2021 Michigan Tech Huskies football team

2021 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
	$ – Conference champion; ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant; Rankings from AFCA Poll

2021 Michigan Tech Huskies football
2021 Michigan Tech Huskies football
Conference	Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record	6–4 (5–2 GLIAC)
Head coach	Steve Olson (5th season);
Offensive coordinator	Jace Daniels (3rd season)
Defensive coordinator	Ken Klein (10th season)
Home stadium	Kearly Stadium; (capacity: 3,000)
	Seasons ← 2020 2022 →

The 2021 Michigan Tech Huskies football team represented Michigan Tech University during the 2021 NCAA Division II football season. The Huskies competed as members of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) and played their home games at Kearly Stadium in Houghton, Michigan. This was the program's fifth season under head coach Steve Olson.

Previous season

The Huskies didn't compete in the 2020 season due to the GLIAC cancelling the season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.^[1]

Preseason

Preseason GLIAC poll

The Huskies stand 5th in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches Poll, leading rival Northern Michigan (7th).^[2]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
GLIAC Media poll
1	Ferris State	49 (7)
2	Grand Valley State	43 (1)
3	Wayne State (MI)	36
4	Saginaw Valley St	25
5	Michigan Tech	24
6	Davenport	22
7	Northern Michigan	15
8	Northwood	10

Personnel

Coaching staff

Name	Position	Season
Steve Olson	Head Coach/Defensive Line	5th
Dan Mettlach	Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator	5th
Phil Milbrath	Running Backs Coach/Special Teams Coordinator	5th
Bryan Thomas	Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers	12th
Josh Wood	Secondary Defensive Coordinator/Recruiting Coordinator	11th
Jace Daniels	Offensive Line Coach	3rd
Ken Klein	Defensive Line Coach	10th
Bryan Parker	Outside Linebackers Coach	1st

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance
September 4	2:00 p.m.	Hillsdale*	Klearly Stadium Houghton, MI	W 14–10	1,767
September 11	1:00 p.m.	St. Thomas*	Klearly Stadium Houghton, MI	L 9-12	1,660
September 25	2:00 p.m.	No. 9 Grand Valley State*	Klearly Stadium Houghton, MI	L 21–44	1,447
October 2	1:00 p.m.	Davenport	Klearly Stadium Houghton, MI	W 31-7	1,700
October 9	6:00 p.m.	at Wayne State (MI)	Tom Adams Field Detroit	W 30-27	3,674
October 16	12:00 p.m.	at Northern Michigan	Superior Dome Marquette, MI (Miner's Cup)	W 21-14	3,597
October 23	1:00 p.m.	No. 1 Ferris State	Klearly Stadium Houghton, MI	L 10-38	1,332
October 30	3:00 p.m.	No. 8 Grand Valley State	Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI	L 9-14	8,652
November 6	1:00 p.m.	at Northwood	Hantz Stadium Midland, MI	W 34-0	1,031
November 13	1:00 p.m.	Saginaw Valley State	Klearly Stadium Houghton, MI	W 21–20	1,315
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game

Source^[3]

Rankings

Ranking movements
**Legend:** — = Not ranked.
	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	Final
D2SIDA	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Coaches	—	—^	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

Game summaries

Hillsdale

Series Record	Previous meeting	Result
11–19	September 8, 2019	Huskies, 31-30/OT

Week One: Hillsdale Chargers at Michigan Tech – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
St. Thomas	0	0	3	7	10
Michigan Tech	0	0	0	14	14

at Klearly Stadium • Houghton, MI

Date: September 4, 2021
Game time: 1:00 p.m.
Game weather: Cloudy
Game attendance: 1,776
Referee: Rick Schifter
Source:^[4]

St. Thomas

Series Record	Previous meeting	Result
0–1	N/A	N/A

Week Two: St. Thomas Tommies at Michigan Tech – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
St. Thomas	0	3	0	9	12
Michigan Tech	6	3	0	0	9

at Klearly Stadium • Houghton, MI

Date: September 11, 2021
Game time: 1:00 p.m.
Game weather: Mostly Sunny
Game attendance: 1,660
Referee: Bradley Mutnick
Source:^[5]

No. 9 Grand Valley State

Series Record	Previous meeting	Result
2-15 (since 2002)	September 26, 2019	Grand Valley St, 21-16

Week Four: No. 9 Grand Valley State Lakers at Michigan Tech – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Grand Valley St	7	23	7	7	44
Michigan Tech	0	0	14	7	21

at Klearly Stadium • Houghton, MI

Date: September 25, 2021
Game time: 1:00 p.m.
Game weather: Cloudy
Game attendance: 1,447
Referee: Brian Bower
Source:^[6]

Davenport

Series Record	Previous meeting	Result
3-1 (since 2017)	October 19, 2019	Michigan Tech, 30-17

Week Five: Davenport Panthers at Michigan Tech – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Davenport	0	7	0	0	7
Michigan Tech	14	14	0	3	31

at Klearly Stadium • Houghton, MI

Date: October 2, 2021
Game time: 1:00 p.m.
Game weather: Sunny
Game attendance: 1,700
Referee: Brian Bower
Source:^[7]

Wayne State (MI)

Series Record	Previous meeting	Result
9-6 (since 2002)	November 9, 2019	Wayne State, 35-14

Week Six: Michigan Tech at Wayne State – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan Tech	7	6	14	3	30
Wayne State	3	17	7	0	27

at Tom Adams Field • Detroit, MI

Date: October 9, 2021
Game time: 6:00 p.m.
Game weather: Sunny
Game attendance: 3,674
Referee: Bradley Mutnick
Source:^[8]

Northern Michigan

Series Record	Previous meeting	Result
48-41-5	October 12, 2019	Huskies, 24-20

Week Seven: Michigan Tech at Northern Michigan – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan Tech	7	0	0	14	21
Northern Michigan	7	0	7	0	14

at Superior Dome • Marquette, MI

Date: October 16, 2021
Game time: 1:00 p.m.
Game weather: Sunny
Game attendance: 3,597
Referee: Marty Trudgeon
Source:^[9]^[10]

For the 11th straight season, Michigan Tech took home the Miner's Cup. During their winning streak, Michigan Tech beat the Wildcats by an average of 8.6 points per game, or an average total of 30.1-21.5 per game. This victory is the largest since a 28-21 victory in 2017. Since 2002, the start of the Miner's Cup, Michigan Tech is 16-3 against the Wildcats, averaging a 31.5-22.2 win per game, or a 9.3 point margin of victory. Michigan Tech has outscored Northern Michigan 599-421 in this series.^[11]^[12]

No. 1 Ferris State

Series Record	Previous meeting	Result
34-31-4	November 2, 2019	Bulldogs, 52-0

Week Eight: Ferris State at Michigan Tech – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Ferris State	14	14	10	0	38
Michigan Tech	0	7	0	3	10

at Klearly Stadium • Houghton, MI

Date: October 23, 2021
Game time: 1:00 p.m.
Game weather: Footbally
Game attendance: 1,332
Referee: CJ Jackson
Source:^[13]^[14]

Game information

First Quarter

(14:41) FSU TD: Hunt-Thompson 49-yard pass from Jare Bernhardt (Sy Barnett kick)
FSU 7–0; 1 plays, 49 yards, 0:09
(08:06) FSU TD: Jare Bernhardt 2-yard run (Sy Barnett kick)
FSU 14–0; 10 plays, 43 yards, 5:29

Second Quarter

(05:20) FSU TD: Xavier Wade 14-yard pass from Jare Bernhardt (Sy Barnett kick)
FSU 21–0; 6 plays, 75 yards, 3:01
(02:28) MTU TD: Darius Willis 31-yard pass from Will Ark (Drew Wyble kick)
FSU 21–7; 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:52
(00:19) FSU TD: Tyler Minor 5-yard run (Sy Barnett kick)
FSU 28–7; 7 plays, 73 yards, 2:23

Third Quarter

(06:30) FSU TD: Xavier Wade 5-yard pass from Jare Bernhardt (Sy Barnett kick)
FSU 35–7; 5 plays, 39 yards, 1:51
(04:20) FSU FG: Sy Barnett 26-yard field goal
FSU 38–7; 8 plays, 61 yards, 4:43

Fourth Quarter

(13:23) MTU FG: Darius Willis 21-yard field goal
FSU 38–10; 7 plays, 36 yards, 2:15

Passing

MTU – Will Ark: 15/32, 145 yards, 1 TD
FSU – Jare Bernhardt: 17/21, 289 yards, 3 TD, 1 INT

Rushing

MTU – Jared Smith: 9 carries, 26 yards
FSU – Tyler Minor: 11 carries, 81 yards, 1 TD

Receiving

MTU – Darius Willis: 6 receptions, 91 yards, 1 TD
FSU – Xavier Wade: 6 receptions, 106 yards, 2 TD

No. 8 Grand Valley State

Series Record	Previous meeting	Result
2–16 (since 2002)	September 25, 2021	Lakers, 44-21

Week Nine: Michigan Tech at Grand Valley State – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan Tech	0	0	3	6	9
Grand Valley State	7	7	0	0	14

at Klearly Stadium • Houghton, MI

Date: October 30, 2021
Game time: 3:00 p.m.
Game weather: Overcast, Footbally
Game attendance: 8,652
Referee: Brian Bower
Source:^[15]

Game information

First Quarter

(05:27) GVSU TD: Scott Cooper 30-yard pass from Cade Peterson (Kollin Kralapp kick)
GVSU 7–0; 5 plays, 68 yards, 3:41

Second Quarter

(08:34) GVSU TD: Jacob Miller 3-yard pass from Cade Peterson (Kollin Kralapp kick)
GVSU 14–0; 10 plays, 56 yards, 4:43

Third Quarter

(04:20) MTU FG: Drew Wyble 30-yard field goal
GVSU 14–3; 13 plays, 55 yards, 6:15

Fourth Quarter

(13:23) MTU FG: Justin Davis 14-yard pass from Will Ark (two-point conversion failed)
GVSU 14–9; 7 plays, 69 yards, 4:00

Passing

MTU – Will Ark: 15/31, 180 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
GVSU – Cade Peterson: 20/31, 181 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

Rushing

MTU – Jared Smith: 15 carries, 47 yards
GVSU – Cade Peterson: 9 carries, 56 yards

Receiving

MTU – Jordan Janssen: 4 receptions, 77 yards
GVSU – Jacob Miller: 8 receptions, 56 yards, 1 TD

Northwood

Series Record	Previous meeting	Result
11–6 (since 2002)	November 16, 2019	Huskies, 34-21

Week Ten: Michigan Tech at Northwood – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan Tech	7	6	14	7	34
Northwood	0	0	0	0	0

at Klearly Stadium • Houghton, MI

Date: November 6, 2021
Game time: 1:00 p.m.
Game weather: Sunny
Game attendance: 1,031
Source:^[16]

Game information

First Quarter

(06:31) MTU TD: Justin Davis 3-yard pass from Will Ark (Drew Wyble kick)
MTU 7–0; 5 plays, 38 yards, 2:31

Second Quarter

(02:29) MTU FG: Drew Wyble 25-yard field goal
MTU 10–0; 14 plays, 65 yards, 6:20
(00:01) MTU FG: Drew Wyble 27-yard field goal
MTU 13–0; 9 plays, 58 yards, 1:24

Third Quarter

(08:51) MTU TD: Jared Smith 41-yard rush (Drew Wyble kick)
MTU 20–0; 7 plays, 61 yards, 3:51
(02:58) MTU TD: Kyle Wood 7-yard rush (Drew Wyble kick)
MTU 27–0; 7 plays, 70 yards, 3:16

Fourth Quarter

(07:45) MTU TD: Michael Bates 100-yard INT Return (Drew Wyble kick)
MTU 34–0

Passing

MTU – Will Ark: 14/24, 182 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
NU – Jacob Baldwin: 5/10, 60 yards, 1 INT

Rushing

MTU – Jared Smith: 21 carries, 123 yards, 1 TD
NU – Ty Cox: 12 carries, 47 yards

Receiving

MTU – Justin Davis: 7 receptions, 76 yards, 1 TD
NU – Ethan Bunch: 3 receptions, 40 yards

In impressive fashion, Michigan Tech was not only able to get their first shutout win since November 13, 2010 (a 21-0 win against Northern Michigan), but the Huskies were also able to not only intercept the ball at an important spot in this victory, but also return it all of 100 yards for a touchdown as the last scoring play of the game.^[17]^[18]

Saginaw Valley State

Series Record	Previous meeting	Result
11-22	September 21, 2019	Cardinals, 23-7

Week Eleven: Saginaw Valley State at Michigan Tech – Game summary

	1	2	3	4	Total
Saginaw Valley State	3	7	7	3	20
Michigan Tech	7	7	7	0	21

at Klearly Stadium • Houghton, MI

Date: November 13, 2021
Game time: 1:00 p.m.
Game weather: Cloudy
Game attendance: 1,315
Referee: Mike Packard
Source:^[19]^[20]^[21]

Game information

First Quarter

(10:03) SVSU FG: Connor Luksic 27-yard field goal
MTU 0–3; 7 plays, 35 yards, 2:47
(06:01) MTU TD: Darius Willis 28-yard pass from Will Ark (Drew Wyble kick)
MTU 7–3; 8 plays, 68 yards, 3:54

Second Quarter

(10:11) MTU TD: Jared Smith 4-yard rush (Drew Wyble kick)
MTU 14–3; 15 plays, 82 yards, 7:18
(03:25) SVSU TD: Colby Newburg 4-yard rush (Ryan Heicher)
MTU 14–10; 5 plays, 30 yards, 2:14

Third Quarter

(07:07) SVSU TD: Tommy Scott 34-yard rush (Connor Lusic kick)
MTU 14–17; 9 plays, 80 yards, 4:25
(01:18) MTU TD: Hunter Richards 23-yard pass from Will Ark (Drew Wyble kick)
MTU 21–17; 12 plays, 82 yards, 5:49

Fourth Quarter

(04:57) SVSU FG: Connor Luksic 24-yard field goal
MTU 21–20; 10 plays, 30 yards, 5:23

Passing

MTU – Will Ark: 15/28, 141 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
SVSU – Colby Newburg: 10/15, 116 yards

Rushing

MTU – Jared Smith: 15 carries, 61 yards, 1 TD
SVSU – Tommy Scott: 18 carries, 94 yards, 1 TD

Receiving

MTU – Jordan Janssen: 4 receptions, 36 yards
SVSU – Isaiah Johnson-Mack: 9 receptions, 78 yards

References

^ "GLIAC suspends all fall sports; no football for Grand Valley, Ferris, Wayne State, others". freep.com. August 12, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
^ "2021 GLIAC FOOTBALL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL". GLIAC. August 9, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
^ "2021 Michigan Tech Football". michigantechhuskies.com. Retrieved September 11, 2021.
^ "Hillsdale College vs. Michigan Tech - Box Score - 9/4/2021". Michigan Tech Athletics.
^ "ST Thomas vs. Michigan Tech - Box Score - 9/11/2021". Michigan Tech Athletics.
^ "Grand Valley State vs. Michigan Tech - Box Score - 9/25/2021". Michigan Tech Athletics.
^ "Davenport vs. Michigan Tech - Box Score - 10/2/2021". Michigan Tech Athletics.
^ "Michigan Tech vs. Wayne State - Box Score - 10/9/2021". Michigan Tech Athletics.
^ "Michigan Tech at Northern Michigan". michigantechhuskies.com. October 16, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
^ "Michigan Tech at Northern Michigan". nmuwildcats.com. October 16, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
^ "PREVIEW: Huskies play Wildcats for Miner's Cup Saturday". michigantechhuskies.com. October 13, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
^ "Beating themselves: Northern Michigan University Wildcats' football team loses Miners Cup for 11th time in a row with another heartbreaking loss to Michigan Tech". Mining Journal. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
^ "Ferris State at Michigan Tech". Michigan Tech Athletics. October 23, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
^ "Huskies fall to #1 Ferris State 31-10". Michigan Tech Athletics. October 23, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
^ "Michigan Tech at Grand Valley State - Box Score - 10/30/2021". Michigan Tech Athletics.
^ "Michigan Tech at Northwood - Box Score - 11/6/2021". Michigan Tech Athletics.
^ "MTU Football Dominates Northwood". Upper Michigan Source.
^ "Football Drops 34-0 Contest To Michigan Tech". Northwood Athletics.
^ "Saginaw Valley State at Michigan Tech - Box Score - 11/13/2021". Michigan Tech Athletics.
^ "Huskies Edge Cardinals 21-20 in Season Finale". Saginaw Valley State Athletics.
^ "Huskies Top Cardinals on Senior Day 21-20". Michigan Tech Athletics.

[1] "GLIAC suspends all fall sports; no football for Grand Valley, Ferris, Wayne State, others". freep.com. August 12, 2020. Retrieved September 11, 2021.

[2] "2021 GLIAC FOOTBALL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL". GLIAC. August 9, 2021. Retrieved September 11, 2021.

[3] "2021 Michigan Tech Football". michigantechhuskies.com. Retrieved September 11, 2021.

[4] "Hillsdale College vs. Michigan Tech - Box Score - 9/4/2021". Michigan Tech Athletics.

[5] "ST Thomas vs. Michigan Tech - Box Score - 9/11/2021". Michigan Tech Athletics.

[6] "Grand Valley State vs. Michigan Tech - Box Score - 9/25/2021". Michigan Tech Athletics.

[7] "Davenport vs. Michigan Tech - Box Score - 10/2/2021". Michigan Tech Athletics.

[8] "Michigan Tech vs. Wayne State - Box Score - 10/9/2021". Michigan Tech Athletics.

[9] "Michigan Tech at Northern Michigan". michigantechhuskies.com. October 16, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2021.

[10] "Michigan Tech at Northern Michigan". nmuwildcats.com. October 16, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2021.

[11] "PREVIEW: Huskies play Wildcats for Miner's Cup Saturday". michigantechhuskies.com. October 13, 2020. Retrieved October 16, 2021.

[12] "Beating themselves: Northern Michigan University Wildcats' football team loses Miners Cup for 11th time in a row with another heartbreaking loss to Michigan Tech". Mining Journal. Retrieved November 17, 2021.

[13] "Ferris State at Michigan Tech". Michigan Tech Athletics. October 23, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2021.

[14] "Huskies fall to #1 Ferris State 31-10". Michigan Tech Athletics. October 23, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2021.

[15] "Michigan Tech at Grand Valley State - Box Score - 10/30/2021". Michigan Tech Athletics.

[16] "Michigan Tech at Northwood - Box Score - 11/6/2021". Michigan Tech Athletics.

[17] "MTU Football Dominates Northwood". Upper Michigan Source.

[18] "Football Drops 34-0 Contest To Michigan Tech". Northwood Athletics.

[19] "Saginaw Valley State at Michigan Tech - Box Score - 11/13/2021". Michigan Tech Athletics.

[20] "Huskies Edge Cardinals 21-20 in Season Finale". Saginaw Valley State Athletics.

[21] "Huskies Top Cardinals on Senior Day 21-20". Michigan Tech Athletics.

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2021 Michigan Tech Huskies football team

Contents

Previous season

Preseason

Preseason GLIAC poll

Personnel

Coaching staff

Schedule

Rankings

Game summaries

Hillsdale

St. Thomas

No. 9 Grand Valley State

Davenport

Wayne State (MI)

Northern Michigan

No. 1 Ferris State

No. 8 Grand Valley State

Northwood

Saginaw Valley State

References

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