CALEDONIA, Mich. — The ground game and stout defense by Davenport (3-0) led to a 19-12 over No. 17 UIndy (1-2) on Saturday at Pappas Stadium. It is the highest ranked D2 team that the Panthers have defeated in their history. Davenport finished with 300 rushing yards, 465 total yards and 34:08 of possession, while its defense recorded three sacks and held the Greyhounds to 252 total yards. UIndy was held in check during the first half in particular with just 10 yards of offense.
Davenport rushed for 125 yards in the first quarter, highlighted by
Jonathan Palmer's 69-yard run on the first play for the Panthers before his 14-yard touchdown pass to tight end
Kaleb Parrish. The Panthers added a 12-play, 98-yard scoring drive capped by
Cephus Harris' one-yard run, while holding the Greyhounds to one first down, minus-5 rushing yards and an 0-for-2 mark on third down in a 13-0 quarter.
Davenport produced 79 rushing yards and 36 passing yards in the second quarter while holding the Greyhounds to minus-14 rushing yards, 14 passing yards, one first down and 0-for-4 on third down. The only scoring came with three seconds left, when
Ian Jenkins hit a 32-yard field goal to put Davenport ahead 16-0 after
Asher Gregory's 32-yard punt return and Palmer's 22-yard completion to
Michael Young helped set up the attempt.
The Greyhounds went three-and-out on their first drive of the second half. Palmer was intercepted for the first time this season at the UIndy 44 and then the Greyhounds marched 56 yards in five plays as Nick Patterson found Giovani Laurent on a three-yard slant. The two-point conversion failed and the score was 16-6.
Davenport would answer later in the third quarter with a 28-yard field goal by Jenkins to cap off a 69-yard drive that lasted 2:26 for a 19-6 advantage. The lone score of the fourth quarter came with 2:29 remaining as Garrett Sherrell caught an eight-yard touchdown from Patterson. The PAT kick went wide right and the score was 19-12. The ensuing onside kick went out of bounds and DU took over. On 3rd-and-3 at the DU 41, Harris ripped off a 54-yard run to the UIndy 5-yard line to seal it.
Harris rushed for 120 yards (back-to-back weeks) and a touchdown on 18 carries and added two receptions for 18 yards. Palmer completed 12 of 16 passes for 165 yards and one touchdown while adding 68 rushing yards.
Michael Young caught two passes for a career-high 82 yards.
Zack Pappadakis led Davenport defensively with a career-high 11 tackles, including two for a loss of 22 yards.
Latrell Scott added seven tackles and a pass breakup.
Game Notes:
- Highest ranked team defeated by the Panthers.
- Zach Pappadakis had a career-high 11 tackles.
- DU rushed for 300 yards with eight different ball carriers.
- The Greyhounds had just 10 total yards in the first half.
Up next, Davenport travels to Marquette, Mich., to face Northern Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 19, at 1 p.m. in a non-conference game.
