The fifth week of the football season features another game against Northern Michigan. This time the Panthers will make the long voyage to Marquette, Mich. and play in the Superior Dome with a 1 PM kickoff scheduled in GLIAC action.

OPENING DRIVE
● The Panthers improved to 4-0 for the second time in school history and the first time since 2018 with a 52-38 win over Michigan Tech last Saturday to open GLIAC play. It was the highest combined scoring game in DU's history and the Panthers' 52 points is the second best in school history behind a 59-point performance back on Sept. 3, 2016 at Kentucky Christian. There was a total of 918 yards of total offense combined with 556 going to Davenport. It was the highest yardage total of all football playing schools in the state of Michigan last week. During the last two weeks, DU has posted the first and second highest offensive yardage total in a game in school history.
● This week's opponent is Northern Michigan in the GLIAC road opener for the Panthers and their first road game since week one at Truman State on Sept. 3. The Wildcats have picked up back-to-back wins since Davenport beat them 31-21 in non-conference action on Sept. 17 in Caledonia. NMU has defeated Post (42-14) during their homecoming on Sept. 24 and won their GLIAC opener 37-30 at Wayne State last Saturday. The Wildcats fell behind 7-0 a few minutes into the game and did not take their first lead until 27-24 with 1:13 left in the third quarter. NMU scored 20 straight points down 24-17 early in the third quarter to lead 37-24 with just 4:12 remaining. The Warriors added a touchdown on the ground as time expired. 
● Davenport and Northern Michigan met for the fifth time back on Sept. 17 in DU's home opener. DU got a 100-yard rushing effort from Caleef Jenkins with 104 yards and 12 carries and scored twice on the ground. Drake Davis threw for 167 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions for the Wildcats. Antonio Howard led all players for NMU with 15 tackles and forced two fumbles. Jalen Robinson led the Panther defense with nine tackles and held NMU to 279 total yards.

DAVENPORT NOTEBOOK
● Jason Whittaker won his second straight GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week award on Monday after another stellar performance against Michigan Tech. He accounted for six touchdowns for the second straight week with five passing and one rushing against the Huskies. He went 24-of-40 for 361 yards and was not sacked once. He threw an early interception but bounced back by finding six different receivers in the game and leading the team to six straight scoring drives to end the game. Over the last two games, Whittaker is 45-of-69 passing for 721 yards and 10 touchdowns. Whittaker is currently 12th in Division II in completion percentage (64.8) and second in passing efficiency (183.6).
● Preston Smith emerged last week as the primary target for Whittaker in the passing game. He had a season-high nine catches with a season-high 143 yards and two touchdowns. He caught a 12-yard scoring pass early in the second quarter and an eight-yarder early in the third quarter. Smith is fifth in the GLIAC with three receiving touchdowns this season and second with 344 receiving yards.
● Roy Livingstone is currently leading the GLIAC with six receiving touchdowns. He tied a school record with three against Northwood and added two more last week against Michigan Tech. He has caught 15 passes for 209 yards and has also made an impact on special teams with three kick returns for 64 yards and four punt returns for 35 yards.
● Sy Barnett rounds out the most productive trio of wide receivers in the conference right now. This season, he has 26 catches for 342 yards and two scores coming in week one at Truman. He had 99 yards at Truman State, 98 yards against Northwood, and 99 yards on six grabs against Michigan Tech. He ranks third in the conference in receiving yards and first in receptions per game (6.5).
● After scoring just two points in the fourth quarter in 2021, this year the Panthers have outscored their opponents, 24-7, through four games.

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