Huskies Set for Homecoming Showdown with Saginaw Valley St.
Week Five Game Notes (Full PDF Version)
Sat., Oct. 1, 2016 • 1:00 p.m. (ET) • Sherman Field (3,000)
Michigan Tech (2-2, 2-2 GLIAC) vs Saginaw Valley (2-2, 2-2 GLIAC)
Radio Broadcast: WKMJ 93.5 FM (Josh Ylitalo, Brad Isaacson)
Video Webcast: https://portal.stretchinternet.com/mtu/
Audio Webcast: Pasty.net
Live Stats: http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/fball/2016-17/schedule
HOMECOMING HISTORY
History has been kind to the Huskies on Homecoming entering this weekend's annual contest. Michigan Tech has an all-time record of 46-30-2 in Homecoming games dating back to the inagural game which was played on October 19th, 1929. The Huskies battled Northern Michigan that day and the final result was a 0-0 tie. Mchigan Tech is currently on a four game winning streak in Homecoming clashes which started with a 28-21 win over Northwood in 2012. The Huskies also topped Northwood 30-14 last season while recording a 29-7 win over Walsh in 2013 and a 26-20 triumph against this year's opponent, Saginaw Valley State in 2014. Michigan Tech has played SVSU five times on Homecoming and boasts a 4-1 record against the Cardinals in those games. The only loss was a 44-41 overtime thriller during the 2011 campaign. The longest Homecoming win streak is seven games (1990-96).
Junior running back John Williams broke free for a season high 96 yards on 19 carries last week at Hillsdale. Williams averaged 5.1 yards per carry and found the end zone twice. Williams leads the team on the ground going into week five on the strength of 250 yards via 65 carries. He has three rushing touchdowns along with a touchdown catch and a touchdown pass. The TD pass covered 57 yards in week two against Ferris State when he connected with David Falish in the second quarter. It's the longest pass play of the 2016 season going into the weekend.
AIR DEFENSE
The Michigan Tech defense picked off another pass last week at Hillsdale and remains in a three way tie for the GLIAC lead in interceptions (6). The Huskies, who are ranked 21st nationally in interceptions, have produced at least one interception in three of the four games this season. The only game they did not generate a pick was in week three at Ohio Dominican. The Huskies intercepted two passes against Walsh in week one and stepped in front of three passes in week two against Ferris St. Junior defensive back Derek Cingel recorded the interception last week, disrupting a throw to the endzone by Grant Russell as time expired in the second quarter. It was Cingel's second interception of the 2016 campaign.
TWIN TARGETS
Senior wide receiver David Walter and junior wideout Ian Fischer each produced 124 yards last week at Hillsdale. Walter caught 10 passes and averaged 12.4 yards per catch while Fischer racked up his yards on nine catches, averaging 13.8 yards per touch. For Fischer, it was a single game career high in both yards and total receptions. Fischer and Walter are leading the Huskies through the first four games with 26 receptions apiece. Walter has 364 yards and Fischer has 343 yards to his credit as both players are averaging over 13 yards per catch. They are tied for third in the GLIAC in receptions per game at 6.5 each. Walter in sixth in the league in yards per game (91.0) and Fischer is seventh at 85.8 yards per contest.
HUSKIES IN THE RANKINGS
Michigan Tech is ranked 5th in NCAA Division II in pass completion percentage (66.7%) and leads the GLIAC in the same category. Quarterback Brandon Cowie paces the GLIAC in completion percentage (70.0%) and is seventh in all of Divsion II. Cowie has attempted every throw for the Huskies this season with the exception of two. Kicker Josh King is among 11 players nationally who have not missed a field goal this season after connecting on a 20 yard kick last week. Defensive back Travis Tidwell is tied for the GLIAC lead and is 35th in the nation in passes defended per game (1.5). The team leads the nation in fewest penalties (10), fewest penalties per game (2.50), fewest penalty yards (84), and fewest penalty yards per game (21.00).
SCOUTING THE CARDINALS
Saginaw Valley State enters Saturday's game with an identical record of 2-2 overall and in the GLIAC. Sophomore quarterback Jacob Leclair guides the offense, completing 69 of 116 passes for 609 yards with three TD's and three interceptions. Senior David Nay leads the ground attack, averaging 94 yards per outing in addition to a trio of rushing touchdowns. Alfonso Vultaggio has reeled in 21 passes for 255 yards and two scores. On defense, sophomore linebacker Michael Alexander has 40 tackles and senior defensive back Matt McKoy owns 38 tackles and a pair of interceptions. The Cardinals are averaging 286 yards of total offense and 19 points per game. The defense surrenders 22.3 points and 380.5 yards per game.
Saginaw Valley State has had the decided edge in the all-time series 20-9-0 dating back to the first ever meeting in 1980. However, the Huskies gained the upper hand in each of the last two contests. Tech topped the Cardinals 35-21 last season and won by six points 26-20 in 2014. The Huskies would match their longest winning streak against the Cardinals if they can get a victory Saturday. Tech won three in a row over SVSU from 1993-95 while the longest streak for the Cardinals spanned seven games (2007-13). Last year, Tech quarterback Brandon Cowie threw for three touchdowns and Williams churned out 84 yards and a touchdown to lead the Huskies to the 35-21 win on the road.
Huskies' team captains for the 2016 season are senior quarterback Brandon Cowie, senior defensive lineman Evan Mayer, senior linebacker Ben Tauchen, and senior wide receiver David Walter.
THIRD IN GLIAC PRESEASON POLL
Michigan Tech was picked third in the North Division in the 2016 GLIAC Preseason Football Coaches' Poll, which was released August 3rd on the GLIAC website. Grand Valley State and Ferris State were picked ahead of the Huskies.
IN THE RANKINGS
Michigan Tech received votes in the 2016 preseason AFCA Division II Top 25 Poll. The Huskies earned votes in the week one and week two polls.
Ranking by week : AFCA Poll D2Football.com Poll
Aug. 15 RV —
Sep. 6 RV —
Sep. 13 RV —
Sep. 20 — —
Sep. 27 — —
COACH KEARLY IN YEAR 11
Michigan Tech head coach Tom Kearly is in his 11th season as head coach and 16th overall with the Huskies program. The skipper owns a 66-38 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.
HUSKIES BITES
The Tech offense is 2nd in the GLIAC in Red Zone scoring percentage (93%), converting for points on 14 of 15 trips inside the 20 yard line...Michigan Tech has the same full-time coaching staff as a year ago with offensive coordinator Erik Ieuter, defensive coordinator Steve Olson, offensive line coach David Sartin, defensive line coach Bryan Thomas and defensive backs coach Josh Wood...
PREGAME TAILGATE PARTY
MTU Student Activities will be hosting a pregame tailgate party from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. Saturday. They will have free food and beverages while they last.