PREVIEW: Old rivals battle for Miner's Cup in Houghton

• (Video) 2022 Miner's Cup Promo 

HOUGHTON, Mich. - Michigan Tech (2-4, 1-1 GLIAC) meets Northern Michigan (3-3, 1-1) for the 20th annual Miner's Cup on Saturday, October 10 at Kearly Stadium at 1 p.m. The Huskies have won each of the past 11 matchups and are 16-3 against the Wildcats since winning their first Miner's Cup in 2002. 

Fans who cannot attend the game have a range of options for watching and listening to the game, including Flosports video stream, Mix 93.5 FM radio, and TV6 television coverage.

The rivalry game came down to the wire again last season in Marquette, but quarterback Will Ark delivered an eight-yard strike to wide receiver Jordan Janssen in the endzone with just 18 seconds left as the Huskies stunned the Superior Dome crowd 21-14. John Paramski made a crucial fourth-quarter interception to help turn the momentum after MTU trailed 14-7 heading into the final quarter.

RECENT HISTORY

• Fourth-quarter heroics have been a staple for Tech football against NMU over the past ten years, and the teams have experienced no shortage of exciting finishes.
• In 2019 at Kearly Stadium, the Huskies pulled ahead 24-20 after Ark connected with Ben Hartley with 7:24 to play and the defense stymied NMU the rest of the way. 
• Michigan Tech made up a 14-point deficit and stopped a late two-point conversion attempt to win 35-33 in 2018.
• In 2017, Tech overcame double-figures to win 28-21 in Houghton.
• MTU forced overtime in 2016 and emerged victorious after NMU missed a field goal attempt and John Williams dove into the corner of the end zone from nine yards out on the final play.
• A year prior, the Huskies won on a blocked field goal attempt in front of 3,918 fans at Kearly Stadium.

DISTANT PAST

• Michigan Tech leads the all-time series 48-41-5 in games dating back to 1920.
• Three of the top five crowds in Kearly Stadium history have come in games against Northern Michigan.

ALL ABOUT ARK

• A steady presence in the starting role since 2018, Ark has risen to the challenge against the Wildcats over the course of his career. In three Miner's Cups, he's completed 62 percent of passes (56-91) for 791 yards (264 avg.) with six passing touchdowns, two interceptions, and one rushing touchdown. 
• This week the senior is high on confidence after being named GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week by the conference office on Monday.
• Saturday, Ark threw for 340 yards and three touchdowns to help MTU defeat Wayne State on homecoming 35-34.
• Ark assembled a 10-play, 64-yard final offensive drive and rushed into the endzone from the one-yard line. He totaled 30 yards on the ground on four attempts.
• Ark's longest touchdown pass of the afternoon went for 79 yards to sophomore Darius Willis in the fourth quarter. 
• Ark currently ranks second in the GLIAC with eight touchdown passes and is third in passing yards per game with 168.0.
• His 6,008 career passing yards and 495 completions both rank fourth in Michigan Tech history.

SIPPEL EXCELS

• Sophomore linebacker Marc Sippel leads the GLIAC with 41 tackles, 11 more than second place Antonio Howard (NMU).
• Included are 1.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, one forced fumble, and two fumble recoveries.
• Through just six games, Sippel is edging closer to his 47 tackle total last season.

LAST TIME OUT

• The Huskies mounted their most prolific offensive output so far in a 35-34 home win over Wayne State Saturday. Darius Willis hailed nine targets for 183 yards and one score, a 79-yard catch and run in the fourth quarter.
• Senior Braxton Blackwell made a 47-yard interception for a touchdown on the Warriors' first possession and finished with six tackles and one sack.
• Will Marano rushed for 31 yards on 15 attempts.
• The Husky offense compiled 410 total yards.
• Tight end Luke Terrian caught a five-yard pass in the endzone from Ark for his first career touchdown.
• Myren Harris rushed for 295 yards and two touchdowns for Wayne State. Tech trailed 17-14 at halftime.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS

• Northern Michigan won its first GLIAC game at Wayne State on October 1 but came up short in overtime against undefeated Davenport 27-24 at home last Saturday.
• Brandon Gielow converted a 27-yard field goal for DU to begin the extra session and Devin McGee intercepted Drake Davis'  pass on third down to end the game.
• Davis completed 10 of 17 passes for 129 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He also rushed for 53 yards with one touchdown.
• Tyshon King led the ground game with 56 yards and one touchdown.
• Nine receivers hauled in at least one reception, including Wyatt Davis with 66 yards on three receptions.
• The Wildcats returned six All-GLIAC selections from 2021. Will Borchert was named 2021 Freshman of the Year after he accumulated 38 solo tackles and 112 total tackles to lead the conference and rank sixth nationally.
• Defensive lineman John McMullen and receiver Wyatt Davis were named second-team all-GLIAC, while Daniel Riser, Drake Davis, and TyQuan Cox were honorable mentions.
• Head coach Kyle Nystrom was hired in 2016. Nystrom grew up around the Wildcat football team and was in fifth grade when his father, Buck began his first stint as an assistant coach in 1975.
• He graduated from Michigan State in 1988 and was a student assistant at MSU beginning in 1983.
• He has since coached at Western Michigan (13 seasons), Texas Christian, DePauw, Fort Hays State, North Dakota State, Ferris State, and Central Michigan.
• Nystrom holds a 12-36 record at the helm and is 0-4 against Michigan Tech.
• Northern Michigan has one conference title, nine postseason appearances, and one NCAA National Championship (1975) in its program history.
• The Wildcats were picked to finish 5th in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, ahead of Wayne State and Davenport.
• The last time NMU was ranked in the AFCA National Top-25 was in 2011.
• Since the inception of the Miner's Cup, the Wildcats have had a better record than MTU entering the matchup just three times, including this fall.

IF YOU'RE GOING

• If you have mobile tickets for today's game, before heading to the stadium, it is important to download your tickets to your mobile device in advance of the game. This will ensure quick and easy access to the stadium in case you run into limited cellular service at and around Kearly Stadium.
• Outside food and drinks are not permitted within Kearly Stadium. Concessions will be available for purchase. Concessions accepts both cash and card payments.
• Parking is $5 cash per vehicle and $3 cash for Michigan Tech Students with a Student ID.
• Every VIP ticket comes with preferred parking in Lot 24. When you go to park, show the parking attendants your VIP ticket and they will let you in to park. If you purchased parking in Lot 85, you will show the parking attendants at Lot 85 your parking pass, and they will let you in to park.
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ARMY ROTC FOOTBALL RUN

• In what has become a special tradition between schools, the ROTC of Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan will complete their run from Marquette to Houghton to deliver today's game ball. Representing Michigan Tech ROTC is cadet Wittkopf and Cadet Vermulm. Representing Northern Michigan are Cadet Clemons and Master Sargeant Clemons. 

DIRECTIONS TO KEARLY STADIUM

• From the South/ East: Enter Houghton via US-41. Turn left (south) at the first stoplight (MacInnes Drive). Continue on MacInnes Drive past the Student Development Complex. Stadium will be on the right. Main event parking is in Lot 24 (before stadium).
• From the West: Enter Houghton via M26. Turn right on Sharon Avenue. Go about 1.5 miles down the road. Stadium will be on the left. Main event parking is in Lot 24 (past stadium). 
• The Central Ticket Office at the Student Development Complex will be open before and during the game for any of your ticketing needs. If you need to pick up tickets at Will Call they will be located at the office within the Student Development Complex. If you have any issues with your tickets you may visit the ticket office for assistance or stop by one of the ticket booths at the entrances of the stadium.

HUSKY MERCHANDISE -100 YEARS OF FOOTBALL BOOK

• Looking for new Huskies gear? Make sure to visit University Images located in the Student Development Complex for all your Michigan Tech merchandise and apparel needs. University Images is open extended hours during sporting and other special events.

• University Images has a new book on sale, "Michigan Tech Football, The First 100 Years." You can purchase the book for $24.95 in the store or online at MichiganTechHuskies.com/ FootballBook. All proceeds from the book will benefit the Michigan Tech Football program.

  Authored by Willam J. Sproule, the book explores Michigan Tech football history, teams, coaches, players, awards, and records, and will bring back many memories of Husky football. Football is a special part of Michigan Tech history. Michigan Mining School students played local high school and community teams in the 1890s, but it was not until 1920 that a club team played another college when it scheduled two games against Northern State Normal (now Northern Michigan University). That season marked the start of intercollegiate football, and then prior to the 1924 season, football was "officially" recognized as a varsity sport.

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