The Lakers battled back to hand the Huskies 21-16 Homecoming loss.

“I thought our kids played tremendously hard all game,” said MTU head coach Steve Olson. “They played for 60 minutes and went toe-to-toe with a good football team. Our kids gave a great effort, and it certainly would have been nice to come out with a win.”

In the second half, the Huskies (2-2, 0-2 GLIAC) took the lead with a 28-yard field goal by senior Evan Gornick with 2:50 left on the third quarter clock.

The Lakers responded with a 75-yard touchdown drive to start the fourth quarter to make the score 14-10 at the 12:48 mark.

Michigan Tech’s Marshael Ryan (47) tackles Grand Valley State quarterback Cade Peterson on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Houghton, Mich. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

The Huskies, however, weren’t finished. They mounted a 78-yard drive which included some key first-down passes from Will Ark to Marano. The drive ended with an 8-yard scamper into the end zone by freshman Emmett Boehler to make 16-14. However, it wasn’t enough.

With 3:25 left to play, GVSU put together a 10-play, 60-yard drive that resulted in a 3-yard touchdown run with 24 seconds remaining.

“We know that we are a good football team and we believe we can compete with some of the top teams in the country,” Olson said. “I thought we showed that today.”

Michigan Tech received the ball first but went three and out. Grand Valley State (4-0, 2-0 GLIAC) then took over at their 37-yard line. They put together a 63-yard drive and eventually a 3-yard touchdown run with 10:27 on the clock.

The Huskies came back to tie the score just minutes later thanks to the quick hands and feet of freshman Will Marano. The Lakers were set to punt the ball deep in their zone, and the long snap went through the hands of punter Dan Madden. The football rolled into the end zone and Marano pounced on it for a touchdown. With the extra point, the score was tied at seven with 6:30 left on the clock.

Michigan Tech running back William Marano (4) tries to evade a tackle by Grand Valley State Isaiah Nkansah on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Houghton, Mich. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

That is how the game stayed as the teams into halftime break.

“I thought our offensive and defensive staff did a good job of making some adjustments as the game went on,” Olson said. “I told the guys at halftime to come out and keep playing the way they’d be playing. I said that if Grand Valley comes out and scores, we will need to come back and do the same. The kids did that and I was extremely proud of their effort.”

GVSU had 287 total yards compared to Tech’s 217. Boehler led the Huskies on the ground with 16 carries for 52 yards. Marano followed with 10 carries and 47 yards.

Quarterback Will Ark put up some impressive numbers in his role as the Huskies punter. He had eight punts for 385 yards. Five of those kicks put the Lakers behind the 20-yard line.

“Will had one of the best games you could have as a punter,” Olson said. “He pinned them deep several times with some booming punts and well-positioned kicks.”

The Kearly family poses with Michigan Tech athletic director Suzanne Sanregret, left, before a football game between Michigan Tech and Grand Valley State University on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, in Houghton, Mich. Michigan Tech dedicated the field as Sherman Field at Kearly Stadium. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

On the defensive end, the Huskies had four sacks. Three of them came from senior Xavier Ciardo.

The Huskies are off this week. Olson added that it will be a welcomed break in the action.

“It will be good for our players to catch up on their studies and tests. We will also get to work in preparation for the Northern Michigan game.”

The Huskies host Northern Michigan for the annual Miner’s Cup at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12.

GVSU 7 0 0 14 — 21

MTU 7 0 3 6 — 16

First Quarter

GVSU — Cain-Veasey 3 run (Gorball kick), 10:27

MTU — Marano fumble recover (Gornick kick), 6:30

Third Quarter

MTU — Gornick 28 field goal, 2:50

Fourth Quarter

GVSU — Cain-Veasey 1 run (Gorball kick), 12:48

MTU — Boehler 8 run (Gornick kick failed), 5:56

GVSU — Cain-Veasey 3 run (Gorball kick), 0:24

First downs GVSU 15; MTU 12

Total Yards GVSU 287; MTU 217

Rushes-yards GVSU 45-130; MTU 32-106

Passing GVSU 157; MTU 111

Punt Returns GVSU 3-22; MTU 2-32

Kickoff Returns GVSU 3-72; MTU 2-40

Interceptions Ret. GVSU 0-0; MTU 0-0

Comp-Att-Int GVSU 8-14; MTU 15-28

Sacked-Yards Lost. GVSU 0-0; MTU 6-46

Punts GVSU 7-308; MTU 8-385

Fumbles-Lost GVSU 3-2; MTU 2-0

Penalties-Yards GVSU 1-5; MTU 3-10

Time of Possession. GVSU 29:51; MTU 30:09

Att.: 2,649

RUSHING–GVSU, Cain-Veasey 27-101, Young-Walls 1-29, Provencher 2-15, Peterson 13-6, Madden 1-(minus)21. MTU, Marano 10-47, Boehler 16-40, Ark 4-16, Wood 1-5, Wenzlick 1-(minus)2.

PASSING–GVSU, Peterson 8-13-0-157. MTU, Ark 15-28-0-111.

RECEIVING–GVSU, Paritee 4-89, Anderson 3-61, Provencher 1-7. MTU, Marano 2-26, Hartley 3-26, Wenzlick 4-24, Janssen 3-20, Urban 1-7, Marion 1-5, Ferguson 1-3.

MISSED FIELD GOAL–MTU, Gornick 39 (WL)

Stadium dedicated to Kearly family

Michigan Tech’s football stadium got a new name on Saturday. On top of the press box, emblazoned in MTU yellow it now reads Kearly Stadium. It takes its new namesake in honor of Ted and Tom Kearly – longtime Michigan Tech football coaches.

The father and son duo led the Huskies to a NCAA playoff appearance, three NIC Championships, two Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference titles and 13 All-American players. Ted coached the team from 1969-72 and his son Tom was the Huskies head coach for 11 years in the 2000s.

Both were on hand Saturday for the pre-game unveiling of the new stadium name.

“Michigan Tech has been so good to me,” said 87-year old Ted Kearly. “I appreciate this day and these fans. We have the best fan base in the world.”

His son echoed a similar sentiment as he was being congratulated by a number of his former players.

“Its a great honor and very humbling,” Tom Kearly said. “The best part of coaching here is the kids you get to coach. You get quality kids and that has been great for this program.”

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