Posted: Oct 31, 2024
Game 9: Saginaw Valley vs. Davenport
Saturday, November 2, 2024 | 1:00 p.m. ET
Harvey Randal Wickes Memorial Stadium | University Center, Mich.
2024 Game Notes: vs. Davenport
Preview Interviews: Coach Brady, Micah Cretsinger, Leonard Henry IV, Mason McKenzie
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Video - https://flosports.link/3WoNXQa
Live Stats - http://www.svsucardinals.com/sports/fball/2024-25/boxscores/20241102_2cxd.xml
Radio - https://alphamediaplayer.com/1063thecore
Kick-Off
The Saginaw Valley State University Football team hosts the Davenport Panthers in a week nine matchup. The Cardinals (6-2, 3-1 GLIAC) will look to end a two-game losing streak to the Panthers (6-2, 3-1 GLIAC) in a contest that will split up part of the current three-way tie for second place in the conference standings.
SVSU had a bounce-back week in a 37-10 win over Wayne State on the road this past week. The Cardinals jumped out to a 16-3 lead in the first half, before scoring twice more to push the advantage to 30-3 in the fourth quarter. The Warriors put a touchdown on the board before the final score by the Cardinals gave the game its final score.
Davenport defeated GLIAC newcomer Roosevelt, 19-14 in Illinois for the third-straight win since the loss to Grand Valley State. The Panthers trailed 14-10 at the half but scored a touchdown in the third quarter and a safety in the fourth to earn the win.
The Series
The all-time series between Saginaw Valley State and Davenport is 3-2 in favor of the Panthers. DU has won the last two meetings by a total of four points. The Cardinals' last win came in 2021 at Davenport, 24-3. SVSU is 0-2 at home versus the Panthers (the first meeting between the teams was a 33-0 win for SVSU. That win was vacated by the Cardinals).
All-Time Series Results
October 28, 2023: Davenport 24, SVSU 21
October 29, 2022: Davenport 29, SVSU 28
October 30, 2021: SVSU 24, Davenport 3
November 16, 2019: Davenport 33, SVSU 23
November 10, 2018: SVSU 24, Davenport 17
October 7, 2017: SVSU 33, Davenport 0 *
W-L: 2-3 / H: 0-2 / A: 1-1 / Avg. margin: 8.4
* Win Vacated
1ST-AND-10
• The Cardinals currently sit in a three-way tie for second in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) standings with Grand Valley State and Davenport. The Cardinals and Panthers are 6-2 overall and 3-1 in league play while the Lakers are 7-1, 3-1.
• SVSU has one game left on the road and two at home in the final three games of the season. The Cardinals host Davenport this week. SVSU then goes to Big Rapids to face Ferris State on the road on 11/9 before wrapping up the regular season against Michigan Tech on 11/16.
• Senior All-American linebacker Micah Cretsinger was named to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000 and the D2 Elite 100 watch lists. Junior linebacker Brandon Rawls joined Cretsinger on the D2 Elite 100 list.
• Saginaw Valley faces three ranked opponents this season: at (#15) Indianapolis (W, 28-24), (#2) Grand Valley State (L, 16-9), and at (#2) Ferris State on November 9.
• Freshman quarterback Mason McKenzie is 111-of-193 for 1,453 yards and 10 touchdowns through the air. McKenzie leads the Cardinals in passing and rushing with 73 carries for 500 yards and four scores on the ground. He currently ranks third in the GLIAC in both rushing and passing yards.
• Redshirt freshman Joseph Walker is the team's leading receiver with 22 receptions for 333 yards and two scores. Junior Eric Craft has 20 catches for 325 yards and two touchdowns.
• Terrence Brown, Jr. leads receivers with three touchdowns and 15 receptions for 202. Brown is second on the team in rushing with 94 carries for 416 yards and a team-leading five touchdowns. He is the team's leading scorer with 54 points on nine total touchdowns.
• Micah Cretsinger is the team's leading tackler with 50 stops this season. The 2023 All-American linebacker has 5.5 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, one recovery, 1.5 sacks, and three pass breakups on his stat line.
• Alfred Dailey, Jr. has 47 tackles with a sack, a.5 TFLs, and a forced fumble. Eli Gordon leads the team in interceptions with four this season. He is third in tackles with 46 and had a best five pass breakups to his credit. Leonard Henry IV has 10.5 sacks to lead the Cardinal pass rush along with 42 tackles (4th-most on the team). Henry currently leads the nation in sacks per game with a mark of 1.31.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
ABOUT THE PANTHERS
Davenport boasts the GLIAC's leading rusher in Myren Harris. Harris has 121 carries for 642 yards and four touchdowns. He is averaging 80.25 yards per game. Former SVSU Cardinal Mike O'Horo is the Panthers' leader in passing. O'Horo is 77-for-138 for 985 yards and nine touchdowns in eight appearances. D'Wan Mathis has seven games played at quarterback. He is 45-for-76 for 580 yards and three touchdowns. Preston Smith leads the receivers with 29 catches for 468 yards and five scores. Smith is fourth in the GLIAC in receiving yards per game with 58.5.
Cameron Grodhaus leads the DU defense with 61 tackles, 3.5 for loss, and three interceptions. Latrell Scott and Geemontae Peck have a team-high 8.5 tackles for loss. Peck is the unit's leading pass rusher with 4.5 sacks this season. The defense currently sits third in rushing (100.8), fourth in scoring (19.3), and fifth in passing (225.5).
Brandon Gielow has made 8-of-10 field goal attempts this season with a long of 43 yards. He is perfect in extra-point attempts as he has made all 22. Antjuan Collins recorded his second kick return for a touchdown against Roosevelt. He leads the league with that mark.
GLIAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Junior safety Eli Gordon has won GLIAC Football Defensive Player of the Week three times this season. Gordon earned the honor after Cardinal wins over Winona State, Truman State, and Indianapolis. The Midland, Michigan native, leads the SVSU defense in tackles and interceptions. He is sitting third in all of NCAA Division II with an average of 0.7 picks per contest having recorded an interception in four of the first six games this season.
PASS RUSH NIGHTMARE
Cardinal pass rusher Leonard Henry IV has been a nightmare to opposing teams this season. Henry has 10.5 sacks through eight games and has the nation's best sack numbers, averaging 1.31 per game along with a second-best 15.5 tackles for loss.