Huskies Drop 59-21 Decision in 2016 Season Finale
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Findlay (6-5) | 14 | 24 | 14 | 7 | 59 |
|
Michigan Tech (4-6) | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech football team fell to the University of Findlay in the final regular season game of the 2016 season by the final of 59-21 Saturday at Sherman Field. The Huskies found the end zone three times in the second half, but a slow start to the game set the tone for the rest of the afternoon.
"It was a tough game today and the better football team won," Michigan Tech Head Coach Tom Kearly said. "They ran the ball in the second half and we were able to get a couple touchdowns against their reserves. Overall, we weren't able to stop them and we had some turnovers and failed to convert on first downs early on offense. This senior class is a great group of kids and their first year here earned GLIAC Championship rings. They played in the national playoffs, had four winning seasons, and they all have bright futures ahead of them."
Michigan Tech (4-6, 4-6 GLIAC) took the opening kickoff, but unfortunately didn't have the ball for long. On the first play from scrimmage the Huskies lost it on a fumble which was recovered at the Tech 34-yard line. Findlay (6-5, 6-5 GLIAC) eventually worked the ball inside the Huskies five-yard line and faced a fourth and goal on the one. Running back Daouda Sylla was able to crack the goal line for a 7-0 Oiler lead with 10:35 left in the first quarter.
Tech was forced to punt on the ensuing drive and Findlay got the ball back at their own 25. The Oilers were able to go the distance in 12 plays, culminating with a Rhys Gervais pass to Jason Moore for a seven-yard touchdown.
The Oilers added a 30-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter from Tyler Bugeja to go up 17-0 followed by three more touchdowns in the final 15 minutes of the first half. With 12:49 to go until the break, Daouda Sylla broke loose for a 49-yard touchdown run and then with 2:58 remaining in the second Gervais connected with Moore again for a three-yard TD pass. The Oilers capped the opening half with a one yard scoring run by Gervais to make it a 38-0 score in favor of the Oilers at the break.
Two more quick touchdown runs by Sylla in the third quarter increased the advantage for Findlay to 52-0. The Huskies then broke through for their first touchdown late in the third quarter when junior running back John Williams found a crease in the defense to run 53 yards for a touchdown. It was Williams' team best sixth touchdown run of the season.
In the fourth quarter, another big run by the Huskies put seven more points on the board. This time senior running back Kevin Miller eluded the Findlay defense as he scampered 58 yards for a Tech touchdown. Miller got back in the end zone again on a two-yard run with 2:45 to play to cap the scoring. Miller setup his own touchdown with a 39 yard run to get the ball inside the five-yard line. Findlay got its other touchdown on an Anthony Linnear carry with 6:06 left to go in the game.
Miller led the offense for Tech on Saturday with a season and career high 158 yards on 15 carries. He also ran for two touchdowns and finished the 2016 campaign with four on the ground. Williams followed with 83 yards on nine carries, which included his second half rushing score. Isaiah Hackney completed 5 of 11 passes for 47 yards after starting quarterback Brandon Cowie left the game early in the first half with an injury. David Walter ended the day with a team high three receptions for 18 yards. As a team, the Huskies had 323 total yards with 257 of them coming on the ground.
Defensively, Nick Brajak had 14 total tackles for the Huskies followed by Travis Tidwell with 11 and Derek Cingel with 10. Tidwell and Cingel both had pass breakups in the stat sheet as well. Hilding Beaudoin had seven stops and led the Huskies with two tackles for a loss. Spencer Moran had the lone sack for Tech to go along with four total tackles.
Gervais was 11 for 17 passing for 112 yards and two touchdowns Saturday for Findlay. Sylla led all rushers with 169 yards on 22 carries with four touchdowns. Chauncey Bridges touched the ball 20 times for 161 yards and averaged 8.1 yards per carry. Moore caught six passes for 38 yards and two touchdowns. As a team, Findlay had 590 total yards with 435 being generated on the ground. Myles Alexander paced the defense with 10 tackles and 1.5 sacks for the Oilers.
Michigan Tech will now head into the offseason and begin preparations for the 2017 season.
