Michigan Tech wide receiver Ethan Champney turns upfield with the ball during a game against Bemidji State Thursday, Aug. 28, at Kearly Stadium in Houghton. (David Archambeau/For the Gazette)

HOUGHTON — With convincing wins over then-No. 16 Bemidji State, South Dakota Mines and Hillsdale in their first three weeks of the season, the Michigan Tech Huskies football team joined the national polls this week at No. 24. That being said, the focus for the Huskies is not the ranking, but rather their game Saturday against Upper Iowa at Kearly Stadium.

“(The) guys are playing well right now,” said Huskies coach Dan Mettlach. “Same thing I said last week. I feel like feeding off of each other and taking advantage of certain situations.”

Despite the success, Mettlach feels the Huskies are still scratching the surface of how good they might be.

“We still haven’t had four quarters of the execution that we were looking for, and have a lot to clean up still, formationally, and, obviously, last week giving up the trick play on just bad eyes in the secondary eventually are going to get us beat,” he said. “So, we have to be better with that kind of stuff. But, the energy, and the way the guys are playing right now, can’t ask for much more.”

Still, there is a lot that Mettlach likes in what he is seeing on the field.

“I think they’re confident right now,” he said. “I think the trust in what we’re doing scheme-wise in all three phases is there. We don’t have a whole lot of situations right now in the first three weeks where there’s guys questioning where they’re supposed to be and when they’re supposed to be there. So, I think that helps.

“The staff has done a great job with what we did during camp, and last spring ball, getting these younger guys ready to go for that first kickoff. So, we’re three weeks in now, and I said this last week as well, we don’t have young guys anymore. Guys know who’s playing. We’ve got some experience. So, understanding the game plan and trusting it, knowing where we’re kind of deficient at right now in terms of whether it be position, or certain spots in-scheme getting cleaned up. Right now it’s just collectively a group effort in all three weeks, and we have to continue that.”

It helps when Mettlach is beginning to rely on redshirt sophomore quarterback Alex Bueno, who was 25-of-41 for 364 yards and three touchdowns through the air against Hillsdale while also rushing 13 times for 68 yards. What impresses Mettlach is the fact that Bueno is learning how to see the game beyond his play.

“I thought he played really well in the first half on Saturday,” Mettlach said. “Not that he was bad in the second half. I don’t mean it that way. But, we got to the point where those first three drives, especially, everything was clicking really well mechanically. (He) did a nice job of taking what the defense was giving him, and some big plays came out of what he was exploring from the secondary look. So, that’s all great to see.

“He was the first one to admit, we didn’t even get to film, we were still on the field on Saturday, and he brought up some throws that he had missed.”

One of the things that helps Bueno find success is the play of the Huskies’ receivers. Senior Ethan Champney had nine catches for 119 yards, redshirt sophomore Bryce Kurncz had six catches for 110 yards, and redshirt sophomore Nic Nora had eight catches for 106 yards and two touchdowns.

“I think that makes the offense tougher to defend when not only do you have guys that are capable of making plays on the outside, but when the ‘Q’ (quarterback) is seeing the whole field, and getting everybody involved, (it makes us) a little tougher to defend, because you’re not just keying on one guy at that point,” said Mettlach. “So, (we) did a nice job spreading the football around. A lot of people touched it, and, ultimately, when the guys got the football in their hands, they made plays.

“A lot of those throws we had on Saturday were five yards or less, and you’re making one miss, and then it’s turned into a 25-yard gain, rather than five. The guys on the outside did a nice job for him, but that’s part of playing the position as well, is trusting your guys to go make a play for you, where it doesn’t have to be vertical shot after vertical shot.”

Scouting the Peacocks

The Peacocks come into this weekend 1-1 on the season after falling to Drake in their opener and bouncing back two weeks later with a win over South Dakota Mines, 58-14.

“(They are) very athletic offensively,” Mettlach said. “They’ve got some receivers that can go; quarterback is very talented, and does a nice job with his patience in the pocket. So, they are going to stress us vertically, horizontally, in the pass game on Saturday.

“We’ve got to find a way to get pressure to the ‘Q.’ We can’t just sit back there, and do what he wants. (They are) very good from their skill spots offensively. Defensively, (their) back end is talented, a lot like we saw the first three weeks in the box. They’re big, physical, so they are a very good football team.”

They are led by senior quarterback Darryl Overstreet, who is 39-of-55 for 580 yards, with six touchdowns and one interception. His favorite target has been senior wide receiver Mante Morrow, who has 13 catches for 301 yards and five touchdowns, including four against the Hardrockers.

Redshirt freshman running back Damon Head, Jr., has gotten off to a good start to his collegiate career with 15 rushes for 77 yards and a touchdown.

Game time

With Saturday’s game also being the Huskies’ Homecoming game, the opening kickoff between the Huskies and Peacocks is set for 4 p.m. at Kearly Stadium in Houghton.