Game 7: #22 Davenport (6-0, 3-0 GLIAC) vs. Lincoln, Calif. (1-5)

Date: Saturday, Oct. 22
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: Dan Hasty (play-by-play), Bill Rohn (analyst)

Radio: Magic 104.9 FM (Grand Rapids)
Pregame Show: Begins at 11:45 a.m.

All-Time Series: First Meeting
Series in Caledonia: First Meeting
Last Meeting: First Meeting
Current Series Streak: First Meeting

OPENING DRIVE
● The Panthers needed nearly all 60 minutes before they put away Wayne State last Saturday in a 47-43 victory over the Warriors on their home turf to improve to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the GLIAC. The 6-0 start matches the best start in school history (2018) and propelled the Panthers into the top 25 of the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll for the first time in school history at No. 22 this week. DU is one of four GLIAC schools to be ranked in the top 25 and DU's next three opponents after this week's Lincoln game are in the poll (#1 GVSU, #7 FSU, #24 SVSU).
● This week will be a new opponent in Lincoln University out of Oakland, California. The Oaklanders are a second-year football program that are affiliated with Division II. They have a 1-5 record this year and will play all of their games this season on the road. They have played the likes of FCS, Division II, Division III, and NAIA teams in 2022. They picked up a 70-0 win at Hilbert College last week for their first win of the season. They built a 49-0 halftime lead and took their foot off the gas a little in the second half. Lincoln gained 349 total yards including 268 on the ground. Elijah Holmes carried 12 times for 98 yards and two scores. Otis Weah carried 12 times for 84 yards and three scores. Solomon Sangobowale had another rushing score to total six for the contest. Rhett Reilly completed 4-of-10 passes for 75 yards and two scores.
● Davenport got to the 6-0 mark in a shootout against Wayne State. They scored with nine seconds left on a 13-yard touchdown pass from Jason Whittaker to Alonzell Henderson. For Henderson, it was his first Panther receiving touchdown and capped off a six-play, 43-yard drive that lasted 37 seconds. DU scored 20 points in the wild fourth quarter and there were 35 combined points, the most scoring in one quarter combined this season.

DAVENPORT NOTEBOOK
● The Davenport offense has been the most improved in Division II this season and through six games has been transformative. The team already has 228 points and needs just 18 points to tie the school record set in 11 games during the first season of football in 2016. DU currently ranks 12th in Division II averaging 38 points per game. The Panthers are also 26th nationally in total offense averaging 431.5 yards per game.  
● Jason Whittaker has been the cornerstone of the offensive outburst and is the only Panther to ever have three 350-yard plus passing games in a season. He captured the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week award for the third time in the last four weeks with an aerial attack against Wayne State. Whittaker set school records for completions (30), attempts (49), and passing touchdowns (6) in a game. In the last four weeks since he got his first start, Whittaker is 94-of-142 (.662) for 1,340 yards and 18 touchdowns. Whittaker also set the single-season record at DU with 20 passing touchdowns.
● Preston Smith caught three touchdown passes against Wayne State to tie the school record set by Roy Livingstone earlier this season. Smith has been a great addition this season and has 34 catches for 495 yards and six scores. He had his third 100-yard plus receiving game against the Warriors with 112 yards. He also had 105 yards at Truman State and 143 yards against Michigan Tech. Smith is tied for second in the GLIAC in receptions, third in receiving yards per game (82.5), and tied for third in receiving touchdowns.
● Brendan Boman is coming off a career-high nine tackles, two tackles for loss, and two forced fumbles against Wayne State. He currently ranks tied for first at Davenport in a career with 14.5 sacks, fifth in tackles for loss (19), and just cracked the top 10 in tackles last week (89).
● The Panthers still have areas to improve if they want to continue their win streak. It is usually a high turnover margin which leads to wins, but DU and their opponents are equal with 13 giveaways.