Huskies Set for Gridiron Finale at Sherman Field
THE MATCHUP
Saturday, November 16, 2013 • 1:00 p.m. (ET)
Michigan Tech (5-4, 5-4 GLIAC) hosts Wayne State (3-7, 3-6 GLIAC)
Radio Broadcast: WKMJ 93.5 FM (Josh Ylitalo, Phil Milbrath)
Video Webcast: HuskiesLive.mtu.edu
Audio Webcast: Pasty.net
Live Stats: http://livestats.prestosports.com/michigantech/
Full version of game notes available in pdf.
CLIFFHANGERS
For the second time this season, the Michigan Tech football team went from trailing to winning on the game's final play. Tyler Scarlett kept the ball on an option play to score the game-winning points in double overtime at Hillsdale for a 30-27 victory. Earlier this season, the Huskies defeated Northwood when Scarlett's pass on the final play was tipped and caught by Jordan McConnell in the endzone for a 33-31 win.
LATEST REGULAR SEASON GAME IN HISTORY
This Saturday's game that is being played on Nov. 16 is the latest regular season game for Michigan Tech in school history. The Huskies have played only one other football game later in the year than Nov. 15. That was an NCAA Playoff Regional Semifinal contest vs. North Dakota at Sherman Field on Nov. 20, 2004.
SCARLETT COULD RESET PASSING RECORDS SATURDAY
Quarterback Tyler Scarlett is 130 yards away from setting the Michigan Tech career record for passing yards (7,471). The junior also enters Saturday's (Nov. 16) game needing 257 yards to surpass his own single-season mark of 2,596 yards. Last week, Scarlett threw for 240 yards and a touchdown—tying for the school record for career TD passes with 59. He also had three rushing touchdowns in the game including one in each extra session of the Huskies' 30-27 double-overtime win at Hillsdale. Scarlett has accounted for 68 career touchdowns with 59 passing and nine rushing. He is 10 shy of Steve Short's mark of 78.
Michigan Tech Career Passing Yards Pct TDs Ints
1. Steve Short (2006-10) 7,471 .579 59 44
2. Tyler Scarlett (2011- ) 7,342 .622 59 19
3. Dave Walter (1983-86) 6,876 .505 48 59
LEFFINGWELL OVER 1,000
Running back Charlie Leffingwell gashed the Hillsdale defense for 7.2 yards per carry on 25 attempts last Saturday (Nov. 9). The junior totaled 179 yards on the day to push his season total to 1,117 yards. The 5-9, 200-pound Leffingwell is Tech's first 1,000-yard rusher since Phil Milbrath had 1,412 in 2010.
SERIES VS. WAYNE STATE
Michigan Tech and Wayne State have met 24 times, dating back to 1968. The Warriors lead the series 17-7 and won the first 10 meetings. The Huskies have won three of the last four matchups including last year's season finale (Nov. 10, 2012) 35-13 in Detroit. Tech was a 24-7 winner the last time the teams squared off at Sherman Field (Sept. 18, 2010).
HUSKIES BITES
Michigan Tech won its first game without also holding an advantage in time of possession. Prior to last week, the Huskies were 4-0 when they won the time of possession battle and 0-4 when they didn't … Six games this season have been decided by more than 19 points. Tech is 3-3 in those games and 2-1 in games with less than a 20-point margin … Tech is 5-1 when, scoring first, leading at halftime and leading at the end of the third quarter.
SENIORS PLAYING THEIR FINALE
Nine Michigan Tech seniors will play their final collegiate games on Saturday. The group currently has a four-year record of 27-13 (.675) with four straight winning seasons and a GLIAC North Division title to its credit. The nine seniors are: offensive lineman Aaron Brandt, punter Jordan Ledvina, wide receiver Jordan McConnell, offensive lineman Chris Mullen, offensive lineman Buddy Poljan, defensive lineman David Russek, offensive lineman Matt Waters, fullback Cole Welch and linebacker Taylor Ziolkowski.
ONE-TWO PUNCH AT WIDEOUT
Michigan Tech receivers Brandon Cowie and Jordan McConnell both hauled in eight passes in the Huskies win at Hillsdale. The pair have nearly identical stats in 2013. Cowie owns 55 catches for 880 yards and three touchdowns. McConnell has 53 receptions for 734 yards and six scores. Each of them has accounted for nearly one-third of Tyler Scarlett's 174 completions and 2,340 yards.
SUPERIOR PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Superior National Bank sponsors the Superior Player of the Game. Following each football game, a player is chosen. A list of the 2013 Superior Players of the Game is below.
Sept. 14 at Tiffin Charlie Leffingwell (33 carries, 192 yds, 2 TD)
Sept. 21 vs. Walsh Garrett Mead (5 field goals, 2 PAT, 17 Total Points)
Sept. 28. at Findlay Brandon Cowie (11 catches, 142 yards)
Oct. 5 at GVSU Brandon Cowie (10 catches, 133 yards)
Oct. 12 vs NMU Brett Gervais (8 tackles, 27 punt return yards)
Oct. 19 at NU Jordan McConnell (7 catches, 112 yards, TD)
Oct. 26 vs FSU Taylor Ziolkowski (12 tackles, INT, Fumble Rec.)
Nov. 2 vs. SVSU Jordan McConnell (8 catches, 122 yards, 2 TD)
Nov. 9 at Hillsdale Tyler Scarlett (240 yds, 1 TD passing, 3 TD rushing)
MEAD TIES SEASON FIELD GOAL MARK
Kicker Garrett Mead tied a school record with his 10th field goal of the season when he booted a 21-yard attempt in the first half last Saturday. The junior, who shattered the school record with five FGs in a game vs. Walsh earlier this season, tied Grant Botz (2004) and Billy Scyphers (2001) with the 10 makes. Mead continues to lead the team in scoring with 55 points on 10-of-14 field goals and 25-of-30 extra points.
TACKLE LEADERS
Senior Taylor Ziolkowski leads the Huskies in tackles with 76 (39 solos) in 2013. The linebacker's nearest competitors for the team lead are sophomore safety Brett Gervais (64 total tackles) and junior linebacker Dan Perrault (63).
COACH KEARLY
Michigan Tech head coach Tom Kearly is in his eighth season as head coach and 14th overall with the Huskies program. The skipper owns a 49-33 record (.598 winning percentage) and has coached Tech to two of the eight eight-win seasons in school history. Kearly, a Hancock native and 1979 Winona State graduate, coached at Central Michigan for 19 seasons before returning to the Copper Country in 2000. He was the GLIAC Coach of the Year in 2010.
2013 CAPTAINS
Michigan Tech's team captains for the 2013 season are offensive lineman Chris Mullen, defensive lineman David Russek, quarterback Tyler Scarlett and fullback Cole Welch.