#7 Lakers hold off Huskies 14-9

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ALLENDALE, Mich. – Following a valiant second half comeback try, Michigan Tech football fell 14-9 to No. 7 ranked Grand Valley State Saturday afternoon in front of 8,652 at Lubbers Stadium. The Huskies trailed 14-0 at halftime, but Drew Wyble made a third quarter field goal and Justin Davis hauled in a 14-yard one-handed catch in the endzone to get Tech within striking distance. After a failed 2-point conversion and kickoff, the Lakers ran out the clock on offense to beat the Huskies for the second time this season.

"You always want to try and get off to a fast start against these highly ranked football teams, but it's not easy," said head coach Steve Olson. "Our guys came out and competed hard. We didn't get going as explosively as we wanted right away, but we were better in the second half against a difficult opponent. I was proud of how our team competed hard today." 

Grand Valley State (7-1, 4-1 GLIAC) netted 375 yards of total offense, led by quarterback Cade Peterson, who finished 20-of-31 through the air with a pair of touchdowns. Peterson found Scott Cooper for a 30-yard score ten minutes into the first quarter for a 7-0 advantage. The pass completed a five play, 68-yard drive that took 3:41. Jacob Miller hauled in the Lakers second score on a three yard pass in the second quarter after a 10 play, 56-yard drive.

Meanwhile, Tech struggled on offense with five punts, one lost fumble, and one turnover on downs in the first half. However, Wyble knocked through a 30-yard field goal to cap the Huskies first drive of the second half and immediately forced the Lakers to punt. Driving into Husky territory early in the fourth quarter, Michael Bates Jr. swatted away Peterson's pass on fourth down and three for a turnover on downs on the 19-yard line.

The Huskies failed to shift it into points on their subsequent drive due to Ian Kennedlly's interception on Will Ark's pass at the Grand Valley 47-yard line. Another punt by the Lakers allowed Ark another chance to connect with Davis on a slant to the back right corner of the endzone. Davis corralled a spectacular one-handed catch spinning out of bounds with a defender all over him. Kyle Wood came in at quarterback for a 2-point conversion try, but the Huskies came up a yard short on the keeper play amongst a big pile at the goal line.

Starting on their own 27-yard line with 4:20 to play, Grand Valley State sustained a methodical 9-play drive which netted 27 yards, enough to run out the clock. On Wyble's short punt to start the possession, the Huskies nearly came up with a loose ball deep in enemy territory but Cody Tierney fell on it for GVSU with Micah Wilson and Brandon Michalak nearby.

Ark finished 15-for-31 for 180 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception. Jared Smith picked up 47 yards on the ground on 15 attempts (3.1 avg.) and Will Marano collected 22 yards on six rushing attempts (3.7 yards). Marano and Smith were particularly effective in the second half.

Peterson completed 20 of 31 passes for 181 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception for GVSU. He also led the Lakers with 56 rushing yards, including a play for 27 yards.

Michigan Tech (4-4, 3-2 GLIAC) plays again Saturday, November 6 at Northwood University at 1 p.m.