Michigan Tech celebrated homecoming weekend by commanding a 22-7 victory over the Wayne State Warriors with their first GLIAC (Great Lake Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) win of the season. The Huskies entered the game with a 3-1 record, wanting to continue their strong start to the season, while the Warriors were seeking their first win at a 0-4 record.
Michigan Tech and Wayne State stayed scoreless throughout the first quarter. Both teams were pushing the ball, but both ended up with turnovers. Wayne State received a Michigan Tech fumble; Michigan Tech answered with an interception by junior corner Dante Basanese.
Michigan Tech found the end zone first in the second quarter with a 24-yard touchdown run by senior quarterback Alex Fries. Wayne State answered with a touchdown on a 3-yard run. Just before halftime, Fries connected to senior wide receiver Darius Willis for a touchdown, putting the Huskies up six going into the half due to a missed extra point.
“Really proud of the way the guys showed up today… establishing the line of scrimmage like we did early in the game really helps the whole offensive out,” Fries said, praising the Huskies offensive line, also proudly known as “The Husky Moving Company.”
At half time, per Michigan Tech tradition, the homecoming royalty were crowned. Candidates included Hailey LaBonte, Madison Green, Cole Pierucki, Mikayla Stewart, Skyler Spitzley, Sydney Peterson, Genevieve Myers, Brock Maloney. Nominees Cole Pierucki and Sydney Peterson were crowned Michigan Tech’s homecoming King and Queen. Pierucki is a third year math major representing the Undergraduate Student Government. Peterson is a fifth year environmental engineering major with a minor in Spanish, representing ΒΣΘ and ΔΦΕ.
In the third quarter, Michigan Tech started with a spark. Senior Hunter Buechel recorded a sack, keeping the Warriors on their heels. Basanese followed up with a key pass breakup on a potential touchdown throw and later blocked a 51-yard field goal attempt by Wayne State, keeping the Warriors at seven points. Michigan Tech extended their lead when Fries found Willis again for another touchdown, making the score 20-7.
Wayne State tried to mount a comeback, driving down to the 1-yard line. However, Michigan Tech’s defense stood firm, with Owen Watson and Greg Lapetina stopping the Warriors on a critical fourth and one play. Senior punter Brenden Lach put the ball on the opposite one-yard line where Josh Cribben took advantage of a backed-up Warrior and sacked the quarterback in the endzone, resulting in a touchback putting the score at 22-7 and a victory for the Huskies.
Head Coach Dan Mettlach praised his team’s performance, saying, “Very happy with the way our guys played… I felt like we were in control the whole time, both sides of the football.”
The Huskies are now 1-0 in GLIAC play and 4-1 overall. Michigan Tech’s next game against the Davenport Panthers is coming up at Kearly Stadium on Oct. 12 at 12 p.m.
