Michigan Tech quarterback Alex Bueno (15) prepares to receive a snap during a game against Saginaw Valley State Saturday at Kearly Stadium in Houghton. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University)

HOUGHTON — The Michigan Tech Huskies football team saw their season end in heartbreak Saturday in a 24-21 loss to the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals at Kearly Stadium.

After trailing most of the game, the took a four-point lead 21-17 with 6:18 remaining. On the ensuing drive, senior linebacker Porter Zeeman came up with two big plays, a sack for a loss of 13 yards and an interception.

With 1:53 remaining, the Huskies needed at least one first down to seal the win. Looking at a third and two, Michigan Tech was whistled for a false start, turning the third down into a third and seven.

After redshirt quarterback Alex Bueno failed to connect with senior tight end Drew Collins, the Huskies were forced to punt. Eleven plays and 75 yards later, the Cardinals crossed the goal line on a six-yard pass from Mason McKenzie to Braden Hill, which put Saginaw Valley ahead by three with eight seconds left.

Two pass attempts from Bueno later, the game was over.

“Obviously, you don’t ever want to end the season that way,” said Huskies coach Dan Mettlach. “Unbelievable group of seniors, many of them playing valuable minutes today, and you take the lead late, and then get beat that way. It’s tough for everybody.

“So, you lose a game like that during the middle of the year, you have a chance to get that taste out of your mouth with another one. Now, we’re going to the offseason with that one being the last one. We play so tough for everybody. Love the way our guys played and competed today, but just a tough way for it to end.”

Mettlach said he tried to get an explanation of the false start call, but wasn’t given a reason.

“I didn’t see anything,” he said. “Tried to get an explanation and they didn’t have one. Just the way it goes sometimes.

“The calls don’t go your way, and you’re in a third and two situation with a chance to run out the clock, and now you’re in third and nine (seven), and nobody knows what the reason for it was. So, it is what it is and we move on.”

The Huskies trailed from the opening drive of the game as the Cardinals marched 60 yards on nine plays and kicked a 32-yard field goal with 10:39 left in the opening quarter.

Saginaw Valley struck again early in the second quarter when McKenzie hit Eric Craft from 14 yards out to put the Cardinals up 10-0.

Michigan Tech answered with a touchdown of their own just under eight minutes later when redshirt sophomore wide receiver Nic Nora punched one in from two yards out after a pass interference set the Huskies up at the 2-yard line.

Trailing 10-7, the Huskies defense nearly got out of the half without any more damage, until McKenzie found Terrence Brown Jr. from two yards out with just two seconds left on the clock, putting the Cardinals up 17-7 at the half.

“They’ve got athletes all over the place offensively, dynamic ‘Q’ (quarterback), tough to contain, tough to get them to the ground. Then, on top of that, wide receivers that are making plays, and fast, athletic, quick, good ball skills.

“So, it’s the way it goes. Sometimes, we play really well, make enough plays to win, and then you give them credit. They executed down the stretch, and to go whatever it was, however many yards and a minute to get the winning score, at some point, you got to tip your cap to them as well. But, loved the way our guys played. We just needed to make one more play.”

The Huskies got back within three on the opening drive of the third quarter when freshman quarterback Elliott Larner crossed the goal line from three yards out to cap a six-play, 75-yard drive.

Then Michigan Tech took the lead with 6:18 remaining, as Bueno threw a 39-yard pass to senior wide receiver Ethan Champney down the left side line. The drive took just four plays to go 60 yards.

Bueno finished his day 9-of-20 for 145 yards and a touchdown through the air. He also ran seven times for 26 yards.

Junior running back Jake Rueff ran the ball 15 times for 88 yards.

Defensively, junior defensive back Dakota Blackwell and senior defensive back Dante Basanese finished with 10 tackles each.