Huskies football returns to the road for final time ready to face Cardinals
Trending
HOUGHTON -- While things did not end Saturday the way they wanted them to, the No. 15 Michigan Tech Huskies football team gave the No. 1 Ferris State Bulldogs all they could handle in a 27-20 loss. For the Bulldogs, the win was their 38th in a row, but the seven-point margin was the smallest Ferris State had this season.
Huskies coach Dan Mettlach was proud of a lot of what his team did in the game.
"(We) weren’t going down there looking for a moral victory, so a loss is a loss," said Mettlach. "At the same time, I love the way the guys played, physical, tough, stayed in the fight even when we ended up getting the 24-7 hole. We were able to make some plays on the next two possessions to get points out of both of those.
"So, love the way the guys competed and did a lot of really good things. Never felt like we were out of place down there with them. That part was all positive."
Mettlach felt that, despite all the positives, his team could have played better than it did.
"You get back, and you watch the film, the bus ride home, just felt like we left too many chances out there," he said. "You’re playing that good of a football team, you have to play a clean football game. You can’t turn it over, and penalties can’t hurt you, and so on. Overall, love the way the guys competed. We’ll get them regrouped and then look forward to Saginaw here."
The Huskies only have a week to lick their wounds before getting back up on the proverbial horse by returning downstate this weekend to face Saginaw Valley State, who is coming off a victory over then-No. 16 Grand Valley State of their own. For the Huskies, the focus this week has been to make sure that they don't get to University Center and give up a third loss this season.
"We talked about it immediately after the football game, staying together, and making sure that game doesn’t beat us twice," Mettlach said. "I felt like our guys, halfway through the ride home into Monday, were on to the next. We had a good meeting on Monday afternoon, putting that game to bed and some good points to learn from and so on. So, I feel like, mentality-wise, our heads are in the right spot right now, understanding what’s in front of us, who’s next, and how much it means to just go play the next game on your schedule.
"So, (we are) hoping the maturity in our football (team), in our locker room, takes over right now, and we don’t have to worry about what happened last week again next weekend. That game’s done with and we’re on to the next."
The Ferris State game was also the first for junior wide receiver Nic Nora since Sept. 12. While he only made three catches for 34 yards, having him back on the field helped the Huskies all the same.
"He did some good things," Mettlach said. "Obviously, he’s got to get back in shape. There were some times where he was a little bit timid at points of contact, just as anyone would be. You’re coming off that kind of injury, getting hit for the first time, wanting to make sure that it’s not going to happen again. So, he was able to shake out the cobwebs. (We) had some good conversations with him on Monday, and we’re looking for him to get back to his normal self here this week."
The Huskies continued to employ the two-quarterback system they have been using all season. Junior Alex Bueno was 12-of-20 through the air for 106 yards. He did throw an interception. On the ground, he ran five times for 16 yards. Sophomore Elliott Larner ran nine times for 64 yards and two touchdowns, but he also gave up a fumble.
"I think you take the two turnovers out of the picture," said Mettlach. "The thing that hurt the most on both of them, it was early-down turnovers, so it didn’t even give us a chance to flip the field, or kick a field goal in the one situation. But, it happens. 'AB' is trying to make a play on a shot play. He knows better. Looking back on it, probably wishes he would have just thrown it away and lived to play another down.
"The fumble with Elliot, (the) kid coming from the backside. He thought he was kind of in the open, and traffic came from behind him, so has to better with ball security when you’re in the trash, rather than when you’re out in the open. Both (were) good learning moments, but crucial times to turn it over, especially in a tight game that ends up in a seven-point game."
Scouting the Cardinals
The Saginaw Valley State Cardinals are 4-4 overall and 2-2 in GLIAC play after defeating Grand Valley State last weekend, 27-20. They lost on Oct. 10 to Ferris State, 55-0.
Redshirt freshman Connor Wolf is quickly taking the reins of the Cardinals' offense and running with them. He is 84-of-141 for 1,567 yards and 16 touchdowns. He has thrown five interceptions as well. On the ground, he is a viable option, running 50 times for 219 yards.
Also on the ground, fifth-year running back Devin Miles has been very good. He has carried the ball 113 times for 495 yards and five touchdowns.
Through the air, Wolf has two favorite targets. Redshirt freshman JT Webber has 24 catches fro 654 yards and four touchdowns. Redshirt junior Braden Hill has 21 catches for 419 yards and eight touchdowns.
Game time
The Huskies and Cardinals will meet Saturday at Harvey Randall Wickes Memorial Stadium in University Center. Opening kickoff is set for 2 p.m.