Huskies football closes out regular season against Wayne State
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HOUGHTON -- As the final buzzer sounded Saturday afternoon, the No. 12 Michigan Tech Huskies football team walked off the field at Kearly Stadium having thoroughly dismantled a very good then-No. 12 Davenport Panthers squad, 37-6.
"It was a solid team win," said Huskies special teams coordinator Phil Milbrath. "Went into the week, obviously a highly anticipated matchup with GLIAC ramifications, as well as playoff possibilities. So, going in, we know they’re good stopping the run, and they rushed the ball at the top of the nation. So, the objective there was to be able to run the ball and stop their run.
"I thought that (our) offense and defense really complemented each other. Get some stops, then offense goes and scores, or vice versa. Offense and scores, then we get a stop. So, (that) allowed for us to get out to an early lead and then be able to play our game from there. Overall, I think we’re all very pleased with how everything started and then how we carried that out."
Milbrath referred to Saturday's game as a complimentary game, because, for much of the afternoon, everything the Huskies (8-2 overall, 5-1 GLIAC) did on either side of the ball contributed to the team's overall success.
"We just talked about playing complimentary football," he said. "There’s been times throughout the year where we did a really good job of playing complimentary football. To be able to put together the success we’ve had to this point, but for a full game, that was really what we challenged the guys to all week.
"To see them come out and perform the way that they did, obviously, gives us things to continue to build on. (It) shows us that our guys are bought into peaking at the right time right now and carrying that over to this week as well."
The Huskies have one last hurdle to climb over before they reach the promised land of the playoffs, and that is a game Saturday against the currently winless Wayne State Warriors.
"We have to finish off the regular season here, defend home turf, send the seniors out the right way in our last regular season game here at Kearly Stadium," Milbrath said. "At the end of the day, that’s the same things we preach every week. To be able to see it come to fruition, I think, that shows the guys what we’re capable of against a solid team like Davenport. We look forward to seeing more of that as we head here into this week and then potentially the next few weeks."
Having junior wide receiver Nic Nora back close to where he was in the first half of the season is helping.
"It’s obviously great to have Nic back," said Milbrath. "An All-Conference receiver a year ago, a big play threat, can do a lot in the backfield and out wide. Then, obviously, in the special teams game, he’s a weapon for us as a returner. What he had was a pretty significant injury. Kept him out for over a month. But, the type of kid Nic is, he worked through the rehab, he worked through everything that he needed to do to make sure he was available as soon as he could be and his recovery went well.
"For the first few weeks that he was back playing, we had to be smart about how we’re using them and making sure that he’s getting up to game speed again, whether it’s the conditioning level or whether it’s the execution level, (trying not to) put too much on his plate. But, the last few weeks here, you got to see Nic back in the full swing of things. It helps our offense create explosives and then even just the little details amongst our offense. A guy that’s been in it now for three years kind of settles things down, so to speak."
Along with Nora's return to form, the Huskies have continued to employ a two-quarterback system all season long with junior Alex Bueno and sophomore Elliott Larner. The decision continues to pay off for Michigan Tech.
"Well, we’re moving the ball and we’re scoring points," Milbrath said. "So, let’s start with just, I guess, the obvious, a lot of times you hear the old coach speak, say, 'Hey, two quarterbacks equals none, right?' Or you don’t have one. That’s not the case obviously with us.
"Here’s the deal, they’re both really good players, so they both have to play. It’s as simple as that. I think what makes it easy for us at Michigan Tech with those two guys. They feed off of each other. They have camaraderie with the other 10 other guys on the field. Offensively, they gel with those guys. Then, ultimately, they’re both good at running and passing the ball."
Scouting the Warriors
The Warriors are 0-10 and 0-6 in GLIAC play after dropping their game Saturday to the No. 1 Ferris State Bulldogs, 80-0.
Freshman Nikkos Davis has spent the most time under center of all the quarterbacks the Warriors have played. He is 32-for-71 for 422 yards, one touchdown and five interceptions. Redshirt junior Jordan Bell has emerged as the top target, with 26 catches for 327 yards.
On the ground, fifth-year running back D'Vaun Bentley has been very good, rushing 99 times for 532 yards and five touchdowns.
Game time
The Huskies and Warriors will meet on Senior Day Saturday at 12 p.m. at Kearly Stadium in Houghton.