TheDavenport Panthers football program representedDavenport University ("Davenport") incollege football during the earliest years of the school's participation in intercollegiate football from 2016 to the present.

Davenport passed a resolution in November 2013 to plan for the development of an intercollegiate football team. The school hiredLou Esposito as the program's first head coach in May 2014 and built a football stadium on land donated byFarmers Insurance Group. The school fielded its first team in2016, competing as an independent in theNational Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and compiling a 6–5 record. Esposito left Davenport after the 2016 season. In February 2017, Davenport hiredFerris State assistant coachSparky McEwen as its new head coach.^[1] Also for the 2017 season, Davenport moved toNCAA Division II as a member of theGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). McEwen led the Panthers to their best seasons in 2023 (8–3) and 2024 (8–2), with the 2023 team receiving the program's first (and as of 2025 only) berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs. McEwen remains Davenport's head coach as of the 2025 season.

Davenport plays its home games at the Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex located on the school's campus inCaledonia Township, Michigan.

In November 2013, under the leadership of athletic director Paul Lowden, Davenport passed a resolution to develop a plan for a football program.^[3] Preparations for fielding a football team proceeded in 2014 and 2015, including:

• Farmers Insurance Group donated 45 acres for the construction of a football stadium that would also include a track and would also host Davenport's soccer and rugby teams. The site also included parking, a concourse, and a concession stand and ticket sales building.^[4][5][6]
• Lou Esposito was hired as the school's first head football coach in May 2014, more than two years before the first game was played. Esposito had been a defensive coordinator at Ferris State and prior to that the defensive line coach at Western Michigan.^[7] (Esposito now serves as the defensive line coach atMichigan.)
• Steve Casula was added as the offensive coordinator in August 2014.^[8] (Casula now serves as co-offensive coordinator at Michigan.)
• A group of 95 freshmen began practice and scrimmages beginning in August 2015 and continuing through the fall.^[5][9]

The2016 Davenport Panthers football team representedDavenport University as an independent during the2016 NAIA football season. In their first year of intercollegiate football, and their first and only under head coachLou Esposito, the Panthers compiled a 6–5 record and outscored opponents by a total of 278 to 175.^[10][11]

The team did not have a senior and was made up mostly of freshmen or redshirt freshmen. True freshman Hunter Krause of Fairfield, Ohio, was the team's starting quarterback.^[12] Eighteen of the 22 starters were freshmen. The only two players with college game experience were receiver Herman Brunis, a transfer from Ohio University, and linebacker Brent Showers, a transfer from Northern MIchigan.^[13]

On October 23, a non-student shooter opened fire on football players in a university dormitory. One football player, Braden Schrotenboer, was shot in his hand.^[14]

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
August 27	Taylor	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	L 28–41	1,600	[15]
September 3	at Kentucky Christian	Knights Stadium Grayson, KY	W 59–0	950	[16]
September 10	at Tiffin	Frost Krasnow Tiffin, OH	L 17–20	3,125	[17]
September 17	Kentucky Wesleyan	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	W 41–7	1,432
September 24	Arizona Christian	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	W 20–7	1,604	[18]
October 1	at Saint Xavier	Chicago, IL	W 20–7	1,500	[19]
October 8	University of Faith	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	W 32–0	773	[20]
October 15	at St. Francis (IL)	Joliet, IL	L 21–24	1,025	[21]
October 22	Quincy	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	W 14–10	1,311
October 29	St. Joseph's (IN)	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	L 20–24	1,694
November 5	No. 4St. Francis (IN)	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	L 6–35	1,213
Homecoming Rankings fromCoaches' Poll released prior to the game

^[11]

The2017 Davenport Panthers football team representedDavenport University as a member of theGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the2017 NCAA Division II football season. In their second year of intercollegiate football, and the first year under head coachSparky McEwen, the Panthers compiled a 1–10 record (0–9 in conference games), finished in last place in the GLIAC, and were outscored by a total of 329 to 128.^[22][23]

On offense, the Panthers gained 1,684 rushing yards and 1,269 passing yards. On defense, they allowed opponents 2,259 rushing yards and 1,565 passing yards.^[22] The individual leaders were Holden Majewski (667 passing yards), William Gist (373 rushing yards), and Deondre Moore (24 receptions for 316 yards).^[22]

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
August 31	7:00 p.m.	Concordia (MI)*	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	L 6–25	1,637
September 9	7:00 p.m.	at No. 14Grand Valley State	Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI	L 0–48	16,734
September 16	12:00 p.m.	Tiffin	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	L 14–27	1,135
September 23	1:30 p.m.	atNorthern Michigan	Superior Dome Marquette, MI	L 14–24	3,971
September 30	12:05 p.m.	No. 20Ashland	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	L 0–38	894
October 7	3:00 p.m.	atSaginaw Valley State	Wickes Stadium University Center, MI	L 0–33	2,485
October 14	1:05 p.m.	McKendree	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	W 27–242OT	694
October 21	1:00 p.m.	atNorthwood	Hantz Stadium Midland, MI	L 30–332OT	1,827
October 28	1:00 p.m.	atMichigan Tech	Sherman Field Houghton, MI	L 10–17	788
November 4	12:05 p.m.	No. 12Ferris State	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	L 0–26	802
November 11	12:00 p.m.	Wayne State (MI)	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	L 27–34OT	1,044
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings fromAFCA Poll released prior to the game All times are inEastern time

^[23]

The2018 Davenport Panthers football team representedDavenport University as a member of theGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the2018 NCAA Division II football season. In their second year under head coachSparky McEwen, the Panthers compiled a 6–5 record (3–5 in conference games), tied for fifth place in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 244 to 230.^[24][25]

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 1	4:05 p.m.	at Robert Morris (IL)*	Morris Field Arlington Heights, IL	W 44–7	750
September 8	12:00 p.m.	No. 4D-III Wisconsin-Oshkosh*	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	W 7–3	890
September 15	1:00 p.m.	atMichigan Tech	Sherman Field Houghton, MI	W 23–21	1,808
September 22	1:00 p.m.	at Quincy*	QU Stadium Quincy, IL	W 26–10	1,000
September 29	12:05 p.m.	Northern Michigan	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	W 31–30OT	1,844
October 6	6:07 p.m.	atWayne State (MI)	Tom Adams Field Detroit, MI	W 37–14	1,524
October 13	1:00 p.m.	atNorthwood	Hantz Stadium Midland, MI	L 22–30	1,815
October 20	12:55 p.m.	No. 8Grand Valley State	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	L 14–19	2,400
October 27	12:05 p.m.	Ashland	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	L 6–31	592
November 3	1:00 p.m.	at No. 2Ferris State	Top Taggart Field Big Rapids, MI	L 17–41	3,014
November 10	12:20 p.m.	Saginaw Valley State	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	L 17–24OT	651
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings fromAFCA Poll released prior to the game All times are inEastern time

^[25]

The2019 Davenport Panthers football team representedDavenport University as a member of theGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the2019 NCAA Division II football season. In their third year under head coachSparky McEwen, the Panthers compiled a 5–5 record (3–5 in conference games), tied for fifth place in the GLIAC, and were outscored by a total of 233 to 181.^[26][27]

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 14	2:00 p.m.	atLake Erie*	Jack Britt Memorial Stadium Painesville, OH	W 13–9	717
September 21	1:00 p.m.	atNorthern Michigan	Superior Dome Marquette, MI	W 21–7	3,611
September 28	12:00 p.m.	Lindenwood*	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	W 35–24	1,562
October 5	12:05 p.m.	No. 2Ferris State	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	L 7–35	1,612
October 12	1:00 p.m.	atAshland	Jack Miller Stadium Ashland, OH	L 27–30	3,207
October 19	12:05 p.m.	Michigan Tech	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	L 17–30	1,242
October 26	7:05 p.m.	at No. 16Grand Valley State	Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI	L 7–27	5,262
November 2	12:05 p.m.	Wayne State (MI)	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	L 0–34	1,029
November 9	12:05 p.m.	Northwood	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	W 21–14	1,344	[28]
November 16	1:00 p.m.	atSaginaw Valley State	Wickes Stadium University Center, MI	W 33–23	1,750
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings fromAFCA Poll released prior to the game All times are inEastern time

^[27]

The 2020 season was cancelled due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.

The2021 Davenport Panthers football team representedDavenport University as a member of theGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the2021 NCAA Division II football season. In their fourth year under head coachSparky McEwen, the Panthers compiled a 3–8 record (2–5 in conference games), finished a three-way tie for fifth place in the GLIAC, and were outscored by a total of 285 to 104.^[29][30]

The team's statistical leaders included Deondre Ford (577 passing yards), Jaier Harden (348 rushing yards), Amonte Phillips (28 receptions for 334 yards), and Bryan Plegue (30 points scored on 12 extra points and six field goals).^[29] The team also featured linebacker Elysee Mbem-Bosse, a former four-star recruit and Central Africa native who tansferred to Davenport after being dismissed from theMichigan Wolverines football program in late 2017.^[31][32]

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 4	12:05 p.m.	Truman State*	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	L 14–31	1,266
September 11	12:00 p.m.	at Walsh*	Bob Commings Field Canton, OH	W 10–6	754
September 18	1:00 p.m.	atNorthern Michigan	Superior Dome Marquette, MI	L 14–20	1,536
September 25	3:00 p.m.	at No. 3Ferris State	Top Taggart Field Big Rapids, MI (rivalry)	L 0–38	6,636
October 2	1:00 p.m.	atMichigan Tech	Sherman Field Houghton, MI	L 7–31	1,700
October 9	12:05 p.m.	Northern Michigan	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	W 18–13	1,202
October 16	12:05 p.m.	Wayne State	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	L 3–16	688
October 23	1:00 p.m.	atNorthwood	Hantz Football Stadium Midland, MI	W 21–14	1,115
October 30	12:00 p.m.	Saginaw Valley State	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	L 3–24	1,050
November 6	12:00 p.m.	No. 1 Ferris State	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	L 14–50	1,266
November 13	1:00 p.m.	at No. 5Grand Valley State	Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI	L 0–42	8,483
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings fromAFCA Poll released prior to the game All times are inEastern time

^[30]

The2022 Davenport Panthers football team representedDavenport University as a member of theGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the2022 NCAA Division II football season. In their fifth year under head coachSparky McEwen, the Panthers compiled an 8–3 record (4–2 in conference games), finished in third place in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 336 to 322.^[33][34] The team opened the season with eight consecutive victories, the most victories in program history. For the first time in school history, the team participated in the NCAA Division II playoffs, losing to Ferris State in the first round.

The team was led on offense by quarterback Jason Whitaker, aRockford, Michigan, native who transferred fromNorthwestern.^[32][35] Whitaker completed 185 of 346 passes for 2,309 yards, 26 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, and a 127.96passer rating.^[33]

The team's other statistical leaders included Sy Barnett (694 receiving yards), Caleef Jenkins (575 rushing yards), and Brandon Gielow (65 points scored on 38 extra points and nine field goals).^[33]

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 3	12:00 p.m.	atTruman State*	Stokes Stadium Kirksville, MO		W 20–19	2,800	[36][37]
September 17	12:00 p.m.	Northern Michigan	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI		W 31–21	1,366
September 24	2:00 p.m.	Northwood*	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI		W 51–17	1,822
October 1	1:00 p.m.	Michigan Tech	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	FloSports	W 52–38	1,622
October 8	1:00 p.m.	at Northern Michigan	Superior Dome Marquette, MI		W 27–24OT	1,143
October 15	12:00 p.m.	Wayne State (MI)	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI		W 47–43	1,277
October 22	12:00 p.m.	Lincoln (CA)*	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI		W 58–14	1,300
October 29	1:00 p.m.	at No. 23Saginaw Valley State	Wickes Stadium University Center, MI		W 29–28	1,920
November 5	1:00 p.m.	at No. 7Ferris State	Top Taggart Field Big Rapids, MI		L 7–28	3,600	[38]
November 12	12:00 p.m.	No. 1Grand Valley State	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	FloSports	L 7–49	2,888	[39][40]
November 19	1:00 p.m.	at No. 5 Ferris State*	Top Taggart Field Big Rapids, MI (NCAA Division II playoffs, first round)		L 7–41	1,107	[41][42]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings fromAFCA Poll released prior to the game All times are inEastern time

The2023 Davenport Panthers football team representedDavenport University as a member of theGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the2023 NCAA Division II football season. In their sixth year under head coachSparky McEwen, the Panthers compiled an 8–2 record (4–2 in conference games), finished in third place in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 336 to 322.^[43][44]

The team's statistical leaders included Jason Whitaker (1,812 passing yards, 14 touchdown passes, 127.94passer rating), Peyton Brown (34 receptions for 551 yards), Myren Harris (976 rushing yards), and Brandon Gielow (59 points scored on 29 extra points and 10 touchdowns).^[43]

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
September 2	12:00 p.m.	Thomas More*		Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI		W 31–17	1,433
September 9	12:00 p.m.	Bowie State*		Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI		W 24–19	1,304
September 23	12:00 p.m.	William Jewell*	No. 21	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI		W 55–27	1,500
September 30	1:00 p.m.	atMichigan Tech	No. 18	Kearly Stadium Houghton, MI	FloSports	W 28–0	2,600
October 7	2:00 p.m.	Northern Michigan	No. 16	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI		W 28–12	1,666
October 14	6:00 p.m.	atWayne State (MI)	No. 16	Tom Adams Field Detroit, MI		W 32–3	1,738
October 21	12:00 p.m.	at University of Mary*	No. 13	MDU Resources Community Bowl Bismarck, ND		W 44–34	1,773
October 28	12:00 p.m.	Saginaw Valley State	No. 11	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI		W 24–21	1,112
November 4	12:00 p.m.	No. 7Ferris State	No. 9	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	FloSports	L 10–28	2,150	[45]
November 11	1:00 p.m.	at No. 2–TGrand Valley State	No. 16	Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI		L 0–38	10,259
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings fromAFCA Poll released prior to the game All times are inEastern time

^[44]

The2024 Davenport Panthers football team representedDavenport University as a member of theGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the2024 NCAA Division II football season. In their seventh year under head coachSparky McEwen, the Panthers compiled a 7–4 record (4–3 in conference games), finished in a three-way tie for third place in the GLIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 257 to 233.^[46][47]

The team's statistical leaders included Myren Harris (849 rushing yards), Mike O'Hara (1,010 passing yards), Preston Smith (36 receptions for 430 yards), and Brandon Gielow (67 points on 31 extra points and 12 field goals).^[46]

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 7	12:00 p.m.	atThomas More*	Republic Bank Field Crestview Hills, KY	W 24–17	1,457
September 14	11:00 a.m.	atBowie State*	Bulldog Stadium Bowie, MD	W 17–14	1,303
September 21	12:00 p.m.	No. 11Central Missouri*	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	L 31–32	1,202
September 28	1:00 p.m.	atWilliam Jewell*	Greene Stadium Liberty, MO	W 17–7	450
October 5	12:00 p.m.	No. 2Grand Valley State	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	L 7–24	2,102	[48]
October 12	12:00 p.m.	atMichigan Tech	Sherman Field Houghton, MI	W 24–20	1,231
October 19	2:00 p.m.	Wayne State	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	W 43–26	1,445
October 26	2:00 p.m.	atRoosevelt	Morris Field Arlington Heights, IL	W 19–14	692
November 2	1:00 p.m.	atSaginaw Valley State	Harvey Randall Wickes Memorial Stadium University Center, MI	L 14–24	4,339
November 9	12:00 p.m.	Northern Michigan	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	W 52–31	1,203
November 16	1:00 p.m.	at No. 2Ferris State	Top Taggart Field Big Rapids, MI (Calder City Classic)	L 9–24	2,149	[49][50]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings fromAFCA Poll released prior to the game All times are inEastern time

^[47]

The2025 Davenport Panthers football team representDavenport University as a member of theGreat Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the2025 NCAA Division II football season.Sparky McEwen leads the team in his eighth season as the Panthers' head coach.

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance	Source
August 30	12:00 p.m.	atGannon*	McConnell Family Stadium Erie, PA		W 21–12	823
September 13	1:00 p.m.	atTruman State*	Stokes Stadium Kirksville, MO		L 27–28OT	1,200
September 20	1:00 p.m.	atNorthern Michigan	Superior Dome Marquette, MI	FloSports	W 35–16	2,680
September 25	7:30 p.m.	Lincoln (CA)*	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	FloSports	Cancelled		[51]
October 4	4:00 p.m.	at No. 10Grand Valley State	Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI	FloSports	L 14–37	15,188
October 11	2:00 p.m.	Michigan Tech	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	FloSports
October 18	1:00 p.m.	atWayne State (MI)	Tom Adams Field Detroit, MI	FloSports
October 25	12:00 p.m.	Roosevelt	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	FloSports
November 1	12:00 p.m.	Saginaw Valley State	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	FloSports
November 8	12:00 p.m.	Northern Michigan	Farmers Insurance Athletic Complex Caledonia Township, MI	FloSports
November 15	12:00 p.m.	Ferris State	Farmers Insurance Complex Caledonia Township, MI (Calder City Classic)	FloSports
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings fromAFCA Poll released prior to the game All times are inEastern time

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