Tech Football Welcomes Minot State Saturday

• 10.31.23 Dan Mettlach Press Conference

HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech football team returns home, playing host to NSIC foe Minot State at Kearly Stadium on Saturday for a 1 p.m. kickoff.

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About the Game 

This marks the first meeting between NSIC foe Minot State and Michigan Tech.

About the Beavers

Minot State travels to Kearly Stadium following a 27-23 loss against UMary in the Battle of the Big Lake last Saturday. On the season, the Beavers are 1-8 overall and 1-8 within the NSIC. 

In the loss, Myles West produced a career-high 147 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. West has five touchdowns this season to lead the Beavers offensively. 

Minot State is averaging 15.5 points per game, being outscored by almost 20 points from the opposition. Offensively, the Beavers have struggled taking care of the ball, having more interceptions than passing touchdowns (4-3). Additionally, the Beavers have lost 14-of-21 fumbles on the year. Minot State also has trouble protecting the quarterback, averaging 1.33 sacks allowed per game, which ranks 35th nationally.

Defensively, Carson Cayko and Isiah Bigby have accounted for 61 and 60 total tackles this season, respectively. Cayko has 41 solo tackles with five sacks for a total loss of 47 yards, to go with three breakups. 

The Beavers are seldomly penalized, averaging just over four (4.11) penalties a game, which ranks fifth nationally. 

Head coach Ian Shields is in his first season at the helm of the Beavers.

About the Huskies 

Michigan Tech returns home for the last two games of the regular season following its second-consecutive top-10 loss, falling at No. 3 Grand Valley State 44-13 on Saturday (Oct. 28). On the season, the Huskies are 4-4 overall and 1-3 in the GLIAC.

Alex Fries guides the Huskies offense with his 1,689 yards, 11 touchdowns and 57.3 completion percentage. He has hit Darius Willis for a team-high 45 receptions, while Ethan Champney has 27 receptions for a team-best 590 yards receiving. William Marano has 485 yards on the ground to go with four rushing touchdowns, a feat that Fries also has in 202 yards rushing.

Fries leads the league in both passing yards per game (212.4) and total passing yards (1,699).

Willis recently surpassed 2,000 career yards in 149 career receptions and is six receptions away from the program record, which has stood since 2005 by Brian Janeshek (154).

The Huskies rank second in the GLIAC and 31st nationally with 11 total interceptions this season, with Michael Bates Jr. accounting for two interceptions against GVSU. Additionally, Josh Cribben is ranked 23rd in the nation, averaging 1.5 tackles for loss a game.

The defense is also responsible for three touchdowns, which ranks second in the league and 12th nationally.

Marc Sippel continues to lead the Huskies' defense with 79 tackles, 31 marked as solo with 5.5 tackles for loss. He ranks ninth in the nation in total tackles, averaging 10.0 a game. Sippel recently surpassed 250 career tackles. Hunter Buechel owns 62 tackles and eight tackles for loss to go with two blocked kicks this season.

Punter Brendan Lach continues to be the top-ranked punter in the nation, averaging 44.2 yards per punt.