The tune-ups are over, and the road to an automatic playoff berth kicks off this week in the GLIAC, with a trio of games to open league play, including a showdown between the league’s final two undefeated teams, a rivalry clash, and the preseason favorites hoping to avoid the upset trap.

It was tough sledding for the GLIAC in Week 4, with its two preseason favorites sitting out the league managed to go just 2-3, but the two teams who did win kept their records unblemished and set up a massive early showdown that could have playoff implications down the line.

GLIAC: No. 18 Davenport (3-0) at Michigan Tech (3-0)

• Where: Kearley Stadium; Houghton, Michigan
• When: 1 PM ET
• Last Week: Michigan Tech defeated Upper Iowa, 34-31; Davenport defeated William Jewell, 55-27
• Series History: Michigan Tech leads 3-2; Davenport won last season’s game 52-38

If you had told GLIAC fans to guess who the last two undefeated teams in the league would be, not many would have pegged Michigan Tech and Davenport to be that duo, but that’s exactly where things stand after each was perfect in their non-conference play to open the season.

Tech has done it by winning a pair of nailbiters the last two weeks, including a 34-31 win at Upper Iowa last week, booting the game-winning field goal inside the last minute to erase a 17-point deficit entering the fourth quarter, pushing their record to 3-0 for the first time since the 2015 season. On the season Tech is averaging just under 34 points per game. Davenport likewise has flexed its offensive muscle to open the season, dropping 52 points on William Jewell a week ago, boasting nearly 500 yards of offense, and outsourcing the guests 27-0 to the finish line after William Jewell had pulled within 28-27 in the third. Needless to say, there should be plenty of offensive fireworks in this one.

Huskies to the 🏠

Michigan Tech extends their lead 42-13.@MTUFB | @GLIACsports pic.twitter.com/nHrMHOvbB7

— FloFootball (@FloFootball) September 9, 2023

Tech through two games had done it through the air, passing for over 280 yards in those wins, before leaning on the ground game last week at Upper Iowa, racking up 204 yards and over six yards per carry on the day.

Quarterback Alex Fries has been accurate, but turnover-prone through three games, hitting over 61 percent of his passes but tossing six interceptions to five touchdown passes. After being bottled up for the majority of the first two games, running back William Marano broke out last week for 147 yards on 20 carries, including a score, his first of the season. Marano leads Tech with 240 yards through three games.

Both teams feature strong receivers in the game, with the Tech duo of Ethan Champney and Darius Willis causing problems in different ways. Champney leads Tech with 19 grabs for 364 yards and four touchdowns already, nearly 20 yards per grab, while Willis has proven to be a safety blanket for Fries, hauling in 17 passes so far, but averaging less than 10 yards per snag.

If there’s one concern for the Tech offense through three games, it has been the turnover bug. In addition to Fries’ six interceptions, the Huskies have lose four fumbles, bringing the turnover total to 10. While 3-0 is 3-0, coughing the ball up three times per game is not a sustainable winning recipe, and needs to be shored up if Tech wants to keep its undefeated start intact.

They face a tough test in a Davenport defense that while giving up points, has been fairly stingy with yards. During their 3-0 start, the Panthers have held opponents to just 65 yards per game on the ground, and just 5.18 yards per pass, while snagging six interceptions. 

Turnovers have been a big key for Davenport in the early going, holding a Plus-7 advantage in turnover margin, and giving the ball up just one time through three games.

That ball security has been key for a Davenport offense that has been ruthlessly efficient through three games, scoring nearly 37 points per game, scoring 15 touchdowns thus far, while being fairly balanced between the run and the pass.

Myren Harris, a transfer from Wayne State, has gotten better as the season has gone on and sits at 345 yards through three games, including 129 last week, part of a 224-yard and four-score day for the ground game.

Turn on the jets 💨@myren_harris23 rushes for an incredible 75-yard touchdown!@DU_Football | @GLIACsports pic.twitter.com/XgImYQP6X7

— FloFootball (@FloFootball) September 23, 2023

Jason Whittaker has been efficient at QB, tossing just one interception to five touchdowns while averaging over 215 yards per game. Preston Smith has been his top target, snagging four touchdowns among his 13 grabs, leading the team in both categories, as well as total yards.

The passing game may be counted on by Davenport, who faces a Tech defense that has been tough against the run, yielding just 3.3 yards per carry, but has given up over 250 yards per game through the air. The Huskies seem content to give up passing yards if it means forcing turnovers. The defense has already picked off seven passes this season, led by Sam Ahern’s three, which has put him in the early running for Defensive Player of the Year.

If last season’s game is any indication, it should be close and feature a ton of points. Tech led 31-28 late in the third quarter last season before Davenport ripped off 24 unanswered points to pull out the win on their way to an 8-0 start. Whittaker passed for 361 yards as Davenport racked up 556 yards of offense.

GLIAC Games at a Glance

*All Games Scheduled for Saturday

Northern Michigan (0-4) at No. 1 Ferris State (2-1), 3 PM ET

Ferris State will be will-rested, and angry after taking a loss in its last game two weeks ago, albeit at FSC power and Top-25 ranked Montana in that game. The Bulldogs against Divison II competition have scored 92 points in their two wins, and look to continue an incredible regular season run that has seen them lose just once in the regular season against Division II competition dating back to September of 2017.

Northern faces a daunting task, struggling on both sides of the ball during their 0-4 start, getting outscored by 89 points to open the season. The Wildcats put up a game effort at Quincy last week, scoring 27 points, but giving up 480 yards of offense.

No. 7 Grand Valley State (2-1) at Saginaw Valley State (2-2), 6 PM ET

Like Ferris State, the Lakers will come into their GLIAC opener well-rested after sitting out last week, getting a welcome break after playing three ranked teams in three weeks to open the season. Their last time out, GVSU clobbered Assumption to the tune of a 43-7 win. GVSU leads the GLIAC in scoring so far, netting 128 points in their three wins.

SVSU will try to pull the upset after getting stifled by Indianapolis last week, 28-7. The Cardinal defense has been tough thus far, giving up 22 points per game, but the offense has not followed suit, putting up just 82 points in four games. GVSU took last season’s Battle of the Valleys game in a 29-10 decision and has won 10 straight in the rivalry.

Concordia (3-0) at Wayne State (1-3), 6 PM ET

Wayne State looks to get things back on track against a tough NAIA team in Concordia, after getting handled at home by Truman State a week ago, 41-7. The offense has been hard to come by for the Warriors in the early going, netting just 62 points in their four games, while the defense has conceded over 30 per game.

Concordia has been one of the highest-scoring teams in NAIA during its 3-0 start, putting up 142 points, including scoring 54 twice already.