PREVIEW: Huskies back on the road to face Northwood

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HOUGHTON, Mich. - Michigan Tech travels to Northwood Saturday, November 6 for a 1 p.m. kickoff at Hantz Stadium. It will be the final road game of the season. The Huskies defeated the Timberwolves in their last meeting 34-21 on November 16, 2019.

LAST TIME OUT

- Following a valiant second half comeback try, Tech fell 14-9 to No. 7 Grand Valley State at Lubbers Stadium Saturday. 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.

- 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.

- Will 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.

SCOUTING THE TIMBERWOLVES

- Northwood fell 56-21 to Wayne State at Adams Field in Detroit Saturday night after the Warriors scored touchdowns on three straight second quarter possessions. Northwood allowed 378 yards of offense in the first half.

- The Timberwolves only win came on September 25 against Northern Michigan 37-20. Since then, they have suffered five losses in a row, including a 70-9 decision at Grand Valley State.

- Ty Cox and Nate Gomez split time at quarterback. Cox has completed 45-percent of passes with seven touchdowns and a pair of interceptions while Gomez comes in with a 47-percent completion percentage, two touchdowns, and five interceptions.

- Running back Cashual Goldsmith has 520 yards on the ground with four touchdowns and two lost fumbles.

- Noah Koenigsknecht leads the receiving corps with 14 receptions, 232 yards, and two touchdowns.

- Max Gonos and Parker Blust split field goal kicking duties. The duo is 7-for-8 this fall and Gonos has a long of 45 yards.

- Head coach Leonard Haynes is in his sixth season and held a 19-35 record through his first five years.

LEADING STATS

- Will Ark ranks second in the conference with 174.0 passing yards per game. Ark completes 51-percent of his passes and has 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. Ark also has a pair of rushing touchdowns.

- Will Marano leads the ground game with 97 rushes for 345 yards, ninth in the GLIAC. Maranos longest run this season is 17 yards and he has one fumble and two touchdowns for the Huskies.

- Jordan Janssen is the Huskies leading receiver. The junior has 39 receptions for 470 yards. His 58.8 yards per game ranks fifth in the league. He has four touchdowns and a season long 43 yard catch and run.

- Braxton Blackwell ranks eighth in the GLIAC with 66.0 total tackles, including 30 solo tackles and 8.5 tackles per game. Blackwell also has two tackles for loss and seven passes broken up (second). 

- Despite zero team sacks on Saturday, Austin Schlicht is still tied for first in the GLIAC with 6.5 sacks on the season. Schlicht also has 34.0 tackles, one forced fumble, and 10 tackles for loss. Nate LaJoie and Josh Cribben also rank in the top-10 in the GLIAC for sacks at 4.5 and 4.0 respectively.

SPECIAL TEAMS REPORT

-Freshman kicker/punter Drew Wyble knocked through his only field goal try Saturday against Grand Valley State and did not get an extra point opportunity. Wyble is 7-for-9 on the season with a long of 35 yards. On punts, Wyble averages 341 yards with five boots inside the 20 yard line. Wyble and Ark continue to share punting duties.

NCAA DIVISION II RANKS

- The Huskies rank No. 9 this week in sacks per game with 3.62. Tech has 29.0 total team sacks through nine games.

- Tech has taken the fewest penalty yards in the country with 26 penalties for 213 yards lost. MTU is also No. 1 with 3.25 penalties per game, ahead of Harding (3.44). 

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE

- The Huskies have two GLIAC Championships (2004, 2012) and two NCAA Tournament appearances (2004, 2014) in their 98-year history. Michigan Tech went 2-0 under head coach E.R. Lovell in their first season in 1920. The last time the Huskies finished first in the conference standings was 2004 under head coach Bernie Anderson. The entire 2020 fall season was canceled due to the ongoing pandemic (Covid-19). 

ON THE RADIO

- Mix 93.5 FM WKMJ will broadcast all 10 football games again this season. Play-by-play voice Josh Ylitalo calls all the action from the Kearly Stadium press box and travel with the squad.

WATCH THE GAMES

- Visit MichiganTechHuskies.com to watch the 2021 home games live and on-demand via Stretch Internet Portal.

-Fan can watch all six 2021 fall home football games for $75.

PRESEASON GLIAC POLL

-Michigan Tech was picked to finish 5th (24 points) in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced by the conference office. 

- Ferris State and Grand Valley State are at the top of the rankings at No. 1 and No. 2 respectively. The Bulldogs edged the Lakers for the top spot by six points with 49. Ferris State also gathered seven first place votes while Grand Valley State had one. Wayne State checked in at No. 3 with 36 points with Saginaw Valley State at No. 4 with 25 points.

LAST MEETING WITH NORTHWOOD

- Michigan Tech finished the season with a 34-21 win at Kearly Stadium over Northwood on November 16, 2021. The Huskies racked up 585 yards of total offense.

- Tech dominated time of possession 41:17 compared to 18:43 for Northwood.

- LaJoie paced the defense with seven tackles, including a sack, 1.5 tackles for loss, and one quarterback hurry. Braxton Blackwell also recorded four tackles.

- Ark completed 20 of 26 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns. 

- Jared Smith carried the ball 25 times for 172 yards and Emmett Boehler added 54 yards on nine carries with two scores.

- Tech led 13-0 at halftime and posted 21 points in the fourth quarter.