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Tech Continues Football Dominance Over Wildcats
 Story written by NMU Sports Information. Click the AUDIO buttons to hear our player spotlight interviews with Charlie Gerhard and DJ Hutchderson. HOUGHTON---The battle for the Miner's Cup saw Michigan Tech claim their 12th straight win over Northern Michigan on Saturday, defeating the Wildcats 21-7, at Sherman Field. Darius Willis led the charge for MTU, catching two TD's and throwing for another. NMU's lone score came in the final quarter on a 5-yard run from Tyshon King. NMU found themselves down 7-0 at halftime, 14-0 after the 3rd, and 21-0 early in the 4th. NMU was able to respond, but it was too little too late as the Huskies claimed the Miner's Cup victory in front of their home crowd. On the game's first drive, Michigan Tech started in good field position with a return to the 41-yard line from Darius Willis. After crossing midfield, NMU stuffed a 4th-and-1 attempt at their own 37-yard line for a turnover on downs. After keeping the Wildcats' first drive alive on an 11-yard scramble on 3rd-and-long from Drake Davis, MTU was able to get NMU's offense off the field. Daniel Riser pinned the Huskies at the 6-yard line with an impressive punt halfway through the first. Backed up deep in their own territory, the Huskies were able to pick up one first down before not being able to connect on 3rd-and-7. The Wildcats got the ball back at their own 25. After a promising start to their second drive and 3 catches for 25 yards from Keyon'TA Skinner, the Huskies sacked Davis on third down, forcing NMU to punt the ball back to MTU. The Huskies were not able to move the ball with their third possession, and the Wildcats took over on their own 43-yard line early in the quarter. Losing six yards on first down, the Wildcats were forced to bring out the punt unit. Neither offense was able to put together much of a drive early on. A Will Ark scramble on 3rd-and-10 was stopped a yard short and the Huskies' fourth drive mirrored the first three. They punted the ball back to NMU at the 25-yard line with 9:58 left in the half. Northern quickly went three-and-out themselves and the Huskies took over at their own 40. Michigan Tech broke through with 6:13 on the clock, as Darius Willis snuck behind the secondary, and QB Will Ark connected with him for a walk-in 41-yard touchdown. The Green and Gold started to move the ball over midfield following the Huskies' score and were tested with a 4th-and-3 from the Huskies 39. MTU got the stop they needed and NMU turned it over on downs with 2:50 left in the half. To end the half, Michigan Tech crossed midfield but were forced into a punt. NMU took over at their own 5-yard line with 0:47 left in the clock. The Wildcats attempted to make something of it, but the halftime horn sounded with the 'Cats trailing 7-0. The Huskies marched right down the field to start the half and punched it into the endzone on a 24-yard reception from Brandon Michalak. It capped off a 5-play, 63-yard drive to go up 14-0 on the Wildcats. Braxton Blackwell came up with an interception for MTU on NMU's ensuing possession, taking the ball all the way to the 31-yard line and putting the Wildcats in deep water. A sack on third down from Brian Schieweck put MTU out of FG range and the 'Cats got the ball back. However, a three-and-out led to a punt, and Michigan Tech got the ball right back. The Huskies continued their drive heading to the fourth quarter, up 14-0 over the Wildcats. The Huskies capped off the drive by punching it into the endzone once again. This time, Ark connected with Darius Willis on a 29-yard connection for the score. With 13:23 to go in the game, NMU trailed 21-0. The Wildcats responded quickly, starting from their own 45-yard line. Zach Keen connected with Charlie Gerhard for 46 yards on the first play. A few snaps later, Tyshon King dove for the pylon for the first Wildcat score. NMU trailed 21-7 with 11:57 left. The Huskies took over six minutes off the clock before yielding a punt to the Wildcats with 5:42 left. After an initial completion to move the chains, the Wildcats were stopped on 4th down and MTU took over at the Wildcat 31-yard line with 3:35 to go. The Huskies were able to run out the clock as they took the Miner's Cup, 21-7.
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