Michigan Tech’s Will Ark poses with the Miner’s Cup after the Huskies defeated Northern Michigan Saturday, Oct. 15, at Kearly Stadium in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

If there’s any point of the season to go into a game with momentum, this is it.

The Michigan Tech football team brings a two-game win streak this week to visit No. 7 Ferris State.

The Bulldogs (5-1) lost 22-21 last week, as the country’s No. 1 team, to No. 2 Grand Valley State. It was the end of Ferris State’s 43-game regular season win streak, the longest in college football regardless of division.

In other words, the Huskies have their hands full this week.

The Huskies come into the weekend having played their strongest football this season. Last week, Michigan Tech won its 12th straight Miner’s Cup against Northern Michigan, and edged Wayne State the week prior.

The Huskies overcame a poor rushing performance on offense and defense against the Warriors with an improved showing against the Wildcats. Tech spread the Wildcats out of the shotgun and used sweeps and QB draws to gash the Wildcats.

Michigan Tech head coach Steve Olson said Ferris State will look similar to Northern Michigan in terms of how it lines up on defense.

“They are big on the offensive line. They’re fast offensively, they’re fast defensively,” Olson said. “They’ve got really skilled people. They are a potential national championship football team.”

The Huskies will have to find a way to chew time and drive up the time of possession while gaining first downs and converting possession into points.

Huskies quarterback Will Ark continues to shine this season. With an efficiency rating of 125.8, the senior is on pace with his most efficient season in 2019 at 130.9. Ark is second in the GLIAC with 12 touchdown passes, third with 160.8 yards per game, and he’s also on pace to set a career high in passing yards in a season.

Ark’s improvement boils down to dedicated off-field study, offensive coordinator Dan Mettlach said.

“He’s done an incredible job. I think he had a really nice spring last year when he wasn’t able to practice due to eligibility purposes, being the COVD year guy and whatnot,” Mettlach said. “But he’s put a ton of work in, in the film room, in the classroom, understanding exactly where he’s supposed to go, when he’s supposed to go with certain balls. He’s done a much better job managing things this year. It’s not just him – everyone sees Will on the field because he’s playing, but Steele (Fortress) and Alex (Fries), in practice as well, bought into making sure that the football is not being put up in harm’s way.”

Michigan Tech’s offensive line will look for ways to stop Ferris State defensive end Caleb Murphy, who leads the nation with 13 sacks already, including 12 solo.

Ferris State redshirt freshman quarterback Carson Gulker leads the GLIAC with 13 rushing touchdowns.

Mettlach said Saturday will come down to execution, and staying within the gameplan.

“We are for sure going to have our hands full,” Mettlach said. “Obviously, we’ve got some things that we like with what we’re doing with our gameplan. But at the end of the day, we are going to have to possess the football, make sure we’re staying ahead of the chains to have any success.

“I think it plays right into what they do. If they can get you behind the sticks, let their athletes go play, that does not play in our favor at all. So we will have to make sure we take care of the football, not turn it over. And then methodically make sure we’re just taking whatever they’re giving us, whether that be a 2-yard gain or a 6-yard gain.”