Davenport and top-ranked Ferris State will play in the second annual Calder City Classic on Saturday and for the first time this rivalry traveling-trophy game will be in Caledonia. The Panthers are wrapping up the season with their fourth straight home game and are looking for their third win during that span. Ferris State captured their fifth GLIAC title in the last seven years last Saturday with a thrilling 51-45 double overtime win at Saginaw Valley State. Davenport with a win this week would give them four straight winning seasons and their first win over the Bulldogs. Ferris State with a win would extend their win streak to 25 games dating back to the start of the 2024 season. The Bulldogs have also won three of the last four NCAA Division II National Championships.

Davenport played their longest game in school history last week falling 47-45 in four overtimes against upstart Northern Michigan in non-conference action. It was the first home overtime game for DU since Nov. 10, 2018 against Saginaw Valley State. Davenport has played in eight overtime games in their history with a record of 3-5. The team played in overtime for the second time this season and it was the first time since 2018 to have two overtime games in a season. The 45 points scored by DU is the most ever in a loss. Noah Dobert rushed for 243 yards for the Wildcats, the most yards allowed to a running back ever by a DU defense. DU trailed 28-14 before scoring touchdowns at 9:25 and 1:18 of the fourth quarter. Each team scored a touchdown and added the conversion in the first two overtimes. Starting with the third OT, each team just has one two-point conversion play and Dobert ended the game on a run after D'Wan Mathis fumbled near the goal line on DU's fourth overtime attempt. Cephus Harris scored twice on the ground and extended his single-season record to 18. That total is also the career-tying mark by Caleef Jenkins. Mathis had the second-most completions in a game this season going 19-for-29 and it was the fifth game this season completing at least 60 percent.

Ferris State is poised to make another run at the national championship and have done so with a new supporting cast. Redshirt freshman quarterback Wyatt Bower had big shoes to fill when Trinidad Chambliss transferred to Ole Miss. Bower has been a solid field general with 1,653 passing yards and a team-high 701 rushing yards. He has thrown for 18 touchdowns and just four interceptions, while running for 11 scores. The Bulldogs have excellent depth at all positions and 11 different players have a rushing touchdown this season. Backup quarterback sophomore Chase Carter has 457 rushing yards (7.9 ypr) with nine scores. He has thrown for seven touchdowns and no picks totaling 515 yards. Taariik Brett is a dangerous slot receiver with 27 catches for 354 yards and six scores. He also has 308 rushing yards and four scores on the ground. The Bulldogs defense is led by a secondary with a NCAA Division II leading 20 interceptions this season. Justin Payoute has snared five of those for 77 return yards and a score. Isiah Bobbit-Byars led the team with 45 tackles and also has three interceptions.

The Panthers, like many teams, have yet to solve Ferris State over the course of four quarters and have yet to win in nine previous tries. Last year's scoring margin of 24-9 was the closest in the all-time series of which Davenport has averaged 7.9 points per game. The first-ever Calder City Classic took place last year on Nov. 16 in Big Rapids. Davenport took a 9-7 lead into the halftime locker room as Brandon Gielow booted three first-half field goals of 40, 29, and 33 yards. The Bulldogs outscored the Panthers 17-0 in the second half as Chambliss put Ferris State ahead for good on a two-yard scoring run at 11:27 of the third quarter. Kannon Katzer followed with a 42-yard touchdown at 13:48 of the fourth quarter and Mitchell Middleton connected on a 22-yard field goal with 4:01 left to play. Mac VandenHout got the start at quarterback for Davenport completing 19-of-33 passes for 170 yards. Jamar Mills led the defense for the Panthers with nine tackles, including a tackle for loss. Austin Stief also had eight tackles and half a sack with a pass breakup.

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