Michigan Tech defensive lineman Samuel Kinne hurries Saginaw Valley State quarterback Mike O’Hara during a game Saturday at Kearly Stadium in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — Michigan Tech’s offensive momentum built in a dominant win last week didn’t hold over in Saturday’s season finale.

Saginaw Valley State’s dynamic offensive attack and suffocating defense topped Michigan Tech on Senior Day, 38-21, on Saturday.

The Huskies (5-5, 1-5 GLIAC) had moments here and there of brilliance, but the Cardinals were too much.

“They have a nice scheme. Thought they executed well,” Huskies coach Dan Mettlach said. “Saginaw Valley still has unbelievable talent. Their record does not show who they truly are. They still have the guys in that locker to be considered one of the top teams in our league. On top of that, they had some creases and we did not tackle very well to be honest for the majority of the game.”

SVSU (6-5, 3-3) had 469 total yards of offense including 169 rushing. The Cardinals’ defense held the Huskies to just 217 yards of offense and 62 rushing.

To make matters worse for Michigan Tech, junior quarterback Alex Fries left the game late in the first half after a hit to the head by Cardinals’ defensive end Jemarrlowe Sykes. Fries had taken a hard hit a few minutes prior.

“He was better when we got to halftime, but of course we’re not going to mess with a head injury,” Mettlach said. “Tough way for him to end his season, but I was proud of what Joe did when he came in.”

With Tech trailing just 21-14 at the time, sophomore quarterback Joe Hartlieb was tasked with completing the job. Tech had scored on the previous two drives to tighten the game while the defense took the SVSU offense out of rhythm. But it wasn’t enough.

The Huskies punted twice, and Hartlieb threw an interception that later led to a Cardinals’ touchdown to make it 31-14.

Tech finally scored in the fourth quarter when Hartlieb found Ethan Champney for a 56-yard score to make it 31-21 with nearly seven minutes left in the game.

But the Cardinals drove the field, chewed clock and scored again to seal it.

Hartlieb finished the day 8 of 15 passing for 86 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Fries was 7 of 12 for 69 yards and an interception before he exited the game.

Will Marano had 46 rushing yards on 15 carries to lead the Huskies’ rushing attack. Champney had six catches for 116 yards. Darius Willis had five catches for 33 yards in his final game as a Husky.

Samuel Kinne led the Huskies defense with 13 tackles in his final game. Owen Watson had 11 tackles including four solo. Marc Sippel, Josh Cribben and Dante Basanese had eight tackles apiece.

Michael Bates Jr. and Basanese each had a fumble recovery.

The Cardinals found big days from running back Terrance Brown and quarterback Mike O’Horo. Brown rushed 17 times for 98 yards and a touchdown. O’Horo completed 24 of 30 passes for 300 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a rushing touchdown of 7 yards in the fourth.Derrick Hinton Jr. had 10 catches for 98 yards to lead Cardinals’ receivers.

Dante Barthwell had a sack for the SVSU defense. Micah Cretsinger got the Cardinals’ day started with a 41-yard interceptoin return for a touchdown to break the Huskies back on their first offensive drive of the day that put Tech down in a 14-0 hole seven minutes into the game. Cretsinger finished the day with 14 tackles including 11 solo.

Mettlach thanked the seniors for their contributions over the years.

“I can’t say enough about those guys. I’ve been talking about them since we got into camp in August,” he said. “Just incredible in the locker room, incredible in the weight room. Everything they do on the field, just can’t say enough about those guys. Obviously any senior day is a sad day those guys walk off the field. This group right here, incredibly special. Not only for the things they do off the field but they’re big time contributors on Saturdays as well. We’re gonna miss them, but I think they’ve done an incredible job for the kids behind to keep this thing moving forward.”

Mettlach, who completed his first season as Huskies’ head coach, said he learned a lot in the new role.

“The game is different down on the field, the emotions are different,” Mettlach said. “Different parts of the game with the game management being involved in all that rather than sitting in the box calling plays is just different. Everything I’ve said up to this point about the senior group has made it easy with the transition in the locker room when it’s led by guys like that it makes it easier on our job. I can’t say enough about those guys. “We’ll look back on it now and go through the evaluations of ourselves, our staff, what we need to do recruiting and get it cleaned up from that standpoint. I liked what happened this fall with where we’re at mentality wise in our locker room.”

WILLIS SETS RECEPTIONS RECORD

Willis clinched the school’s all-time career receptions record with 159, surpassing Brian Janeshek’s 154 from 2002-05.

Janeshek’s quarterback during that run was none other than Mettlach.

“It’s incredible because D-Will is such an incredible guy with everything he does,” Mettlach said. “To see a record stand that long and to be broken by a guy that does everything the right way, I can’t say enough about him. It’s a cool deal to have been here for the first guy that had the record and to be here obviously in a different capacity when D-Will gets it, but couldn’t happen to a better person.”