• Davenport improved to 4-0 all time in season-opening road games last Saturday with a  gritty 24-17 triumph at Thomas More. The Panthers won for the second straight year against the Saints and in both wins came out strong in the first quarter. The Panthers scored 14 first-quarter points last Saturday and did the same thing in last year's 31-17 win. DU outscored the Saints 28-0 in the opening quarter over the last two years.
• The team has tasted early season success during the month of September going 8-0 dating back to the 2022 season.
• The Panthers began the season with a two-quarterback rotation involving Mike O'Horo and D'Wan Mathis. The preseason camp showed that both players bring needed experience and a different skill set to the position. O'Horo took the first snaps  of the game and his first pass as a Panther turned into a 56-yard touchdown to fellow newcomer Kendall Williams who caught the ball near the line of scrimmage and raced down the home sideline. His second drive also found the end zone covering 48 yards in seven plays. The scoring play was Williams on a 24-yard rush over the left end for a 14-0 lead. Mathis saw his first action on the fourth drive coming at the end of the first quarter. Mathis finished with 23 rushing yards including a few key carries and the final drive to run out the clock. He also threw for 68 yards (5-of-8). O'Horo finished with a rushing touchdown in the third quarter and was 7-of-15 for 108 yards with a TD and INT.
• Head Coach Sparky McEwen has led the program to unprecedented heights over the last 22 games and hopes to continue to build the program in 2024. The Panthers are 17-5 during that span and have started 8-0 in 2022 and 2023. The only losses have come against nationally-ranked teams in Grand Valley State and Ferris State. In those five setbacks, the lowest ranking of the opponent was No. 7 coming against Ferris State in the regular season in 2022 and 2023.

• The Davenport defense limited the Saints to 102 rushing yards on 30 carries (3.4 per rush) and 175 passing yards with three interceptions. Christian Jones picked off two passes in a game for the first time in his 29-game career. In fact, he had just two interceptions in his career entering the contest with one in each of the 2022 and 2023 seasons. The defense also limited the Saints to 2-of-11 on third downs. Geemontae Peck recorded a career-high nine tackles from his interior defensive line spot. His previous high of six tackles came back in 2022 against SVSU and Ferris State during the regular season contest. Newcomer Cameren Grodhaus (Lake Erie College) had a stellar debut for DU with seven tackles (five solo) and an interception in the second quarter which he returned for 29 yards to midfield.

• These two teams have one meeting under their belt and it was last year's 24-19 win in Caledonia for the Panthers. Bowie State trailed 17-3 midway through the second quarter before the Bulldogs got within one touchdown with 4:40 left in the game. The Bulldogs recorded 32 first downs including 20 of those through the air. They attempted 61 passes compared to 27 for the Panthers. Bowie State threw for 363 yards, but DU did have four interceptions to neutralize any further damage. Davenport was able to have success on the ground with 178 rushing yards and 5.9 yards per rush. Caleef Jenkins and Myren Harris each had a two-yard touchdown run. Harris finished with 134 yards on 16 carries, while Jenkins toted the ball 11 times for 32 yards. Preston Smith hauled in four catches for 82 yards including a 65-yard touchdown to open the scoring on DU's third offensive play of the contest.

Live Video - (Bowie State Network)

Live Stats

Live Audio Stream (96.1 The Game with Rick Berkey and Bill Rohn)

Complete Game Notes