This Saturday marks perhaps the biggest game in Davenport history when the No. 9  (AFCA) Panthers make the trip north to Big Rapids to face No. 1 (AFCA) Ferris State. Both teams are currently 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the GLIAC and the winner will take over sole possession of first place. The Panthers have put together a squad that comes in No. 9 in this week's NCAA Power Index nationally and No. 4 in Super Region 3. The two-time defending national champion Bulldogs are No. 2 in the NPI nationally and No. 1 in Super Region 3.

The Davenport defense stacked its second consecutive home shutout last Saturday in the 49-0 win over Wayne State. The Warriors were held to 112 yards, a season best for the DU defense. In addition, WSU had just eight first downs and went 0-for-15 on third down. Cephus Harris needed just one half to rush for 200 yards and three touchdowns on 17 carries. Jonathan Palmer completed 7-of-12 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns. He found Brody Thompson on a 38-yard strike in the first quarter and then connected with Tendaji Alexander on his first TD catch of the season from 30 yards in the second quarter. Landon Tungate added a 47-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. James Young threw his first TD pass of the season and Devin Fridley-Bell caught his first TD in 2026 as the pair hooked up from 34 yards in the fourth quarter. Davenport would finish with 599 yards, averaging 8.9 yards per play. The defense would record five sacks, including two on back-to-back plays by Aydin Johnson for a loss of nine yards. Cash Ruff led the defense with a career-high 10 tackles, including seven solo stops. He also had a tackle for loss and two quarterback hurries. Zyers Ruff had a season-high five tackles, which included two tackles for a loss of six yards and a five-yard sack. Cam Williams had his first interception of the season and returned it 45 yards. Former Panther Mar'Tavion Robinson led the Warriors with three catches for 52 yards.

Ferris State is in pursuit of history after winning their 38th straight game against Michigan Tech last week (27-20). The streak is tied for the second-longest in Division II history and sits two victories shy of the record of 40 consecutive wins set by Grand Valley State in the early 2000's. The Bulldogs were pushed by Michigan Tech, who took an early 7-0 lead, before scoring 24 straight points. The Huskies responded with 10 straight points to make it 24-17 with 2:46 left in the third quarter after an Elliott Larner touchdown. Eoin O'Sullivan booted a clutch 50-yard field goal at the end of the third quarter and earned GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week. Avery Kucharski made his second field goal of the day from 33 yards to make it 27-20 with 1:34 remaining in the contest. Ferris State converted 10-of-16 on third down and finished with 382 total yards, including 240 on the ground. Chase Carter earned GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week honors for Ferris State as he ran for 141 yards and completed 11-of-23 passes for 122 yards and two scores. 

Davenport is looking to bring back the Calder City Classic trophy for the first time in what marks the third installment of the newly-created series between the West Michigan universities. Ferris State has captured the first 10 meetings between the teams in a series which began in 2017. The teams did play twice during the 2021 and 2022 seasons and this will be just the second game played in the month of October. Davenport was able to score a series-best 23 points in last year's 44-23 setback in Caledonia on Nov. 15. Cephus Harris had the type of game that has spring boarded him into the national limelight this season. Harris rushed 24 times for 185 yards and a score. Grant Thwaites got the start at quarterback for DU and completed 12-of-23 passes for 81 yards. Xavier Marquez led the defense with nine tackles and Latrell Scott contributed eight tackles and a six-yard tackle for loss. Markell Gilford had a 68-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown in the second quarter, which gave DU a 20-7 lead. Alston Ware responded with a 92-yard PAT return to shift momentum. The Bulldogs would get back-to-back touchdown runs by Chase Carter, including a 64-yard scamper with 4:06 left until halftime for a 23-20 Bulldog lead. The Panthers would get shutout in the second half after tying it at 23-23 heading into the locker room after a 29-yard Ian Jenkins field goal. Brady Rose had an eight-yard TD run in the third quarter followed by Carter's third rushing score from two yards out in the fourth quarter. Taariik Brett added the final score on a 48-yard run with 4:44 left in the game.



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