Tech Homecoming Success: 29-7 Over Walsh

HOUGHTON, Mich. — With a crowd of 3,224 looking on including many former players in attendance for Homecoming, the Michigan Tech football team defeated Walsh 29-7. The Huskies moved to 2-0 on the season behind a second straight dominating performance from their defense.

Walsh (1-2, 1-1 GLIAC) managed just 154 total yards with only 16 rushing yards on 19 carries. Tech meanwhile racked up 485 yards with a balanced attack of 207 rushing and 278 passing.

Kicker Garrett Mead accounted for 17 of the teams 29 points with a school-record five field goals and two PATs. He was called on twice for field goals in the first half as drives stalled deep in Cavalier territory. The first was a 31-yard try on the opening drive, and the second was a 19-yard attempt with :05 remaining before halftime. The two field goals sandwiched a Huskies touchdown as Brandon Cowie tip-toed the side of the endzone on a fade route in the first quarter.

Tech entered the locker room leading 13-0.

Mead added his third field goal of the game—a 24-yarder—on the Huskies first drive of the second half for a 16-0 margin.

Walsh found some life with a 15-play, 65-yard drive that ended in a one-yard touchdown run on fourth and goal. That would be the only time WU would reach the red zone.

Tech scored on three more consecutive possessions with field goals of 37 and 27 yards from Mead and a 50-yard strike from Tyler Scarlett to Jordan McConnell to wrap up scoring.

Pace of the game was a concern for head coach Tom Kearly entering the game. Walsh came in having run more than 100 plays in each of its first two games. Tech's defense made sure they never got going.

The Cavaliers were forced to go three-and-out each of their first two possessions and didn't pick up a first down on six of their 13 possessions. Tech took advantage, not only holding a 40:14-to-19:46 advantage in time of possession but also picking up 25 first downs in the game compared to 13.

"I'm always pleased with a win," said Kearly. "Our first half I would characterize as sloppy. We're in a two score game at halftime when we thought it should have been 24-0. Defensively, we played well all game. We contained a good quarterback and pressured him all day.

"We still have some things to work on, but in the end it's a 'W'."

Running back Charlie Leffingwell toted the ball 33 times for the second straight week and finished with 145 yards. Scarlett completed 15-of-25 passes for 238 yards and two touchdowns. He moved into third on Tech's all-time passing chart in the first quarter.

Brett Gervais and Taylor Ziolkowski each had seven tackles to pace the Huskies defense. Ziolkowski was involved in one of Tech's two takeaways with a fumble recovery in the third quarter. The other turnover was an interception by Nick Brajak in the fourth.

Michigan Tech will play its final game against a GLIAC South Division foe next Saturday (Sept. 28) when it travels to Findlay for a 3 p.m. kickoff.

Notes: Mead's five field goals broke the old record of three that he shared with three other players. His 17 kick scoring points broke the old record of 13 held by Billy Scyphers (Oct. 6, 2001) and Cliff Anderson (Oct. 2, 1976) … Scarlett now has 5,472 career passing yards—404 behind Dave Walter (1983-86) in second place on the list with 6,876 yards.