UNIVERSITY CITY, Mich. – In a matchup of Top-25 NCAA Division II Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference programs, the Saginaw Valley State University football team was edged by visiting Davenport University, 29-28, on Cardinals Athletic Hall of Fame Day at Wickes Stadium.

The No. 18-ranked Panthers remain unbeaten at 8-0 overall and 4-0 in the GLIAC, while the 23^rd-ranked Cardinals fall to 6-3 on the season and 1-3 in the GLIAC.

First Quarter:

• The host Cardinals got on the scoreboard first on their second play from scrimmage. Jairus Grissom ran 73 yards into the end zone after just 46 seconds from the opening kickoff.
• Davenport made it 7-3 with a Brandon Gielow 38-yard field goal at the 3:05 mark, capping 10-play, 49-yard drive in 3 minutes and 55 seconds.

Second Quarter:

• Grissom scored his second touchdown of the afternoon on a 1-yard plunge to up SVSU's lead to 14-3 with 13:04 to go. That capped a drive in 12 plays for 65 yards in 5:01.
• Another Gielow field goal, this time from 21 yards out, cut the Cardinals lead to 14-6 with 7:24 remaining.
• Saginaw Valley had a chance to pad its lead as the defense intercepted a pass at the DU 26, but a fumble on the ensuing possession gave the ball back to the Panthers.
• Davenport ended the first half with a Jason Whittaker 22-yard TD pass to Roy Livingstone with 12 seconds left. SVSU led 14-13 after the 11-play, 72-yard scoring drive in 3:41 elapsed time.

Third Quarter:

• Davenport took advantage of a SVSU muffed punt return to start its second possession of the second half at the Cardinals' 10. Gielow booted a 25-yard field goal to give the Panthers their first lead at 16-14 with 11:59 remaining.
• But on its ensuing possession, SVSU reclaimed the lead, 21-16, with a Grissom 3-yard TD run at the 10:37 mark. The score was set up by his own 33-yard run from the DU 36.
• The Panthers capitalized on another turnover as an interception set up the visitors at the SVSU 31. Five plays later, Whittaker threw a 19-yard TD pass to Alonzell Henderson and a 23-21 lead at 6:54.

Fourth Quarter:

• The Panthers had a chance to extend their lead on a 28-yard field goal attempt that was set up by a fumble at the SVSU 27. But Gielow's kick was blocked by Nick Whiteside.
• The Cardinals offense picked up on the good vibes by the defense and scored on their next possession to reclaim the lead 28-23. Isaiah Malcome had a 58-yard TD catch-and-run from Grissom that capped a three-play drive covering 85 yards.
• But Davenport went back in front on its next possession to lead 29-28 with 9:51 to go. The seven-play, 70-yard drive ended with a Brenden Sherrod 27-yard TD reception from Whittaker. The two-point conversion failed.
• Saginaw Valley had to punt on its final possession as Davenport kept the football for the final 8:01 to preserve the one-point victory.

Inside the Box Score:

• The national rankings are according to the American Football Coaches' Association poll.
• Grissom finished with a game-high 154 rushing yards on 18 carries and three TDs. He also completed 9 of 14 passes for 140 yards and another TD, accounting for 294 total yards.
• Whittaker ended up 21-of-45 passing for 307 yards and three TDs (2 interceptions).
• Caleef Jenkins led DU's ground game with 102 yards rushing on 27 attempts.
• Casey Williams topped the Cardinals with four receptions for 47 yards.
• DU's Henderson led all receivers with nine catches and 96 yards.
• For the SVSU defense, Alfred Dailey Jr. (11 tackles, 2 solo), Trevor Nowaske (10, 5) and Jacob Dorn (10, 2) led the charge.
• Jalen Robinson led the way defensively for Davenport with five solo stops and 10 total.
• Saginaw Valley outrushed DU 193-154, but the Panthers had the edge in total offense, 461-333, first downs (27-15) and time of possession (39:57 to 20:03).
• All three of SVSU's losses have come against Top-25 opponents by just 25 combined points. The Cardinals also have two wins against nationally-ranked teams.

Up Next:

The Cardinals travel next Saturday to Marquette for a GLIAC matchup with the Wildcats at Northern Michigan University. Kickoff at the Superior Dome is scheduled for 1 p.m.