Football Huskies Take on Timberwolves Saturday
THE MATCHUP
Saturday, October 12, 2013 • 1:00 p.m. (EDT)
Michigan Tech (3-2, 3-2 GLIAC) at Northwood (2-4, 1-3 GLIAC)
Radio Broadcast: WKMJ 93.5 FM (Josh Ylitalo)
Video Webcast: http://client.stretchinternet.com/client/northwood.portal#
Audio Webcast: Pasty.net
Live Stats: http://livestats.prestosports.com/michigantech/
Full version of game notes available in pdf.
HUSKIES LOCK DOWN WILDCATS
Michigan Tech allowed Northern Michigan just 155 yards of total offense last Saturday (Oct. 12) in a 31-7 victory over the Wildcats. The Huskies gave up only 48 yards rushing in the game—the third opponent this season they've held under 50 yards. Midway through the 2013 campaign, Tech boasts the GLIAC's top total defense, which is permitting just 308.2 yards per game. The next-best defense in the league is Wayne State at 353.3.
SCARLETT ACCOUNTS FOR 281 YARDS VS. NMU
Quarterback Tyler Scarlett threw for 254 yards and rushed for 27 more in last week's win over Northern Michigan. The junior completed 18-of-31 passes with a touchdown and no interceptions. The yardage brought his career total to 6,316. He is just the third Huskies to ever reach 6,000 yards. Scarlett, who owns the top two passing seasons in school history (2,406 as a freshman and 2,596 last year), is averaging 262.8 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- ) 6,316 .619 52 15
KEEP AWAY
Michigan Tech maintained possession of the ball for 38:56 of the 60 minutes vs. Northern Michigan to improve its average time of possession to 34:33. That mark is good for tops in the GLIAC and ninth in Division II.
COWIE ADDS ANOTHER HUNDRED
For the third consecutive week, Brandon Cowie went over 100 yards in receiving. The first-year wide receiver caught six passes for 113 vs. NMU to run his three-game total to 27 catches and 388 yards. He owns 555 yards on the season and a per-game average of 111.0—second best in the GLIAC and 18th best nationally.
TURNOVERS TURN TABLES
Michigan Tech is even on turnover margin this season with nine takeaways and nine giveaways. The statistic has been critical in all five games this season. The Huskies were plus four in turnover margin in their three wins and minus four in their three losses. Tech's defense has forced eight of the nine takeaways in the three victories including four last week vs. NMU.
PLAYING BY THE RULES
Michigan Tech ranks second in the nation in both penalties and penalty yards per game. The Huskies have been called for just 12 penalties for 91 yards in five games this season. Their averages are 2.40 penalties for 18.2 yards per game.
MEAD ONE AWAY FROM SEASON FIELD GOAL MARK
Kicker Garrett Mead made his ninth field goal of the season last Saturday (Oct. 12) vs. Northern Michigan and is now just one shy of the school record of 10 (shared by Grant Botz in 2004 and Billy Scyphers in 2001). Mead is 9-of-11 on field goals and 11-of-14 on extra points this season for 38 total points—most on the team and eighth-best in the GLIAC. The junior, who hit a school record five field goals in the win over Walsh, has makes of 31, 19, 24, 37, 27, 22, 27, 44 and 23 yards this season.
LEFFINGWELL AVERAGING MORE THAN 100 YARDS PER GAME
Running back Charlie Leffingwell carried the ball 25 times for 73 yards and a touchdown last week. He ran his season rushing total to 556 yards on 127 carries (4.4 per attempt). The junior is one of six players in the GLIAC averaging more than 100 yards per game. He is fifth at 111.2.
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 47-31 record (.603 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. NORTHWOOD
Michigan Tech first met Northwood in 1965 and the Timberwolves hold a 21-18 lead in the series. In the past decade, Michigan Tech holds a 7-3 record in the rivalry. That includes last year's game in Houghton, which the Huskies won 28-21.
HUSKIES BITES
The Huskies are back on the road for one more week before finishing with three of their final four at home … Michigan Tech is 3-0 when they score first … All five of Michigan Tech's games this season have been decided by more than 20 points … The Huskies are currently tied for fourth in the GLIAC North Division with the three teams ahead of them and the team they're tied comprising their last four opponents …
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)
Oct. 5 at GVSU Brandon Cowie (10 catches, 133 yards)
Oct. 12 vs NMU Brett Gervais (8 tackles, 27 punt return yards)