers with a minimum of one field goal attempt per game to be perfect.
● Jason Whittaker became the first Panther quarterback to throw for 250 or more yards in three straight games with exactly 250 passing yards at Northern Michigan. He completed 19 passes including two touchdowns to Sy Barnett in the first quarter. Whittaker has won GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week twice and leads the conference with 15.6 completions per game and a 157.7 passing efficiency rating.
● Sy Barnett reached the 100-yard receiving plateau for the first time this season and a couple of 99-yard performances earlier this season. He hauled in eight passes for 124 yards and two scores and registered 52 yards after the catch. Barnett's four receiving touchdowns ranks fourth in the GLIAC and his 466 receiving yards this season ranks second.
● Malik Barrow has emerged as a force on the interior defensive line. In the last two games, he has 17 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss. He ranks second in the GLIAC this season with 1.9 per game.