The Davenport football team is looking to carry their early 3-0 momentum into Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play which starts on Saturday at noon against Michigan Tech. Jason Whittaker and the offense put up big numbers in last week's win over Northwood and Whittaker was named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week. It should be a fantastic showdown at The Farm! 

OPENING DRIVE
● Davenport football seems to really enjoy homecoming as evidenced by improving to 6-0 all-time in their annual homecoming contest after a 51-17 win over Northwood last Saturday at The Farm. It was a banner day offensively for the Panthers as they chipped away at the school record books in the rout of the Timberwolves to improve to 3-0 this season. The team finished with 586 total yards to set the school record. Quarterback Jason Whittaker also set the school record with five touchdown passes and six total touchdowns with a rushing score in the second quarter. The offense gained 8.5 yards per play and Roy Livingstone tied the school record with three receiving touchdowns.
● This week's opponent is Michigan Tech in the GLIAC opener for both schools. The Huskies are coming into the game hungry after dropping their last three games. Last week it was a non-conference tilt against nationally-ranked Saginaw Valley State 35-13 in Houghton. MTU scored all 13 points in the first half and took a 13-7 lead early in the second quarter after a touchdown catch by Brandon Michalak from Ethan Champney from 30 yards. The Cardinals ran off the final 28 points and finished with 414 total yards on offense compared to 184 for Michigan Tech.
● Davenport has posted a 2-2 record in GLIAC openers over the years and faced Michigan Tech in last year's contest. The Huskies dealt the Panthers a 31-7 setback in Houghton. The Panthers outgained the Huskies, 345-243, but were crippled by five turnovers while forcing zero. Will Ark passed for 113 yards and two scores. Kyshawn Richards gained 94 yards on the ground on 13 carries. Jalen Robinson led the defense with 10 tackles.
● The Panthers are trying to snap a two-game losing streak against the Huskies after a pair of double-digit losses in 2019 and 2021. The last win came in 2018 in Houghton by a final of 23-21. That game featured the game-winning touchdown catch from 12 yards with 10 seconds left.

DAVENPORT NOTEBOOK
● The Davenport offense through three wins has shown that they have changed the dynamic seemingly overnight with a influx of talent. Last season, DU passed for five touchdowns in 11 games. This season, DU has passed for eight touchdowns including five in the Northwood game alone. The team is averaging 34 points per game to rank 27th in NCAA Division II. The total offense yardage per game sits at 390.7 to rank 54th in Division II.
● Jason Whittaker got his first start last Saturday against Northwood and after his performance it won't be his last. Whittaker passed for 360 yards (second best at DU) and set the school record with five touchdown passes. In the first half alone, Whittaker tossed four touchdown passes and threw for 313 yards. He went 6-of-10 passing for 127 yards and two scores in the first quarter and then went 12-of-14 passing for 186 yards and two scores in the second quarter.
● The Panthers slipped a little bit this week but are still ninth nationally in third down conversions at 52.6 percent (20-38). One other stat that has vastly improved this season is penalties. DU and Michigan Tech lead the GLIAC with 19 total penalties.
● The special teams component has been a unsung hero when it comes to team success and this season Davenport is currently second nationally in net punting at 42 yards per boot. Sy Barnett and Kyle Wojahn have each punted five times. Barnett has a 47.2-yard average and Wojahn has a 43.2-yard average. Barnett set the school record with a 75-yard punt at Truman State. Brandon Gielow is 2-of-2 in field goals and 12-of-14 in extra points this season.
● Caleef Jenkins has been the workhorse at running back with 39 carries for 227 yards and four touchdowns this season. He is averaging 5.8 yards per carry with a long of 35 yards. He ran 13 times for 92 yards against Northwood.

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