BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - The weather outside was frightful and the outcome not so delightful on Saturday afternoon as Davenport was bounced from the NCAA Division II playoffs by defending national champion Ferris State to the tune of 41-7 on a snowy Top Taggart Field. The first-ever playoff experience for the Panthers was short-lived but what a magical ride this season for the team and its fans. Picked to finish last in the GLIAC preseason poll, Davenport proved the doubters wrong by going 8-2 during the regular season and becoming one of third GLIAC teams to reach the postseason. 

These two teams battled on the same field two weeks ago in the regular season and Davenport also scored seven points in that one falling 28-7. The Davenport offense averaged over 30 points per game but could only manage to score 21 points in their final three games albeit against two of the top teams in the country.

Dez Lyburtus opened the scoring at 9:06 of the first quarter on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Mylik Mitchell. The extra point was blocked by Payton Mitchell for a 6-0 Ferris State lead. The teams felt each other out much of the first half and the Panthers would take a brief lead at 7-6 as Demetrius Garrett caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from Jason Whittaker with 4:55 left in the second quarter. Whittaker threw it up to the back of the end zone and Garrett wrestled it away from a Ferris State defender for the score after the officials met for about 30 seconds before signaling a touchdown.

Ferris State answered immediately like champions do and drove 56 yards in three plays as Emari O'Brien took a swing pass and made defenders miss on his way to a 52-yard touchdown for a 13-7 lead. The Bulldog defense got the ball back and the offense punched it in again just three seconds before halftime. Cam Underwood caught a 19-yard touchdown pass to give Mitchell three first-half touchdown passes. He only had two for the whole season coming into the game.

That late touchdown was a killer and just after halftime the writing was beginning to be on the wall as Whittaker was intercepted by Vincent Cooley who returned it 67 yards down the home sideline for a score with a convoy of blockers in front of him. The 27-7 lead for the Bulldogs with 11:24 left in the third quarter was the biggest momentum swing. Mitchell carried in from two yards at 14:32 and Jesse Rivera had a nine-yard touchdown run at 7:56 to conclude the scoring.

FSU did not turn the ball over despite the wintry conditions, while Davenport threw three interceptions. Davenport managed just 131 yards of offense including 63 rushing and 68 passing yards. Ferris State finished with 396 yards of offense including 232 rushing and 164 passing yards. The Bulldogs converted 8-of-17 on third down compared to 3-of-16 for the Panthers.