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Wayne State University Athletics

Luke Johnson 2026 vs. Northwood
(C) Douglas Johnson, all rights reserved.
Luke Johnson recorded a game-high 15 tackles at Davenport.
0
Wayne St. (MI) WSU 0-8 , 0-4
49
Winner Davenport DAV 8-0 , 4-0
Wayne St. (MI) WSU
0-8 , 0-4
0
Final
49
Davenport DAV
8-0 , 4-0
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
WSU Wayne St. (MI) 0 0 0 0 0
DAV Davenport 21 14 7 7 49

Game Recap: Football | | Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Football Drops Decision At #9-Davenport

CALEDONIA, Mich. -- The Wayne State University football team (0-8 overall, 0-4 GLIAC) fell 49-0 at ninth-ranked Davenport University (8-0 overall, 4-0 GLIAC) Saturday afternoon.

HOW IT HAPPENED
First Quarter
Both teams garnered one first down on their opening drive of the contest before having to punt.

Following WSU's second punt, the Panthers drove 63 yards in four plays to grab a 7-0 lead on 38-yard touchdown pass from Jonathan Palmer to DU's Brody Thompson.

After another Wayne State punt, the Warrior defense forced a fourth-and-one but an offsides penalty gave Davenport a first down.  On the following play, DU running back Cephus Harris broke through for a 54-yard touchdown run with 5:51 remaining in the opening stanza.

The Panthers extended their advantage to 21-0 with a six-play, 57-yard drive with Harris scoring a seven-yard plunge up the middle.

Second Quarter
Wayne State punted on the third play of the second stanza, but a muffed return fumble was recovered by Max Edwards (Los Angeles, Calif. / American Fork, Utah).

The drive ended with a 67-yard punt by Griffin Nowak (Livonia, Mich. / Franklin).

The DU drive was stopped as Dereon Foster (Romeo, Mich. [Lawrence Tech]) notched WSU's first interception of the season.  Nowak then had a 65-yard punt.

Davenport put together an 80-yard drive in 10 plays with Harris scoring from one yard out with 1:44 left before intermission.

On the ensuing drive, DU used two timeouts and forced a Warrior punt that was returned to the Panther 45 yard line.

Davenport went 55 yards in two plays in just 14 seconds to take a 35-0 lead on a 30-yard TD pass from Palmer to Tendaji Alexander.

Third Quarter
After DU earned one first down to start the second half, the Warrior defense stopped the Panthers short on a fourth-and-four near midfield.

Wayne State's fake punt resulted in a first down pass from Nowak to Max Edwards.  However on the next play, WSU signal caller Dale Johnson (Sandusky, Ohio) was intercepted.

Three plays later, redshirt freshman safety Dharon Flowers (Holland, Ohio / Toledo Central Catholic) recorded his first career interception.

On the first play following a Wayne State punt, safety Jonathan Melendez (Trenton, Mich. [Adrian]) recovered a DU fumble.

After a Warrior punt, Davenport went 82 yards in five plays with Landon Tungate scoring on a 47-yard jaunt to make it 42-0.

Fourth Quarter
The only score of the fourth quarter was a 34-yard pass from James Young to Devin Fridley-Bell.

TEAM STATS
Davenport had a 599-117 edge in total offense, including a 374-53 advantage in rushing yards.

LEADING THE WARRIORS
Jordan Bell (Benton Harbor, Mich. / St. Joseph) had a team-best 31 rushing yards on one inside handoff.  Torrence Searcy (Romulus, Mich.) passed for 42 yards on 4-of-8.  Mar'Tavion Robinson (Lansing, Mich. / Waverly [Davenport]) led the squad with three receptions for 52 yards.  Luke Johnson (Oxford, Mich.) tallied a game-best 15 tackles (8-7), including two for loss.

LEADING THE PANTHERS
Harris rushed 17 times for 200 yards and three scores.  Palmer completed 7-of-12 passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns.  DU's Brody Thompson had three receptions for 70 yards and one score.  Cash Ruff had 10 tackles (7-3) to lead the Davenport defense.

UP NEXT
Wayne State will entertain Northern Michigan for a noon kickoff next Saturday (Oct. 31) at Tom Adams Field.
 
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