Story, photo courtesy of Michigan Tech Athletics

HOUGHTON, Mich. – The Michigan Tech football team elevated its win streak against Hillsdale to six following a 21-6 victory against the Chargers in front of over 1,700 fans at Kearly Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

With the win, the Huskies move to 2-1 overall and hold a 2-0 ledger at Kearly Stadium. Hillsdale drops to 0-2 in their second week of action.

"I'm very proud of the guys for the win, that's a really good football team we beat and they always are. Most times we play them it's a battle just like this," head coach Dan Mettlach said. "I felt like we never really got into a rhythm especially offensively and it's the same old story three weeks in a row with the self-inflicted wounds—we take pride in playing disciplined football in every phase and just didn't get it. I'm happy with the win. I just didn't like how Michigan Tech played football today as a whole."

MTU got the party started taking 6:29 off the clock in the first drive of the game, trekking 74 yards in 14 plays capped with a one-yard run by Kolby Hindenach to put the Huskies on the board as Brenden Lach put away the extra point. 

The Huskies were aided by three penalties from the Chargers granting 22 yards—although Tech also got whistled for a false start in a contest with seven total penalties.

The defensive battle opened in the Charger's first offensive drive resulting in four consecutive punts after neither team could reach a first down through the rest of the first quarter.

MTU made it a two-touchdown game early in the second at the 13:25 mark with the skill players putting together an impressive drive of 80 yards in just five plays. Ethan Champney had the catch of the day with a diving reception for 35 yards with his defender being whistled for pass interference just before laying out for the grab.

Quarterback Alex Fries hit Champney again for 17 yards before finding the program's all-time reception leader, Darius Willis wide open in the endzone for a 24-yard touchdown at the 10:48 mark. 

Hillsdale looked to answer on its next offensive drive with quarterback Cole Canter making back-to-back plays to move the sticks with an 18-yard pass to Connor Pratt followed by a 31-yard reception in the middle of the field by Jonathan Metzger. An untimely personal foul by the Huskies ultimately set the Chargers up for a 38-yard field goal try that was no good.

The Chargers had another attempt to get points before halftime, however, Hillsdale only accrued 32 yards in ten plays with their starting quarterback Canter exiting the game following a late hit out of bounds which advanced the ball 15 yards.

Hillsdale had an opportunity to reach the end zone coming out of halftime when backup quarterback Colin McKernan connected with Jonathan Metzger down the visiting sideline only to be fumbled yards before the endzone recovered by Dante Basanese in the end zone, resulting in a touchback. 

The two teams traded punts down the stretch in the third quarter with the Huskies getting good field position on Hillsdale's 37-yard line. The first play of the fourth quarter was a four-yard reception in the visiting corner of the endzone with Ethan Champney getting over his defender to get the touchdown grab and make it a 21-0 affair following the extra point by Lach.

Hillsdale put together a five-play 69-yard drive starting at the 11:57 mark with a 58-yard reception from McKernan to Shea Ruddy. However, the extra point was no good which made it a 21-6 score.

Darius Willis attempted to erase that score himself on the kick return traveling 66 yards before being stopped by the Chargers. Despite the incredible field position, Tech couldn't translate the yards into points with a 31-yard field goal attempt by Lach being no good after the offense picked up six yards.

The final two offensive possessions for the Chargers resulted in a pass breakup by Jared Tarrance and a forced fumble by Hunter Buechel on the three-yard line to stop a potential score before the end of regulation.

"It takes a lot of pressure off of the defense when we're up on the scoreboard and don't have to worry about being down right away," Buechel Mentioned. "I think it allows us to play more loosely as a defense."

Senior Punter Brenden Lach stepped up for the Huskies big against the Chargers making two tackles on kickoffs, both in the second half, along with going 3-for-3 on extra points. He also fulfilled his regular duties with seven punts averaging 48.1 yards with his long being 57.

Buechel and Basanese each accounted for seven total tackles to lead the Huskies. Fries threw for 129 yards going 19-for-28 and two touchdowns while adding 41 yards rushing. 
 

The Huskies conclude the nonconference slate, traveling to UW-Oshkosh for a 1 p.m. kickoff on Saturday.