Tech Football to Vie for The Miner’s Cup Saturday Night

HOUGHTON, Mich. – It's rivalry week for Michigan Tech football as the Huskies travel to the Superior Dome Saturday Night at 7 p.m. for the 21st installment of the Miner's Cup game against Northern Michigan.

ON TV

Saturday's game will be aired locally on FOX-UP with a broadcast team of Mark Evans (play-by-play), Dave Ellis (color) and Kevin McNulty (sideline reporter). TV6 and FOX-UP began broadcasting the Tech versus NMU rivalry during the 2013-14 season. 

Watch the Huskies 

All home and GLIAC games will be streamed on FloSports. With one subscription, Michigan Tech fans can watch all home and conference games in volleyball, basketball, football, soccer, and hockey. FloSports provides each subscriber access to all content and events by purchasing a monthly or yearly subscription. Subscriptions are offered in two different billing packages - monthly and annual. Discounts are available for students enrolled at GLIAC member and associate member institutions. You must subscribe with a .edu email address to be eligible. FloSports is available on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, and Chromecast.

The Series

The Huskies and Wildcats first met in the 1920 season, playing 95 games total, with the Miner's Cup games being established in 2002. Overall, Michigan Tech leads the all-time series 49-41-5. Since 2000, the Black & Gold has an 18-4 record in addition to a 17-3 ledger in the Miner's Cup era. Michigan Tech has won the last 12 Miner's Cup

About the Wildcats

Northern Michigan enters a new era with head coach Shane Richardson in his first season at the helm of the Wildcats. NMU enters the weekend with an overall record of 0-6, with a conference ledger of 0-2. The Wildcats have been outscored by their opposition 256-76 this season, most recently falling to nationally-ranked Davenport 28-12 on the road.

However, the Wildcats are one of the least penalized teams in all of Division II, with 4.5 penalties per game to lead the conference and rank ninth nationally. Northern Michigan also has five fumble recoveries, which is first in the league and ranks 35th nationally. 

Running back Tyquan Cox leads the Wildcats offensively, averaging 125.83 all-purpose yards, ranking second in the GLIAC and 24th nationally. 

Fifth year quarterback Mariano Valenti leads the offense for the Wildcats, throwing for 782 yards with an average of 156.4 yards per game with two rushing touchdowns and three touchdown passes.

Defensively, the Wildcats have seen Mitch Larkin lead the way in total tackles with an average of 9.3 per game, which ranks second behind the Huskies' Marc Sippel. On the season, Larkin has 54 total tackles, 29 of which are solo, along with two quarterback hurries.

About the Huskies

Michigan Tech is 3-2 overall and has succumbed to back-to-back losses to open conference play, most recently falling to Wayne State, 23-21 on Saturday (Oct. 7).

The Huskies were unable to overcome self-inflicted setbacks that resulted in the two point loss to the Warriors.

Statistically, the Black & Gold produced over 400 yards of total offense compared to the Warriors' 269 yards but were taxed by penalties on key plays, amassing 10 penalties for 119 yards in the game.

Quarterback Alex Fries has thrown for almost 1,000 yards through the first five games, averaging 191.6 yards per game with seven touchdown passes. He's also used his legs for offensive gains, rushing for 99 yards this season, averaging almost 20 yards a game at 19.8.

Fries' primary target is high school teammate Ethan Champney, who has two 70-yard touchdown receptions this season, totaling a team-leading five touchdowns. Champney is shy of 500 yards receiving, at 488 for an average of 21.2 yards per game. The Saginaw, Michigan, native remains tops in the GLIAC in receiving yards per game and 14th nationally.

The Huskies are also dangerous on the ground, with William Marano and Kolby Hindenach rushing to two touchdowns this season. Marano has 376 yards rushing this season for an average of 5.2 yards per carry, while Hindenach posts 6.2 yards per carry with 111 yards rushing.

The defensive dynamic duo of Hunter Buechel and Marc Sippel remain among the nation's-best when stopping the ball. Buechel is ranked second nationally with 6.6 solo tackles per game for a total of 45 tackles this season. Sippel resides fourth nationally in total tackles, averaging 11.0 per game and 54 tackles on the year.

One Last Thing

The Huskies defense has been special all season and has produced big plays in key moments from game to game. The Huskies rank first in defensive touchdowns in the GLIAC and 14th nationally, with defensive lineman Samuel Kinne and defensive back Michael Bates Jr. both scoring a touchdown this season.