BIG RAPIDS, Mich. - The Davenport football team had a lot to be proud of on Saturday afternoon, but in the end it was No. 1 Ferris State who claimed the Calder City Classic with a 23-14 win over the Panthers. Davenport dropped their first game of the season while the Bulldogs move to 9-0 overall and won their 39th consecutive game.
James Young, a redshirt freshman, was forced into action in the first quarter as
Jonathan Palmer got banged up and did not return to the contest. Young handled the high-pressure situation very well, but two costly interceptions proved to be a big difference in the final outcome.
In the second quarter, Young had a pass tipped on a drive that started at the 5:48 mark. The pass found the hands of Quentin Pope at the FSU 40-yard line and he returned it 26 yards to the DU 34. On the next play, Chase Carter called him own number on a 34-yard touchdown run untouched into the end zone. That score gave Ferris State a 14-7 lead. DU had a chance to kick a field goal late in the quarter, but
Ian Jenkins had a 41-yard field goal blocked by Eric Jackson.
The third quarter started great for the Panthers as they forced a punt and then marched down the field.
Cephus Harris burst off the right edge of the line and rumbled 69 yards to the end zone for his second-longest rush of the season to tie it up at 14-14.
The Bulldogs answered with a field goal of their own at the 9:26 mark of the third quarter as Eoin O'Sullivan connected from 40 yards. The fourth quarter yielded just six points and it was a gritty drive by the Bulldogs. Carter completed a pair of crucial throws on the scoring drive which covered 95 yards. Carter found Tae Boyd on 3rd-and-12 for 16 yards and then Tarick Bower hauled in a 42-yard catch, which was challenged by the Panthers and upheld. Four plays later, it was Taariik Brett on a crossing route for a 29-yard touchdown as DU looked confused with their coverage. FSU went up 23-14 after a missed extra point.
Davenport mounted one more successful drive and got the ball down inside the Ferris State red zone. Facing 3rd-and-goal at the 7-yard line, Young attempted a jump pass but it was intercepted by Ryan Ahearn near the goal line to seal the win for the Bulldogs.
Harris finished with 162 rushing yards on 32 carries and scored two touchdowns. Young completed 8-of-16 passes for 76 yards.
Mac VandenHout caught five passes for 41 yards to lead the receiving corps.
Darryle Geter had a season-high nine tackles from his safety position.
D'Angelo Bellamy recorded eight tackles and a sack in the fourth quarter.
The Panthers (8-1, 4-1) will now face Michigan Tech next Saturday at noon in Houghton, Michigan.
