Tech and Northern Football Vie for Miner's Cup on Saturday
Saturday, October 6, 2012 • 1:00 p.m. (EDT)
Michigan Tech (3-1, 3-1 GLIAC) at Northern Michigan (0-4, 1-4 GLIAC)
Radio Broadcast: WKMJ 93.5 FM (Josh Ylitalo, Ian Marks)
Video Webcast: HuskiesLive.mtu.edu
Audio Webcast: Pasty.net
Live Stats: http://livestats.prestosports.com/michigantech/
Full version of game notes in pdf.
PLAYING FOR THE MINER'S CUP
Saturday's (Nov. 12) game is the 11th annual battle for the Miner's Cup. The trophy was created in 2002 through the efforts of Michigan Tech's Athletics Department and its Army ROTC. The trophy itself is an authentic miner's helmet, which was found at a Houghton-area antique store, mounted on a wooden base. Michigan Tech has won seven of the 10 previous Miner's Cup games and currently possesses the trophy after a 21-18 win in Marquette last year (Nov. 12). The home team has won the trophy seven out of 10 chances.
RECORD BROKEN: 4,684 WATCH TECH-GVSU FOOTBALL
Michigan Tech took aim at breaking its home football attendance record with last weekend's Drive for 5 promotion for the game vs. Grand Valley State. Huskies fans responded. A record crowd of 4,684 witnessed Tech and GVSU battle on the gridiron of Sherman Field. The crowd surpassed the previous football home record of 4,332 (set vs. Northern Michigan in 2004). It also became the largest crowd to witness any home Huskies athletic event, surpassing the hockey record crowd of 4,619 (set vs. Michigan in 1976).
CASON PLAYER OF THE WEEK—SET RECORD WITH 98 YARD RETURN
Akeem Cason was named GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week after his performance in the No. 22-ranked Huskies 51-43 loss to No. 3 Grand Valley State last Saturday (Sept. 29). Cason returned six kickoffs for 198 yards including a 98-yard return for a touchdown vs. GVSU. The senior's third career kickoff return TD came late in the third quarter as Tech was trailing 51-14, and swung the momentum of the game. The Huskies went on to score four consecutive touchdowns with three more in the fourth quarter to pull within 51-43 before running out of time. Cason now leads the GLIAC in kickoff returns with a 31.9 yards-per-return average. His 98-yard kickoff return was the longest in school history.
SCARLETT SETS SINGLE-GAME PASSING MARK
Despite completing just one of his first eight passes, quarterback Tyler Scarlett turned in a record day vs. Grand Valley State. The sophomore completed 29-of-50 throws for five touchdowns and a school-record 441 yards. The 441 yards broke Steve Short's record of 431 yards at Winona State Aug. 25, 2007. Scarlett ranks fourth in the GLIAC and 16th in the nation in pass efficiency rating at 155.6. He is back on pace to break his own record for yards in a season which he set last year at 2,406.
CURTIN HAS BREAKOUT GAME
Wide receiver Matt Curtin became the first player in school history to catch more than three touchdown passes in a game by hauling in four vs. Grand Valley State last Saturday (Sept. 29). Curtin caught 11 passes for 190 yards on the day with a TD in the second quarter, one in the third and two in the fourth. The senior's previous career best game came a year ago with seven catches for 57 yards and one touchdown vs. Ferris State.
SPREADING OUT THE SCORING
Eleven different players have scored points for Michigan Tech this season. After his four-touchdown game vs. Grand Valley State, Matt Curtin leads the team with 32 points. Running back/kick returner Akeem Cason is second with 24 points while kicker Garrett Mead is third with 23.
A TOP TACKLER IS BJORN
Free safety Emmett Bjorn has led the team in tackles in three of the four games this season. That includes last Saturday vs. Grand Valley State, when he posted a season-high 11. Bjorn, with his 30 tackles, leads the Huskies on the season in that category.
COACH KEARLY
Michigan Tech head coach Tom Kearly is in his seventh season as head coach and 13th overall with the Huskies program. The skipper owns a 40-27 record (.597 winning percentage) and has coached Tech to two of the eight eight-win seasons in school history. Kearly, a Hancock native and 1979 Winona State graduate, coached at Central Michigan for 19 seasons before returning to the Copper Country in 2000. He was the GLIAC Coach of the Year in 2010.
SERIES VS. NORTHERN MICHIGAN
Michigan Tech and Northern Michigan have met 85 times since their series began in 1920. The Wildcats own a 41-39-5 record in those games, however the Huskies are 7-3 in the last 10 matchups. Tech claimed a 21-18 victory in last year's season finale (Nov. 13) as an NMU field goal attempt fell short as time expired.
ALL-TIME RECORD
Michigan Tech has an all-time football record of 343-332-17 (.508 winning percentage) in 91 seasons of intercollegiate football. The Huskies are 60-37 over the last 10 seasons (.619 winning percentage).
2012 CAPTAINS
Michigan Tech's team captains for the 2012 season are senior linebacker Justin Armstrong, senior defensive tackle Jake Clark, senior tight end Bryan LaChapelle and senior offensive lineman Chris Mullen.
HUSKY BITES
Michigan Tech has three non-offensive touchdowns this season with a punt return TD, a fumble return TD and a kickoff return TD. The Huskies had just two non-offensive scores all of last season … Tech leaves the Upper Peninsula just once in its first six games of the 2012 season. That once was Sept. 15 at Walsh. Of the other five games in that stretch, four are at home and the other is at Northern Michigan.
SUPERIOR PLAYERS OF THE GAME
Superior National Bank sponsors the Superior Player of the Game. Following each football game, a player is chosen. A list of the 2012 Superior Players of the Game is below.
Sept. 8 vs. Tiffin Dan Perrault (9 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 1 forced fumble)
Sept. 15 vs. Walsh Bryan LaChapelle (7 rec., 63 yds, 1 TD) &
Emmett Bjorn (six tackles, 1 interception)
Sept. 22 vs. Findlay Emmett Bjorn (10 tackles, 2 pass breakups)
Sept. 29 vs. GVSU Matt Curtin (11 receptions, 190 yards, 4 TDs)