ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill. — Ninth-ranked Davenport football defeated Roosevelt University (5-2, 1-2) 59-21 on Saturday at Morris Field to remain undefeated at 7-0 and 3-0 in the GLIAC. DU scored 24 unanswered points across four scoring drives from the second quarter into the third. DU rushed for 369 yards and five touchdowns while passing for 291 yards and three scores. They set the school record with 660 offensive yards, breaking the old mark of 562 against Northwood in 2022.
DU scored touchdowns on both of its red-zone trips in the first quarter, with
Cephus Harris adding a 1-yard rushing score and
Jonathan Palmer connecting with
Brody Thompson for a 20-yard touchdown. DU rushed for 73 yards, completed all three pass attempts for 39 yards and added a
Vincent Cooley interception while holding Roosevelt scoreless for a 14-0 lead after the first quarter.
DU scored on all three of its second-quarter possessions, getting two
Cephus Harris rushing touchdowns and
Ian Jenkins' 28-yard field goal as time expired. DU converted 4 of 4 third downs and totaled 98 rushing yards with 156 passing yards, while Roosevelt finished the second quarter with 25 rushing yards and 27 passing yards as DU carried a 31-7 lead into halftime.
DU and Roosevelt each scored 14 points in the third quarter, with DU taking a 45-21 lead into the fourth. Palmer completed all seven of his passes in the quarter for 84 yards and two touchdowns, both to
Mac VandenHout, while DU added 65 rushing yards. Roosevelt produced 133 yards and nine first downs in the quarter, including 97 passing yards and two touchdown throws.
DU outscored Roosevelt 14-0 in the fourth quarter to finish a 59-21 win, rushing for 133 yards in the quarter with touchdown runs by
Cephus Harris from 28 yards and
Landon Tungate from 56 (career long). Roosevelt was held scoreless despite 46 rushing yards in the quarter, going 2-for-5 on third down and 0-for-1 on fourth down while DU recovered a red-zone fumble by
Chris Smith.
Cephus Harris rushed 25 times for 163 yards and four touchdowns (ties own school record). Palmer completed 17 of 20 passes for 273 yards and three touchdowns and added 59 rushing yards.
Mac VandenHout caught six passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns and added a 14-yard rush.
Game Notes:
- DU had a school record 660 offensive yards
- DU set a team record with 33 first downs.
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Cephus Harris tied his own single-game record with four rushing touchdowns.
- Palmer set the single-game DU record for completion percentage (17-of-20).
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Mac VandenHout had the first multiple-TD receiving game of his career.
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Vincent Cooley had an interception for the second straight game.
- 59 points ties for second most in a game for Davenport.
Up next, DU hosts Wayne State at noon Saturday, Oct. 24, in Caledonia, Mich. for Senior Day.
