Huskies football ties school record for wins, topping Wayne State
Michigan Tech finishes regular season 9-2
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HOUGHTON -- With just one final home game to go, the No. 12 Michigan Tech Huskies football team had a goal in mind, win on Senior Day at Kearly Stadium and clinch themselves a spot in the NCAA Tournament. With a 38-0 win over the visiting Wayne State Warriors, the Huskies did just that, along with tying a school record for wins in a season with nine.
With a 31-0 lead at halftime, the Huskies (9-2 overall, 6-1 GLIAC) were able to get everyone who dressed for the game onto the field at some point.
"It was good," said Huskies coach Dan Mettlach. "I thought our guys showed up how they should show up. The turnovers in the first half, (I) wasn’t real happy about that, but (we) executed enough and got points on the board in a timely fashion to where we could get our guys out. We were able to play everybody that was in uniform today. So, overall it was a good day."
The win was the Huskies' ninth of the season, and clinching a playoff appearance was the one thing Michigan Tech wanted to guarantee with a strong performance.
"I’m happy for the guys," Mettlach said. "It’s been a goal for a little bit now to get to this point where we can play some extra football. Happy for them, and proud of them for what they’ve accomplished up to this point. Not only to get in, but be able to host a first round playoff game up here."
The Huskies used all three quarterbacks, and used them effectively throughout the game. Sophomore Elliott Larner was just 1-for-1 throwing, but that one completed pass was to his twin brother Abram as part of a 49-yard play for a touchdown, capping a two-play, 61-yard drive to open the scoring. Junior Avery Kucharski hit the point after and the Huskies led 7-0.
Junior Alex Bueno then got into the mix with a 27-yard pass for a touchdown to junior tight end Gabe Popko with 3:47 left in the first quarter. After Kucharski's extra point, the Huskies led 14-0.
Kucharski then booted a 50-yard field goal early in the second quarter to put Michigan Tech up 17-0.
The Huskies got the ball back again after another Warriors punt, and this time, they got a very valuable senior involved. Bueno threw a 5-yard pass to junior wide receiver Bryce Kurncz. Kurncz then lateraled to senior offensive lineman Brandon DeVries, who ran the ball into the end zone for his first career touchdown.
"That’s been something we’ve been repping since early camp," said Mettlach. "We had a different call in that didn’t love, so we adjusted to that one, and were planning on using it against somebody else, but the opportunity never came up. So, it’s been in the back pocket for a long time.
"We were going to use it today one way or another, whether it worked or not, just to see if we could get them in. First time we’ve ever run it from the four-yard line, so we had to make a couple adjustments when the refs were talking about whatever that call was going to be, but guys executed it well, and it was awesome to see."
For DeVries, getting the chance to have his number called on a scoring play was surreal.
"We’ve been working on that play since I think probably week five or six," he said. "To finally get it in, and finally be able to do it, is pretty crazy, especially on Senior Day. So, it’s pretty special."
Mettlach pointed out that getting a big guy a chance to score is something everyone will remember.
"Anytime you get a big guy touchdown, it’s exciting for everybody," he said. "But for him, specifically, what he’s meant to the program, what he’s done up to this point, four-year starter, never missed a rep. To reward him with something like that, he earned it very much."
After Kucharski hit another extra point kick, the Huskies led 24-0 at that point.
The third Michigan Tech quarterback, junior Robert Lalain got into the game after that, and he threw his first touchdown pass of the game to junior wide receiver Jaxon Lippert from eight yards out, capping a six-play, 30-yard drive with 2:15 left in the first half. Kucharski's extra point kick put the Huskies up 31-0 going into the break.
The Huskies held that advantage into the fourth quarter before Lalain found junior wide receiver Luke Gorzinski from 15 yards out with 3:10 left in the game. Kucharki made the extra point to put Michigan Tech up 38-0 at that point.
Preparing for playoffs
At the time of publication, the Huskies were still waiting to find out who they will face in the NCAA Tournament, as the selection show was set for Sunday evening.
"We’ll find out when we find out who we’re playing," Mettlach said. "We’re healthy right now, which is awesome. I’m sure there’s some guys that are nicked up right now, but we’ll get our treatments tomorrow (Sunday), and staff will get to work at 6:30, whenever we find out who we’re playing. Then we’ll bring the guys back in on Monday, and all eyes are on whoever that first-round game is at that point. We’ll be ready to go."