Week 3 of the 2024 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) football schedule features seven nonconference contests.
Davenport (2-0) will face its sternest test of the young season on Saturday, when it hosts No. 11 Central Missouri (1-1) at 12 p.m. at Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex is Caledonia. The Panthers are just three votes shy of appearing in the AFCA D2 Coaches Poll Top 25.
Davenport Notes
DU HOSTS #11 CENTRAL MISSOURI IN MARQUEE MATCHUP
● Davenport entered the season knowing that they would have to be road warriors with seven of their 11 games in enemy territory. Through two games, mission accomplished so far as DU is 2-0 with wins at Thomas More and Bowie State. The Panthers defeated the Bulldogs last Saturday in Bowie, Md. by a final score of 17-14. DU did all of their scoring in the first half and the defense did the rest. Brandon Gielow booted a 42-yard field goal in the first quarter. Preston Smith caught a seven-yard touchdown pass from Mike O’Horo in the second quarter. O’Horo then found Antjuan Collins for a 19-yard TD with 2:19 left in the second quarter. ● The team has tasted early season success during the month of September going 9-0 dating back to the 2022 season. ● Central Missouri dropped from No. 2 to No. 11 this week in the AFCA Division II Poll after a 57-40 defeat on the road at Central Oklahoma. The Mules (1-1) and Bronchos actually played a scoreless first quarter before combining for 97 points over the final three quarters. UCO was dialed in on offense to the tune of 731 yards on 97 plays. They rushed for 274 yards and five scores and threw it for 457 yards and three more scores. UCM totaled 501 yards including 437 through the air. Reigning Harlon Hill winner Zach Zebrowski completed 27-of-55 passes with six touchdowns and one interception. Zebrowski through two games might once again be a front-runner for his second straight Harlon Hill trophy. He is 65-of-103 passing for 940 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has also rushed for 36 yards and another score. ● Head Coach Sparky McEwen has led the program to unprecedented heights over the last 23 games and hopes to continue to build the program in 2024. The Panthers are 18-5 during that span and have started 8-0 in 2022 and 2023. The only losses have come against nationally-ranked teams in Grand Valley State and Ferris State. In those five setbacks, the lowest ranking of the opponent was No. 7 coming against Ferris State in the regular season in 2022 and 2023.
INSIDE THE HUDDLE
● Davenport has been a quick start team through the first two games outscoring their opponents 31-7 in the first half. In addition, they have a 17-0 edge in the first quarter. If you go back to last year, over the last 12 games, Davenport has allowed just 10 points in the first quarter which has been a recipe for success. On the flip side, they will need to make adjustments in the second half as they have been outscored 24-10 this season. ● One key stat that the Panthers have improved upon over recent seasons is third-down conversion percentage. Davenport currently ranks No. 2 in the GLIAC and No. 37 in NCAA Division II at 44.8 percent. The Panthers were 7-of-13 on third downs at Bowie State a week ago.
SERIES HISTORY AND NOTES
● Today marks the first meeting between DU and Central Missouri out of the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). The 14-team league is one of the best in NCAA Division II with the likes of UCM, Emporia State, Northwest Missouri State, and Pittsburg State. The conference has claimed a total of eight national championships since 1991. Northwest Missouri State has won six of those since 1998, with Pittsburg State claiming the other two (1991, 2011). Today is the first time that Davenport has played a member of the MIAA on the gridiron. ● The Panthers embark on the first of their four games on Saturday and went 5-1 at Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex in 2023. The team averaged 28.7 points per game in those contests.
No. 2 Grand Valley State (2-0), coming off a big road win over nationally-ranked Colorado State-Pueblo, returns to Lubbers Stadium this weekend for a matchup with Wisconsin-La Crosse (2-0). The Eagles are ranked No. 5 in the latest AFCA D3 Coaches Poll.
Grand Valley State Notes
• #2 Grand Valley State will host #5 Wisconsin-La Crosse Saturday in the annual Family Day game. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Lubbers Stadium. The Lakers (2-0) are coming off a 24-21 road victory over #22 Colorado State-Pueblo, while the Eagles (2- 0) are coming off a 35-21 victory over Northern Michigan.
• Last Week – Grand Valley State built a 17- 0 halftime lead and led 24-7 heading into the fourth quarter. CSU-Pueblo scored two fourth quarter TDs. Grand Valley State was called for a single-game, program-record 20 penalties for a record 195 yards. In the fourth quarter alone GVSU was called for 10 penalties for 100 yards. QB Avery Moore completed 13-of-21 passes for 155 yards, while toting the ball 12 times for 66 yards. RB Khalil Eichelberger rushed for 94 yards on 14 carries and David Holloman chipped in seven carries for 49 yards. Kellen Reed caught four passes for 49 yards and a TD. Safety Kobe Hayward led the defense with eight tackles, while Niles King added six tackles, 3.5 TFL (-14) and 2.5 QB sacks (- 13). CB Terez Reid picked off a pass. Punter Trace Hrgich was named the GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week following his performance when he averaged 46.5 yards per punt, dropping four inside the 20-yard line and two inside the 10-yard line.
• Grand Valley State has been ranked in every AFCA Coaches’ poll since September 9, 2015, a span that has reached 100 consecutive weeks.
• GVSU is 34-19 versus ranked teams since 2009 and 223-38 versus all teams as a ranked team since 2001.
• Grand Valley State has won 10 or more games 19 times in the 52-year history of the program, including 17 times since 2001.
• GVSU has won a total of four national championships (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006) in program history.
• The Lakers have made six NCAA championship appearances (2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009) in program history.
• Grand Valley State is 21-2 in regular season non-conference games since 2016.
• The 58 points scored tied the program record for points scored in a season-opening game (58-16 at St. Joseph’s College in 1990) and the 58-point margin broke the previous record of 56 (56-0 vs. Minnesota Crookston in 2001) for margin of victory in a season-opening game.
Winners of two-straight, Michigan Tech (2-1) heads back out on the road, visiting Wisconsin-Oshkosh (2-0) for a 1 p.m. ET game. The Titans are ranked No. 13 in the AFCA D3 Coaches Poll.
Michigan Tech Notes
D-Fence Michigan Tech has recovered four fumbles through the first three games, ranking third in the country. Buechel has a massive hand in the ranking, having forced two of the Black & Gold’s four recoveries. MTU’s defense is also top-10 nationally in team tackles for loss (9.7) ranked eighth out of 159 teams.
SCOUTING THE TITANS
The Titans have upset two top-25 teams in their first two games, winning by a touchdown in front of 3,200 fans combined at Titan Stadium to start the season 2-0. UW-Oshkosh toppled then-No. 9 ranked Wheaton (21-14) in their season opener and most recently bested No. 21 Linfield (28-21) on Sept. 14.
UW-Oshkosh gained national recognition for the back-to-back top25 victories, coming in at No. 13 in the week three national poll.
UW-Oshkosh has a well-balanced attack with Wide receiver Jon Mathieu and running back Justice Lovelace both averaging over 90 yards per game and two touchdowns. Additionally, tight end Clayton Schwalbe was named to the D3Football.com Team of the Week for his performance in the 28-21 victory over No. 21 Linfield in overtime—He recorded three receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown.
Quarterback Warren Cole went 15-for-19 throwing for 180 yards and two touchdowns in Saturday’s win.
The Titans’ defense has been lethal accounting for three forced fumbles and three interceptions. Kyle Dietzen and Bryce Edwards lead UWO’s defense with 15 total tackles.
After back-to-back road games to kick off the 2024 campaign, Saginaw Valley State (1-1) will open at home versus Truman State (0-2). Kick off at Harvey Wickes Memorial Stadium in University Center is set for 2 p.m.
Wayne State (0-2) will continue its tough non-conference schedule on Saturday when it welcomes No. 16 UIndy (2-0) to Tom Adams Field for a 6 p.m. contest.
Northern Michigan (0-3) is home after two weeks on the road, hosting Alma (1-1) at the Superior Dome. The Scots are ranked No. 17 in the AFCA D3 Coaches Poll.
Northern Michigan Notes
Last Week
NMU was on the road last weekend at UW-La Crosse, falling 35-21.
Aidan Hoard and Michael Love connected for two scores, the first multi-touchdown performance for each of them in their careers. Elizin Rouse led the 269-yard ground attack with 137 yards, including a 77-yard scamper to the endzone on the third run of his career. Jahi Wood added another 91. It was the most yards the team gained on the ground since the 2018 season.
The Eagles made their mark throwing for 340 yards and three TD’s while adding two more scores on the ground.
Wildcats to Watch
Junior linebacker Mitch Larkin guides the defense after leading the conference last season in total tackles with 118. That marked a near 100 tackle increase from his freshman campaign where he recorded 22. He finished tied for third in Division II in total tackles (118) and fifth in tackles/game (10.7). He currently sits atop the GLIAC tackled leaderboard this year with 27.
Also in the linebacker room, sophomore Jax Hertel will look to take a leap in his second year after recording 65 tackles and a pair of interceptions as a true freshman. Both Larkin and Hertel earned All-GLIAC Honorable Mention last season.
After being forced into action as a true freshman following an injury to starter Mariano Valenti, quarterback Aidan Hoard appeared in eight games, throwing for 1,059 yards and five TD’s. The 6’4″ Frankenmuth native completed 101 of 196 (51.5%) of his passing attempts. Wideouts Michael Love and Sam Peiffer will look to play roles as top targets through the air, as they combined for 680 receiving yards and 5 TD’s last season. Freshman Kaleb Isom and Jahi Wood will also look to make an impact at skill positions.
Cat Nips
- The Green and Gold field one of the youngest teams in the nation, with 42 of 96 (43.8%) of the roster consisting of first-year players. Underclassmen makeup 68 of the 96 (70.8%) roster spots.
- NMU’s 269 yards on the ground at UW-La Crosse marked its best ground effort since the 2018 season.
- Freshman Jahi Wood (209) is second in the conference in rushing while freshman Elizin Rouse (137) is also in the top-10.
- Mitch Larkin currently leads the GLIAC with 27 tackles. Larkin paced the conference last season with 118.
- Michael Love’s two touchdown catches marked the first time a Wildcat receiver found the endzone twice in a game since September 24, 2022 when Wyatt Davis went for two scores on Homecoming in a 42-14 win over Post. He is third in the GLIAC this year with three TD’s.
- Michael Karlen is 2-2 on FG’s and 5-5 on PAT’s so far this season.
- The Wildcats were the least penalized team in the GLIAC in 2023, totaling 54 over 11 games for an average of 4.9/game.
Notes on Alma
The No. 16 nationally DIII ranked Scots are 1-1, most recently defeating Denison 38-30. Through two games, QB Carter St. John has thrown for 537 yards and 7 TD’s. Zach Poff (142 yards, 1 TD), Ty Lotterman (129 yards, 2 TD’s), Devon Frenchko (109 yards, 2 TD’s) and Jordan Willis (77 yards, 1 TD) present a quad-threat at wideout for Alma.
As a team, the Scots average 36.5 points/game and 431.5 yards/game. Defensively, they are allowing 489 yards/game, 357.0 through the air and 132.0 on the ground.
Roosevelt (0-1), fresh off its NCAA Division II debut a week ago, plays its first road game on Saturday. The Lakers will make the short trip to northern Indiana to meet FCS foe Valparaiso (1-2).
No. 5 Ferris State (1-1) has a bye week. The Bulldogs will be back in action on September, playing at American International.
