By: Ryan Thompson - Assistant AD for Communications
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Davenport will take on No. 17 (AFCA) University of Indianapolis on Saturday in their third straight home game to start the 2026 season. The Greyhounds were picked in the preseason to win the Great Lakes Valley Conference and under current head coach Chris Keevers have won five conference titles. They finished No. 10 in the final 2025 AFCA Division II poll after a record of 11-2, 8-0 GLVC. They made their fourth consecutive playoff appearance and fell in the second round to Minnesota State.
Davenport has taken care of business in the first two weeks of the season with an improved defense and a strong running game. Gannon and Truman State were on the road last year and both visited Caledonia this season. In 2025, Gannon gained 422 yards compared to 276 two weeks ago. Truman State gained 348 last year in Kirksville, Missouri and last week managed 270 total yards. The Panther run defense in particular has transformed. Through two games last season it ranked 89th allowing 153 yards per game. Thus far in 2026, DU is 19th in Division II allowing 77 yards per outing.
The Panthers prevailed 28-14 last week against Truman State with 282 rushing yards and three ground scores.
Cephus Harris followed up a school-record 351 yards against Gannon by carrying 23 times for 120 yards and two scores in the second half. DU would score one touchdown in each of the four quarters.
Landon Tungate threw a 34-yard touchdown to
Mac VandenHout in the first quarter and later had a two-yard touchdown plunge in the second quarter.
Jonathan Palmer guided the offense with 112 passing yards and 97 rushing yards on 16 carries.
Latrell Scott led the defense with 10 tackles, including a tackle for loss.
Christian Cramer and
Caleb Aungst each had an interception of Dylan Hair.
UIndy enters the game with a 1-1 record and dropped from No. 9 after last week's 30-10 home loss against then No. 15 Findlay. The Oilers moved up five spots in this week's poll after the convincing win. The Greyhounds led 7-6 early in the second quarter after a Garrett Sherrell 9-yard touchdown run. Findlay answered on their next possession with an eight-play, 75-yard drive capped off by Andrew Leonard finding Delon Hurt on a 29-yard strike for the 13-7 lead. Findlay would increase their lead to 20-10 late in the first half on an 85-yard Christian Davis touchdown run. The Oilers shutout UIndy in the second half and themselves tacked on 10 fourth-quarter points. Davis from one yard out early in the quarter made it 27-10 and then Zachary Barzd connected from 26 yards on a field goal with 5:19 left to conclude the scoring. The Greyhounds managed 13 first downs and finished with 250 total offensive yards. That yardage total is the lowest for UIndy since gaining 241 in a 24-7 playoff road loss at Grand Valley State back on Nov. 23, 2024.
UIndy opened the season with a 39-7 win over No. 12 (NAIA) Marian University on Aug. 27 at Key Stadium. Nick Patterson completed 15-of-22 passes for 212 yards and one touchdown. Sherrell rushed for a team-best 106 yards on just seven carries and scored twice on the ground. Juseters Fataki, Patterson, and Caiden Verrett also found the end zone as part of five rushing scores for the Greyhounds. Dontay Fort recorded two sacks for a loss of 27 yards. Jerrell Franklin Jr., Eli Liapis, and Alvin Contreras all led the team with seven tackles.
This will be the first meeting between the schools. Davenport has a record of 8-2 against teams from the Great Lakes Valley Conference. Here is a breakdown of those contests:
► Quincy, 14-10 (2016)
► McKendree, 27-24 (2 OT) (2017)
► Quincy, 26-10 (2018)
► Lindenwood, 35-24 (2019)
► Truman State, 14-31 (2021)
► Truman State, 20-19 (2022)
► William Jewell, 55-27 (2023)
► William Jewell, 17-7 (2024)
► Truman State, 27-28 (OT) (2025)
► Truman State, 28-14 (2026)
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