No. 16 Davenport takes down Wayne State 32-3

DETROIT — For the second straight road game this season, the No. 16 Davenport football team did not allow a touchdown in a 32-3 win at Wayne State under the lights at Tom Adams Field. The Panthers (6-0, 3-0 GLIAC) have outscored their two opponents on the road, 60-3, and the defense has been in lockdown mode. The Warriors were limited to 134 total yards as the defense recorded a season-high six sacks and also set a school record with five interceptions from two different Wayne State quarterbacks.
 
Eli McLean threw three of the interceptions and Josh Kulka threw the other two as the Warriors managed just 87 passing yards. The defense had six different players with a sack and the interceptions came from Tyee Martin with two, former Warrior Julius Wilkerson, Alaric Wooten, and Chris Thompson. The Panthers also blocked two field goals with one from 38 yards in the first quarter and another coming from 30 yards in the fourth quarter.
 
The Davenport offensive line allowed no sacks on 31 passing plays and the Panthers gained 274 yards on the ground in rainy and windy conditions. Myren Harris rushed for over 100 yards for the fifth straight game and set the single-game DU record with 161 rushing yards on 19 carries. His highlight was a 53-yard touchdown run on the second possession of the game for Davenport.
 
Davenport scored on three of their first four possessions as Brandon Gielow kicked a 23-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead at the 14:52 mark of the second quarter. On their next drive, the Panthers marched 70 yards in five plays and Jason Whittaker dropped a dime between two defenders and Peyton Brown made the touchdown catch from 27 yards for a 17-0 lead at the 11:14 mark of the quarter. The final play before halftime was another Gielow field goal from 36 yards into the stiff wind for a 20-3 lead after two quarters.
 
Davenport distanced themselves on the first drive of the second half. They went 71 yards in eight plays and used 4:07 off the clock. Whittaker found Preston Smith on a 17-yard strike over the middle at the 10:48 mark for a 27-3 lead. The Warriors on their next drive was forced to punt and the snap went over the punter head and through the end zone for a safety. It was the first safety for the Panthers since Oct. 9, 2021 against Northern Michigan.
 
Gielow added his third field goal of the game from 27 yards out with 4:57 left in the game for the final score of 32-3. Wayne State only had eight first downs and went 2-of-12 on third down. Whittaker finished 16-of-31 for 163 yards and two scores. Brenden Sherrod led the team with 55 receiving yards on five catches. Jamar Mills led the defense with five tackles including a sack.
 
The Panthers will next make the long trip to the University of Mary (0-7) in Bismarck, N.D. for their final non-conference game of the season. The kickoff is set for 1 PM eastern time.