Michigan Tech Heads to Grand Valley for Gridiron Showdown
THE MATCHUP
Saturday, October 5, 2013 • 7:00 p.m. (EDT)
Michigan Tech (2-1, 2-1 GLIAC) at No. 25 Grand Valley State (3-1, 1-1 GLIAC)
Radio Broadcast: WKMJ 93.5 FM (Josh Ylitalo)
Video Webcast: gvsulakers.com/allaccess/?media=406484
Audio Webcast: Pasty.net
Live Stats: livestats.prestosports.com/michigantech/
Full version of game notes in pdf.
COWIE HAS BREAKOUT GAME
Freshman Brandon Cowie posted a total of 142 receiving yards on 11 catches on Saturday, earning him Superior Player of the Game honors. The wide receiver is averaging 103.0 yards per game and has earned 309 total yards this season. Saturday's game will be Cowie's fourth as a wide receiver. He converted to the position last spring after spending 2012 as a backup quarterback.
OFFENSE TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
Michigan Tech is leading the GLIAC and is ranked sixth in Division II in time of possession with an average of 34:40. Tech also has the second fewest penalty yards per game in Division II (23.3). The Huskies offense is led by junior quarterback Tyler Scarlett and junior running back Charlie Leffingwell who average a combined 418.3 yards per game.
MEAD RANKED SECOND IN FIELD GOALS PER GAME
Kicker Garrett Mead is ranked second in all of Division II football in field goals per game with a total of 2.3. Mead scored seven points and made both of his field goals attempts against Findlay last week. On Sept. 21, the junior broke a school record with making five field goals and scoring 17 of the Husky's 29 points in a Homecoming victory against Walsh.
SCARLETT NOW THIRD ALL-TIME IN CAREER PASSING YARDS
Quarterback Tyler Scarlett completed 27-of-52 passes for 367 yards and two touchdowns last week vs Findlay. The yardage brought his career total to 5,839—good for third all time. Scarlett, who owns the top two passing seasons in school history (2,406 as a freshman and 2,596 last year), is averaging 279.0 yards per game so far in 2013.
Michigan Tech Career Passing Yards Pct TDs Ints
1. Steve Short (2006-10) 7,471 .579 59 44
2. Dave Walter (1983-86) 6,876 .505 48 59
3. Tyler Scarlett (2011- ) 5,839 .620 51 15
LEFFINGWELL'S PERFORMANCES CONTINUE
Running back Charlie Leffingwell is ranked 11th in NCAA Division II in rushing with an average of 139.3 yards per game. The junior tallied 81 yards on 19 attempts (4.3 per carry) last week at Findlay. With 418 rushing yards in three games this season, Leffingwell has surpassed his rushing total for all of last season (411). He also ranks 38th nationally in both all-purpose yards (146.3 per game).
DEFENSE STILL TOPS IN GLIAC
Michigan Tech faced a strong offense last week at Findlay, which is ranked 14th in Division II football total offense. Despite that, the Huskies still lead the GLIAC and rank sixth nationally in total defense, allowing just 293 yards per game. Two of Tech's three opponents this season have failed to accumulate 250 yards.
FEW PUNTS, GOOD AVERAGE
Punter Jordan Ledvina has been called upon only seven times in three games this season. He's averaging 46.4 yards per punt. The senior does not have the minimum number of attempts to qualify for national rankings, but he would rank third at his current average. As a team, Michigan Tech ranks second in the country in net punting with an average of 43.2 yards per punt play.
COACH KEARLY
Michigan Tech head coach Tom Kearly is in his eighth season as head coach and 14th overall with the Huskies program. The skipper owns a 46-30 record (.613 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.
2013 CAPTAINS
Michigan Tech's team captains for the 2013 season are offensive lineman Chris Mullen, defensive lineman David Russek, quarterback Tyler Scarlett and fullback Cole Welch.
SERIES VS. GRAND VALLEY
Michigan Tech has a long history playing against Grand Valley. The series dates back to 1976 with Grand Valley taking the first victory 10-8. Overall, Grand Valley leads the series 23-3, with the last Husky victory coming in 2010 by a score of 20-17. Each of the last three contests has been decided by a touchdown or less.
HUSKIES BITES
The Huskies are on the road for the second consecutive week as they travel to Allendale to take on Grand Valley. After this week, Tech will have four of their final six games at home … Next week Michigan Tech returns home to take on Northern Michigan for the 11th annual Miner's Cup.
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 2013 Superior Players of the Game is below.
Sept. 14 at Tiffin Charlie Leffingwell (33 carries, 192 yds, 2 TD)
Sept. 21 vs. Walsh Garrett Mead (5 field goals, 2 PAT, 17 Total Points)
Sept. 28. at Findlay Brandon Cowie (11 catches, 142 yards)