Michigan Tech's Jacob Wenzlick finds a seam against Wayne State, Saturday, at Sherman Field. (David Archambeau/Daily Mining Gazette)

Davenport Panthers (1-7, 0-6 GLIAC) at Michigan Tech Huskies (3-5, 2-4 GLIAC)

Where: Sherman Field.

When: Saturday, 1 p.m.

Radio: 93.5 FM

Weather: 39 degrees, 60 percent chance of rain.

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HOUGHTON — The offense has struggled, and the defense has been gouged. 

The Michigan Tech Huskies have been outplayed in both facets during a miserable three-game losing streak. Tech must now win out over the final three games to avoid back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 1996-1997. 

Thankfully for Tech, its schedule is essentially handing the team a win this weekend with a home date against the Davenport Panthers Saturday, at 1 p.m. at Sherman Field.

Davenport is in just its second year of existence as a football program and has struggled in its first season of the GLIAC, going 0-6 in league play while splitting its nonconference games, including a 27-24 double OT win over McKendree. 

Davenport has proven to be more competitive in back-to-back weeks. Following the win against McKendree, Davenport fell short 33-30 to the Northwood Timberwolves in double OT after rallying from a 21-0 deficit to lead 27-24 with 26 seconds remaining.

“They’ve been a team that’s been improving,” Tech head coach Steve Olson said. “They’re going to feel confident about their ability to come into Sherman Field and come on the road and get a win. It’s our job to prepare to put our best foot forward and make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Davenport ranks last in points per game (11.4), passing yards (99.8), rushing (122.8) third-down conversions (23 percent) and red zone efficiency (67 percent). So pretty much any offensive stat category you can think of. 

The Panthers run a spread offense that looks similar to the Ferris State Bulldogs’ spread. Davenport will run four or five wide receiver sets and also utilize a running back or tight end in the box. 

“We’ve played that before,” Olson said. “You look back and figure out what you like with what you did against Ferris State in the past and what can fit there and what new things you can bring to the table.”

Tech will look to have more success against a spread after they’ve been torched on defense the last three weeks. 

Northwood’s option attack racked up 282 yards rushing in a 29-24 victory over the Huskies. In a pro-style offense, the Ashland Eagles gained 471 yards (280 passing, 191 rushing) in a 48-0 win over Tech, while the Wayne State Warriors pounded Tech for 243 yards rushing in its pro-style offense to earn a 20-14 win. 

The Huskies now have the second-worst run defense in the GLIAC (191.8 yards per game). Only the Northern Michigan Wildcats (200.6) are worse.

“It starts with making sure we understand exactly where we want to fit,” Olson said of improving the run defense. “It’s not schematically anything that’s a mistake, it’s where it is that we have to be on each individual play. Things we should react better to in our mind.”

As inefficient as the defense has been, Tech’s offense has been just as disjointed. The Huskies managed just 50 yards in the second half to Wayne State and turned it over on a fumble by Jacob Wenzlick. The shutout against Ashland was the first time Tech failed to score since a 37-0 loss to Hillsdale on Sept. 15, 2007. 

“We just got to find a way to stay on the field and execute what we’re doing,” Tech offensive coordinator Dan Mettlach said. “It’s not necessarily coming up with new ways to go about it, but if we get a chance to make a play, catch the football, or if we get open receivers, we have to be able to hit them.”

Tech’s downhill running game has had success this season, averaging 4.6 yards per carry, third-best in the GLIAC. But teams have committed to stacking the box with eight or more defenders in an attempt to make Tech beat them with its passing game. For the majority of the season, it’s been a losing battle for Tech. 

During the three-game losing streak, Tech senior quarterback Jake Brown has completed 30 of 68 passes for 285 yards, two TDs and five INTs. But dropped balls by Tech’s receiving corps has also contributed to the Huskies’ passing game being out of sync. 

“We’ve got to have an answer to keep the box honest so they can’t load it up on us and be able to stretch the field horizontally as well,” Mettlach said. “The other thing is Jake’s only started his eighth game, so he’s going to get better with the more reps he’s got. 

“We also have young receivers playing right now who haven’t played in the past. It’s just growing pains. It’s not an excuse, but it’s just where we’re at right now. We have to find guys who can make plays. It will come.”