Huskies Open Football Campaign Thursday
THE MATCHUP:
Thursday, September 4, 2014 • 6:00 p.m. (ET)
Michigan Tech (0-0, 0-0 GLIAC) at Wayne State (0-0, 0-0 GLIAC)
Radio Broadcast: WKMJ 93.5 FM (Josh Ylitalo)
TV Broadcast: Comcast 900 (Ryan Ermanni, Rod Beard, Joe Abramson)
Video Webcast: wsuathletics.com/watch
Audio Webcast: Pasty.net
Live Stats: michigantechhuskies.com/sports/fball/2014-15/schedule
92ND SEASON KICKING OFF
Michigan Tech will kick off its 92nd season of intercollegiate football on Thursday (Sept. 4). The Huskies' first official season was 1920 (with three years of no teams because of World War II). Tech has an all-time football record of 353-338-17 (.511 winning percentage).
GLIAC OPENERS BODE WELL FOR HUSKIES
Michigan Tech is 14-2 in its last 16 conference opening games. The wins have come vs. Northern Michigan (2), Ashland (2), Mercyhurst (2), Lake Erie (2), Tiffin (2), Hillsdale, Northwood, Wayne State and Westminster. The only losses during the stretch were at Wayne State in 2006 and Hillsdale in 2009.
SCARLETT READY TO ADD TO OWN RECORDS
Quarterback Tyler Scarlett moved into lead for career passing yards in school history during Tech's season finale win vs. Wayne State last November. With a whole senior season to go, he sits at 7,554 career yards and 62 touchdowns (also a record). In addition to the career records for yards and touchdowns, Scarlett owns the marks in both categories for season (2,596 yds and 28 TD) and game (441 yds and 6 TD).
Michigan Tech Career Passing Yards Pct TDs Ints
1. Tyler Scarlett (2011- ) 7,554 .622 62 22
2. Steve Short (2006-10) 7,471 .579 59 44
3. Dave Walter (1983-86) 6,876 .505 48 59
SERIES VS. WAYNE STATE
Michigan Tech and Wayne State are playing each other for the second straight game. The teams met to end the 2013 season, with the Huskies coming out with a 28-21 victory in Houghton. Taylor Ziolkowski's interception near the goal line sealed the Black and Gold win. Since the series began in 1968, the Warriors hold a 17-8 series lead. Tech has had the upper hand in the last five matchups with wins in four of those contests. The Huskies won the last meeting between the teams in Detroit by a 35-13 score (Nov. 10, 2012).
SAME STAFF, NEW ROLES
Michigan Tech has virtually the same coaching staff as a year ago. Defensive coordinator Tim Driscoll left to become the head coach of a start-up program at Division III Finlandia in the offseason. Steve Olson, who has been with the Huskies as linebackers coach for the last three seasons, is Tech's new defensive coordinator. Bryan Thomas and Josh Wood, both of whom have been on staff in part time or graduate assistant roles for the last three years, were both hired full time. Thomas is the defensive line coach. Wood coaches the secondary.
VETERAN DEFENSE
The Huskies' defense returns nine starters from last year's unit that led the GLIAC in pass defense (176.9 yards per game) and finished second in the league in total defense (363.6). The entire secondary returns with 2013 All-GLIAC Honorable Mention Brett Gervais at strong safety and 2012 All-GLIAC Honorable Mention DeShawn Nelson at corner. The line is anchored by two-time All-GLIAC Second Team pick Nelson Wienke at end.
CAPTAINS
Huskies' team captains for the 2014 season are defensive end Cameron Allen, cornerback DeShawn Nelson, center Bruce Tebelman and quarterback Tyler Scarlett. All four are seniors.
COWIE READY FOR BREAKOUT SEASON
Brandon Cowie switched from quarterback to wide receiver during the offseason between 2012 and 2013 seasons and went on to earn All-GLIAC Second Team at his new position. He hauled in 58 passes for 933 yards and three touchdowns as a redshirt freshman. Cowie averaged 93.3 yards per game and 16.1 yards per catch. The 6-3, 215-pound is poised to take another step forward in 2014.
LEFFINGWELL AND MILLER BACK
Michigan Tech returns its top two rushers from last season in Charlie Leffingwell and Kevin Miller. Leffingwell gained 1,238 yards on 241 carries in 2013 for averages of 123.8 yards per game and 5.1 per attempt. He was the Huskies' first 1,000 runner since Phil Milbrath in 2010. Backing up Leffingwell last year was Miller, who tallied 245 yards on 72 carries.
MEAD ENTERS FOURTH YEAR AS STARTING KICKER
Garrett Mead, who set the school record for field goals in a game (five vs. Walsh on Sept. 21, 2013) and tied the school record for field goals in a season (10 in 2013), enters his final season in a Huskies uniform. The senior is 104-for-116 (90 percent) on extra points in his career and 20-for-29 (77 percent) on field goals over the last three seasons.
OFFENSIVE LINE SHIFT
The offensive line was the hardest hit position by graduation last spring. Only two starters return to the unit. Senior Bruce Tebelman and junior Frank Vruwink, who played left guard and left tackle, respectively, are back. The two will both shift one position to the right for 2013. Senior Austin Roy, who saw regular action as a backup last year, will step into the starting role at right tackle. Redshirt freshman Josh Knoepke (left tackle) and junior Matt Mateer (right guard) are penciled in to take the final two spots.
COACH KEARLY
Michigan Tech head coach Tom Kearly is in his ninth season as head coach and 15th overall with the Huskies program. The skipper owns a 50-33 record (.602 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.
HUSKIES BITES
Tech opens with four of its first five games on the road, then plays four of its last five at Sherman Field … The last time the Huskies played a non-Saturday game was a Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008, contest at Northern Michigan. Tech won that game 47-21 at the Superior Dome … A quarterback with a last name beginning with "S" has started 41 consecutive games and 84 of the last 91 games the Huskies have played. Tyler Scarlett is in his fourth year as starter. Drew Schaft started the streak in 2005. Steve Short then took over four games into the 2006 campaign. Only when Short was injured three games into the 2009 season did Brent Heim break the trend for seven games.