Huskies to Play Host to Findlay on Senior Day
Week 10 Game Notes (Full PDF Version) Findlay Game Notes (PDF)
Sat., Nov. 12, 2016 • 1:00 p.m. (ET) • Sherman Field (3,200)
Michigan Tech (4-5, 4-5 GLIAC) vs. Findlay (5-5, 5-5 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
SENIOR DAY
The Michigan Tech football team will honor the 2016 Senior Class pior to Saturday's contest. Nick Brajak, Tony Brechting, Brandon Cowie, Isaiah Hackney, Tanner Keyzers, Matt Mateer, Evan Mayer, Kevin Miller, Ben Tauchen, Joe Vieau, Ryan VanGoethem, David Walter, and Ian Wienke are in this year's senior class. The senior class has posted an overall record of 26-14 through the nine games this season. They helped lead the Huskies to the NCAA Division II playoffs in 2014 and a second place finish in the GLIAC standings. They have won all four Miner's Cup games and upset the then 9th ranked Ashland University Eagles this season.
HUSKIES IN OVERTIME
Overtime games have been relatively rare for Michigan Tech over the past 10 seasons. The Huskies are 2-1 in overtime during that span, including last week's thrilling 51-45 victory in OT at Northern Michigan. In 2015, the Huskies edged Tiffin University 39-38 on October 31st at Sherman Field. Unlike last Saturday's game where neither side scored on their first possession in OT, Tiffin and Michigan Tech both put touchdowns on the board that day. The Dragons took the ball first and generated a touchdown on an Antonio Pipkin pass to Charles Holland and decided to go for the extra point. Tech countered with a touchdown thanks to an Alex Sherbinow one-yard run. The Huskies went for the win with a two-point conversion and Kevin Miller plunged over the goal line to give the Huskies the 39-38 victory. The lone overtime loss came at the hands of Saginaw Valley State 44-41 on October 8th, 2011.
HENDERSON SELECTED AS THE GLIAC SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
James Henderson secured Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference Player of the Week honors for Michigan Tech for the second consecutive week. Henderson, a junior from Midland, Michigan, blocked a punt late in the fourth quarter to setup one of Tech's key touchdowns in the game. The block put the Huskies' offense at the Northern Michigan 15-yard line and five plays later Kevin Miller was in the end zone for the touchdown with 56 seconds to go in regulation. In addition to the blocked punt, Henderson returned four kicks for 93 yards and rushed for a 72-yard touchdown in the third quarter. Travis Tidwell was the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts against Ashland the previous week.
To secure a win like last week's overtime triumph in the Miner's Cup it takes a full team effort, and that's exactly what the Huskies got at Northern Michigan. The offense, defense, and special teams all contrubuted big plays throughout the day. Punter Ryan VanGoethem dropped two punts inside the 20-yard line, including one that was downed at the two-yard line. It led to the first two points of the game on a safety when defensive lineman Cody Goldsworthy sacked quarterback Shaye Brown in the end zone. Henderson then blocked a punt which led to a TD and a fumbled NMU punt return setup another TD. Defensive back Derek Cingel made a great play by stripping the ball loose from running back Jake Mayon to force the second overtime frame. The offense produced multiple big plays especially on the ground, including a 72-yard juant by Henderson to the end zone for a second half touchdown. It was the longest play from scrimmage so far this season for the Huskies.
Michigan Tech landed in the end zone seven times last week and all seven were scored on the ground. The Huskies generated a season high 306 yards rushing which led to a season high of 488 yards of total offense. Miller had the most touches, racking up 87 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries. John Williams averaged seven yards per carry and finished the day with 84 yards and two touchdowns, including the game winning score from nine yards out in overtime. Sherbinow had two TD's and some key runs to pick up first downs, quarterback Brandon Cowie had 51 yards rushing to go along with a TD and two-point conversion run. Henderson touched the ball one time and broke loose for a 72-yard TD run.
HUSKIES IN THE RANKINGS
Michigan Tech is ranked 21st in NCAA Division II in pass completion percentage (64.3%) and is fourth in the GLIAC in the same category. Quarterback Brandon Cowie is fourth in the GLIAC in completion percentage (63.8%) and is 23rd in all of Divsion II. Travis Tidwell leads the GLIAC in passes defended (1.7 pg) and is 8th in the country. Kicker Josh King leads the GLIAC in field goal percentage (80.0%) and checks in tenth nationally. Marvin Wright is second in the GLIAC in solo tackles (5.6 pg, 33rd nationally) and fourth in the conference in total tackles (10.0 pg, 32nd nationaly). The team is second in NCAA II in fewest penalties (34), third in fewest penalties per game (3.78), fewest penalty yards (321), and fourth in fewest penalty yards per game (35.67).
SCOUTING THE OILERS
The University of Findlay enters the final game of the regular season with an overall and conference record of 5-5, good for fourth place in the South Division standings. The Olilers come in to Sherman Field having defeated Northwood last week 28-13 in their final home game of the year. Findlay has won three of the last four game with victories over Hillsdale, Tiffin, and Northwood during that stretch. The Oilers are powered on offense by quarterback Rhys Gervais who has thrown for 2,713 yards and 25 TD's. Gervais is second in the GLIAC in touchdown passes and third in yards per game (271.3). Wide receiver Jason Moore has caught 13 touchdowns and averages 107.7 yards receiving per contest. He is ranked second in the conference in both categories. In the running game, Chauncey Bridges is averaging 106.8 yards per game to go along with eight touchdown runs. As a team, the Oilers are averaging 443.2 yards per game on offense and scoring points at a 29.1 ppg clip. Linebacker Myles Alexander is the top tackler on the team with 91 stops this season. He has 2.5 sacks and nine tackles for a loss. Findlay's defense is allowing 26.5 points and 392.6 yards per game to opponents in 2016.
SERIES VS. FINDLAY
The Tech and Findlay series will resume for the first time since 2013 when the two teams last met in Findlay, Ohio. The Oilers came away with a 40-19 victory that day in late September. The Huskies own the edge in the all-time series which began in 2000. Tech won three games in a row against the Oilers from 2006-2008, the longest streak for any team. The last time the game was in Houghton, Tech prevailed 35-10 on September 22nd, 2012 thanks to five rushing touchdowns, led by Cedric Barber with a pair of scores.
CAPTAINS
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.
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 — —
Oct. 3 — —
Oct. 10 — —
Oct. 17 — —
Oct. 24 — —
Oct. 31 — —
Nov. 7 — —
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
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...