The Davenport football team finished 20th in the final AFCA Division II Coaches Poll released today. The Panthers concluded their most successful season at 8-3 overall and made their first trip to the NCAA Division II playoffs. Two of those losses came against No. 1 Ferris State, who won their second straight national championship on Saturday. The fell once in the regular season and again in the first round of the playoffs. Both of those games were played in Big Rapids. They also lost to No. 3 Grand Valley State in the final regular season game. 

The season began with a win at Truman State, 20-19, as the team's signature win. The Bulldogs finished as runner-up in the GLVC and finished No. 25 in the poll. During the season, the team also beat No. 23 Saginaw Valley State on the road. The Cardinals were receiving votes in the final coaches poll. The Panthers faced the fifth toughest schedule in the country according to NCAA stats and five GLIAC schools ranked in the top seventh nationally in schedule strength. 

"Our program lost to the No. 1 team in the country twice and they won another national title," said head coach Sparky McEwen. "The GLIAC once again has made a significant statement by sending three teams to the national playoffs and crowning the national champion. We know one thing for certain, we can compete with anyone in the nation after watching the 2022 playoffs. There is plenty of room for growth in our program, but we are no longer a stranger to the national stage."