BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - The regular season finale proved to be the kind of challenge that Davenport cherishes as the underdog as they traveled to No. 1 (D2Football.com)/No. 2 (AFCA) Ferris State for the first edition of the Calder City Classic. The Panthers had their chances to pull off the upset but settled for three first-half field goals and could not score in the second half of a 24-9 defeat. Davenport led 9-7 at halftime and six of their first seven drives of the game went into Ferris State territory. The Bulldogs scored all 17 points of the second half to claim the 2024 GLIAC Championship with a perfect 7-0 conference record.
Brandon Gielow tied his own single-game record with field goals of 40, 29, and 33 yards in the first half. His 40-yard field goal was the only score of the first quarter and came at the 3:17 mark. DU had the ball for 10:16 of the opening quarter and gained 71 yards including 48 on the ground. The Bulldogs took a 7-3 lead at the 13:15 mark of the second quarter. Trinidad Chambliss had a 20-yard touchdown pass to Brady Rose for Ferris State's first lead.
The Panthers took their next drive all the way to the Ferris State 10-yard line, but
Mac VandenHout was sacked on first-and-goal and had to settle for a Gielow 29-yard field goal to make it 7-6 with 7:10 left until halftime.
Justin White got an interception on Ferris State's next drive at the Davenport six-yard line and then DU drove 78 yards in 14 plays before a Gielow 33-yard field goal for a 9-7 lead.
The Bulldogs took the lead for good on their first drive of the third quarter. They marched 71 yards in 10 plays as Chambliss carried into the end zone from two yards out with 11:27 left in the quarter for a 14-9 lead. Davenport managed 74 yards on 16 plays in the quarter but went 1-of-4 on third down. Davenport punted on the first play of the fourth quarter and FSU needed just three plays to cover 60 yards with the scoring play of a Kannon Katzer 42-yard touchdown run to make it 21-9.
Gielow missed a 43-yard field goal on Davenport's next possession and the Bulldogs chewed clock and used 6:30 off the clock before a Mitch Middleton field goal of 22 yards with 4:01 remaining for the final score of 24-9. The 15-point deficit was the closest game in the all-time series of nine contests.
Davenport finished with 307 total yards for the game compared to 362 for Ferris State. The Bulldogs committed 12 penalties for 110 yards and Davenport had eight for 75 yards. Davenport had 24 first downs compared to 20 for the Bulldogs.
Kendall Williams led DU with 56 rushing yards on nine carries.
Myren Harris carried 14 times for 55 yards. VandenHout completed 19-of-33 passes for 170 yards and one interception. Chambliss rushed for 59 yards and a score and passed for 116 yards and another score for the Bulldogs.
Jamar Mills led the Panthers with nine tackles. Sefa Saipaia led the Bulldogs with 13 tackles.
The Panthers finished the 2024 season with a 7-4 record and a 4-3 mark in the GLIAC which put them in a three-way tie with Saginaw Valley State and Michigan Tech.
