PREVIEW: Huskies Head to Ohio to Battle Ashland
Michigan Tech Game Notes (PDF) . Ashland Game Notes (PDF)
Sat., Oct. 26, 2019 • 1:00 p.m. (ET) • Jack Miller Stadium (5,217)
Michigan Tech (4-2, 2-2 GLIAC) at Ashland (4-3, 3-2 GLIAC)
Online Video: https://boxcast.tv/view/michigan-tech-vs-ashland-football-400058
Radio Broadcast: WKMJ 93.5 FM (Josh Ylitalo, Kirk McDonnell)
Audio Webcast: Pasty.net
Live Stats: http://www.michigantechhuskies.com/sports/fball/2019-20/schedule
2019 WEEK SIX IN REVIEW
Michigan Tech struck early and often on the way to a 30-point first half and 30-17 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic conference win at Davenport University Saturday afternoon. The Huskies defense created four turnovers, including an interception by senior Michael Betz on the Panthers opening drive, leading to Tech's first touchdown of the game. Davenport would never recover and the Huskies notched their third road win of the season.
Junior quarterback Will Ark helped guide the Huskies' offense on Saturday, completing 15 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Jordan Janssen had a season high 104 yards receiving on four catches that included his first touchdown of the year. Senior wideout Ben Hartley followed with four catches for 46 yards and two touchdowns. He also tossed a 33-yard touchdown pass to Janssen in the first half. Freshman running back Emmett Boehler had 63 yards rushing on 18 carries while sophomore tailback Jared Smith added 45 yards on 10 carries with one touchdown.
Senior Travis Tidwell led the defense with nine total tackles, had a half tackle for a loss, and consistently disrupted Davenport's passing attack. Senior Michael Betz followed with eight tackles and one interception, senior linebacker Marshael Ryan produced seven tackles, and senior Glacier Wallington had five tackles which included a tackle for a loss, forced fumble, and one interception. As a team, the Huskies had three sacks, eight tackles for a loss, and four turnovers.
SUB 300
The Huskies have limited their opponents to less than 300 total yards of offense in five of six contests so far in 2019. Tech owns a 4-1 record when that feat is accomplished and ranks second in the GLIAC in fewest yards allowed per game going into the weekend (269.8). Grand Valley State is the only team to allow fewer yards per game at 258.3. Meanwhile, the Huskies lead the GLIAC in fewest rushing yards surrendered per game. Tech is making it very difficult on opposing ball carriers who have managed just 89.2 yards per game against the Huskies' defense. Tech's league leading 25 sacks, which goes against opponents rushing totals, along with 52 total tackles for a loss are key components of that statistic. The Huskies are just five sacks away from tying the school record of 30 team sacks which was set in the 2007 season.
FINISHING DRIVES
The Huskies took full advantage of their scoring opportunities last week in the win at Davenport. Tech was 4 for 4 in red zone chances, finding the end zone on three of those occasions. Ark connected with Hartley on touchdown passes of 18 and 11 yards while Smith carried the ball across the goal line from one-yard for the other. Senior placekicker Evan Gornick sent a 22-yard field goal through the uprights, his fifth of the 2019 season. Tech enters Saturday's game 15 for 20 in red zone scoring chances on the year, with 11 of those going for touchdowns.
TURNOVERS TO POINTS
The Huskies extended their streak of forcing turnovers to six games last week at Davenport, separating the Panthers from the ball four different times. Three of those takeaways led to points for Tech in that 30-point first half. It's the second time the Huskies' defense has taken the ball away from an opponent four times in a game. They were able to accomplish that feat back in week one against Hillsdale in a 29-14 victory on the road. As was the case at Davenport, the Huskies generated two interceptions and two fumble recoveries that day. Tech enters the weekend with 46 points off of turnovers compared to just 16 points off of turnovers for Tech opponents. The Huskies have six fumble recoveries and eight interceptions with Betz leading the way with three on the season.
TEAM EFFORT
Each week this season the Huskies get contributions from multiple players in all three phases of the game; offense, defense, and special teams. On the offensive side of the ball at Davenport, Tech had six different receivers catch passes, with Janssen emerging as the top target in terms of yards at a career best 104 yards on four catches, including his first touchdown of the season. Hartley also caught four passes, two of which were touchdowns. He also threw one pass for a 33-yard touchdown to Janssen. Four Tech ball carriers combined for 121 rushing yards. This season the Huskies have run for 106 yards or more in five of the six games.
Defensively, four players had five or more tackles and at least a half a sack while five players had a direct hand in creating the four turnovers. The Huskies ended the game with three more sacks and eight tackles for a loss in Saturday's win. Senior Glacier Wallington made a huge impact with five tackles, a forced fumble, one tackle for a loss and his second interception in as many weeks. Betz picked off his third pass of the season and Tidwell had nine tackles and three pass breakups. Linebacker Marshael Ryan had seven tackles and the defensive line, led by Samuel Kinne and Nate LaJoie combined for 1.5 sacks with each player notching four tackles.
SCOUTING THE EAGLES
Ashland University comes into Saturday's game with an overall record of 4-3 and 3-2 against GLIAC opponents. The Eagles suffered a tough 42-41 loss in overtime at Wayne State last weekend. Ashland faced a 35-7 deficit late in the third quarter before making a furious comeback to tie the game at 35-35 with 24 seconds remaining in the game to force overtime. Quarterback Austin Brenner found Login Bolin for a four-yard touchdown pass which knotted the score. The Eagles went on to score a touchdown on their first possession of overtime when running back Gei'vonni Washington crossed the goal line on a six-yard run. However, Wayne State blocked the extra point which proved to be huge as the Warriors went on to get a touchdown of their own and a successful extra point to win the game. The Eagles had won three straight entering their battle at Wayne State, including a 20-17 road victory at 16th ranked Grand Valley State.
Ashland's offense is averaging 396.0 yards and 25.4 points per game coming into the weekend. The Eagles are generating 203.0 yards through the air and 193.0 yards on the ground. Ashland's defense is allowing 378.6 yards per game and 25.4 points per contest to opponents. Brenner has completed 119 passes this season for 1,421 yards and eight touchdowns. However, he has thrown 10 interceptions through seven games of the 2019 season. Bolin is his top target with 37 catches for 578 yards and four touchdowns while Washington has the bulk of the carries with 683 yards on 156 attempts. He is tied for the GLIAC lead in rushing touchdowns with eight going into Saturday's game. Linebacker Clay Shreve is the top defender for Ashland with 63 total stops, including 6.5 for a loss. Free safety Jason Harrison has three interceptions followed by safety Justin Moore with two and 41 total tackles.
SERIES VS. ASHLAND
Ashland holds an 12-7 lead over the Huskies in the all-time series heading into Saturday's game. Ashland won the first seven meetings between the two teams before Tech had a solid run of success, winning five straight from 2001 to 2005. The most recent triumph by Tech was an upset victory at Sherman Field 24-21 in 2016. Quarterback Brandon Cowie passed for 241 yards and three touchdowns, finding wide receiver Ian Fischer five times for 116 yards and two scores. The Tech defense had a huge impact that day as well, forcing four Ashland turnovers. The Huskies had three interceptions, including two from Tidwell and one by linebacker Marvin Wright. Tech also recovered an Eagles fumble during the contest. The Eagles topped the Huskies last year 27-7 and this weekend's game will be the third in a row to be played at Ashland.
CAPTAINS
The Huskies named their four captains for the 2019 season prior to the start of the regular season. This year's captains, selected by a team vote, are offensive lineman Jeremy Bell, defensive back Travis Tidwell, wide receiver Jacob Wenzlick, and linebacker Marshael Ryan. All four players are entering their senior year with the Huskies.
IN THE RANKINGS
Michigan Tech leads the GLIAC and is second in NCAA Division II in sacks (25), fourth in passing yards per game (208.7), is second in time of possession (32:04), third in fumble recoveries (6), third in fourth down conversions (11-15), second in punting (41.5), and first in punt return average (11.4). The Huskies are first in the GLIAC (5th NCAA II) in fewest sacks allowed (3) and tackles for a loss allowed (17) (2nd NCAA II). Nate LaJoie is tops in the conference (6th NCAA II) in total sacks with 7.0, LaJoie is first in tackles for a loss (11) (14th NCAA II), Xavier Ciardo is fourth in sacks (4.5) and Jacob Wenzlick is fourth in the league in receiving yards per game with 70.5. Ark leads the conference (8th NCAA II) in punting (43.1) and is tops in the conference in passing yards per game (203.2).
COACH OLSON YEAR THREE
Michigan Tech Head Coach Steve Olson is getting set to embark on his third season at the reigns of the program when the Huskies kickoff their season Saturday at Hillsdale. The Huskies went 4-6 in 2018, but retained the Miner's Cup for the ninth straight year with a 35-33 win at Northern Michigan. This will be Olson's ninth overall season as a coach at Tech. He served as the defensive coordinator for three seasons prior to being selected as the head coach for the 2017 season.
HUSKIES BITES
The Huskies welcomed Jace Daniels to the coaching staff as the new offensive line coach during the offseason. Daniels, a native of Escanaba, Michigan, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Huskies staff. Over the past two seasons at Northern Michigan, Daniels led an offensive line that created running lanes for Jake Mayon who earned Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Offensive Back of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons. Three of his offensive linemen garnered All-Conference accolades during his two seasons. Daniels helped coach a Northern Michigan offense that ranked second in the GLIAC during the 2018 campaign in rushing yards per game (241.8), yards per carry (5.0), rushing touchdowns (29), and first downs gained on the ground (146). The total offensive yardage for the Wildcats this past season was the third most in the GLIAC at 381.1 yards per game.
UP NEXT
The Huskies return home to face Ferris State University in a GLIAC battle at Sherman Field at Kearly Stadium next weekend. The Bulldogs are currently 7-0 and 5-0 in the GLIAC while boasting a No. 2 ranking in the latest AFCA Coaches' Top 25 Poll. Ferris State leads the conference standings and is also tops in the GLIAC in multiple statistical categories. The Bulldogs are coming off a 44-17 win at home against Northwood last week and host Saginaw Valley State this Saturday at 1 p.m. eastern time.