Taking on the state’s Class B defending state champions on the road in their first contest of the 2025 football season, the Davenport Bulldogs fell to Weleetka 48-14.
It was also the first contest for new Davenport head football coach Grant Powell.
Powell said this week, “I thought we competed well and we never gave up. We talked to the kids about it’s the response not the circumstance that defines you.”
Powell noted, “We kept fighting hard. We never stopped trying. We’re growing in that aspect.”
The new head coach said he has a freshman center, a sophomore quarterback and six juniors who start.
“We don’t have a senior,” he added. This Friday night in their home opener the Bulldogs host Wetumka with the kickoff at 7:30 p.m.
Davenport quarterback Chase Mitchell was 11 for 27, connecting for more than 40 percent of his passes for 201 yards, he had one passing touchdown with one interception and 26 yards on four carries.
Brody Robinson had 11 solo tackles and a total of 17 tackles, with one pass deflection and a fumble recovery.
Aydan Stancell had 45 rushing yards including a touchdown on the ground and seven total tackles on defense, Ivan Morris caught seven passes for 70 yards including one for a touchdown.
Reece Murfin snagged two passes for 46 yards and Jeb Kalka caught a pass for 20 yards.
The Bulldogs had 73 rushing yards, 201 passing, gave up four fumbles but recovered three and had two interceptions on defense.
Powell said, “We missed some open receivers, but Chase did a good job.”
About their upcoming opponent Friday night, the coach commented, pretty big, but if we can “Wetumka is very, very get around the big guys up big up front. They are front we’ll be okay.”