First Road Game Ahead for Tech Football

THIS WEEKEND'S NOTES

LOOKING FOR A "W" IN UNIVERSITY CENTER
Michigan Tech and Saginaw Valley State have faced each other 28 times since the all-time series began in 1980. The Cardinals own a 20-8 all-time lead in the series. Tech claimed a 26-20 victory over SVSU last year in Houghton. As for games between the squads played in University Center, the Huskies have won just two of 14 games—the last coming in 1995.

CONTINUING THE GLIAC STREAK
Michigan Tech has won 13 of its last 14 GLIAC games dating back to the final two games of the 2013 season. The Huskies went 9-1 in the league a year ago and won their second of 2015 last week for a fifth consecutive league victory.

COWIE THIRD NATIONALLY IN COMPLETION PERCENTAGE
Brandon Cowie has completed 37-of-50 passes over the first two weeks of the season for the nation's third-best completion percentage (74.0). The junior quarterback has thrown four touchdowns and zero interceptions while racking up 421 yards passing. His passing efficiency rating of 171.1 is the 13th best in NCAA Division II. Cowie was a two-time All-GLIAC wide receiver before converting to quarterback during spring practice.

KUOPPALA HITS 20-TACKLE MARK
Paul Kuoppala had a career-high 20 tackles vs. Malone last Saturday (Sept. 12) with nine solos and 11 assists. It was the most total tackles in a game by a Huskies player since Andy Bonk had 20 vs. Indianapolis on Sept. 21, 2002. Kuoppala currently leads the GLIAC in tackling at 13.0 per game. The 2014 All-GLIAC Second Team pick has a career tackle total of 173.

WINNING THE CLOSE ONES
Michigan Tech has played in 10 games decided by seven points or less since the start of the 2013 season. The Huskies are 8-2 in those contests after a 3-1 mark a year ago and wins over Wayne State (20-15) and Malone (28-27) to open 2015.
• 9/12/15 vs. Malone, W, 28-27
• 9/3/15 vs. Wayne State, W, 20-15
• 11/22/14 vs. Angelo State, L, 42-41 (led by 21)
• 9/27/14 at Northern Michigan, W, 34-31
• 9/20/14 vs. Saginaw Valley State, W, 26-20
• 9/4/14 at Wayne State, W, 18-17
• 11/16/13 vs. Wayne State, W, 28-21
• 11/9/13 at Hillsdale, W, 30-27
• 10/26/13 vs. Ferris State, L, 30-27 (led by 17)
• 10/19/13 vs. Northwood, W, 33-31

WALTER WITH BREAKOUT GAME
Receiver David Walter posted seven receptions for 135 yards and a touchdown vs. Malone last Saturday (Sept. 12). The junior had 51 yards on two catches during the game-winning drive including a 21-yard touchdown reception for the go-ahead score. Walter, who had totaled two catches for 20 yards in his career entering 2015, currently ranks 10th in the GLIAC in receiving yards (147).

SHERBINOW SCORES FIRST TWO TDS
Fullback Alex Sherbinow registered his first collegiate rushing attempts for the Huskies in last week's win over Malone. The 6-0, 225-pound sophomore had six carries for 36 yards and two touchdowns. He had a three-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and a two-yard TD run in the third, helping the Huskies move to 2-0.

MAYER RACKS UP TACKLES FOR LOSS
Junior Evan Mayer posted seven tackles including 4.5 for a loss of 17 yards during Tech's win over Malone. The 6-6, 255-pound defensive end posted 1.5 sacks in the game and has a team-high 3.0 on the season. With 3.3 tackles for loss per game thus far in 2015, Mayer ranks fourth among all NCAA Division II players. He ranks ninth nationally and second in the GLIAC in sacks per game (1.5).

CAPTAINS
Huskies' team captains for the 2015 season are junior quarterback Brandon Cowie, senior defensive back Brett Gervais, senior linebacker Paul Kuoppala and senior offensive lineman Frank Vruwink.

HUSKIES BITES
Michigan Tech played five consecutive home games spanning the final three games of 2014 and the first two of 2015. Saturday's (Sept. 19) game at Saginaw Valley State will be the Huskies first road tilt since Nov. 1, 2014, at Tiffin … The Huskies have won seven straight road games dating back to the 2013 campaign. That includes all five last year … As a team, Tech leads the nation in pass completion percentage (74.0) … The Huskies rank third nationally in penalties per game with only 3.0. Michigan Tech led the country in that category in 2014 at (2.55 per game).
 
IN THE RANKINGS
Michigan Tech moved up to No. 20 in this week's D2Football.com poll and was the highest team in the "receiving votes" category in the AFCA Coaches Poll.

Ranking by week    AFCA Poll    D2Football.com Poll
Aug. 25    RV    —
Sept. 7    RV    22
Sept. 14    RV    20

COACH KEARLY IN YEAR 10
Michigan Tech head coach Tom Kearly is in his 10th season as head coach and 16th overall with the Huskies program. The skipper owns a 61-35 record (.635 winning percentage) and has coached Tech to three of the nine 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.

SUPERIOR PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Following each football game, a Superior Player of the Game is chosen. A list of the 2015 Superior Players of the Game is below.

Sept. 3 at Wayne    Brandon Hutchison, 9 tackles, 2 TFL, .5 Sack
Sept. 12 at Malone    Paul Kuoppala, 20 tackles, 1 TFL, .5 Sack
Sept. 19 vs SVSU    —
Sept. 26 at NMU    —
Oct. 10 at NU    —
Oct. 17 vs. GVSU    —
Oct. 24 vs. Ferris    —
Oct. 31 at Tiffin    —
Nov. 7 vs. Ashland    —
Nov. 14 vs. LE    —