Tech might have found the answers to some of its
preseason question marks at quarterback and special
teams. Redshirt freshman Tyler Scarlett went 21-of-28
passing for 199 yards and a touchdown and helped the
Huskies rack up 328 yards of total offense. True
freshman kicker Garrett Mead made all five of his kicks
including a 42-yard field goal.
“It was a good all-around win for us,” said
sixth-year head coach Tom Kearly, who improved to 2-1
vs. his alma mater with the victory. “(Quarterback
Tyler) Scarlett managed the game well, our defense
tackled well and we made our kicks.
“They’re a good football team, and I’m happy to get
out of here with a ‘W’.”
The Black and Gold controlled both sides of the ball
in the first half, but didn’t have the point margin to
show for it by halftime.
Akeem Cason scored the first points of the season at
the 5:46 mark of the first quarter, finding the endzone
from 12 yards out. Garrett Mead added the extra point.
Winona threatened late in the quarter, but were
stopped on downs when cornerback Kenny Stiger batted
down a pass in the endzone. The Huskies went on to march
deep into Warrior territory before Mead knocked home a
24-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead.
WSU finally got on the board at the 7:36 mark of the
second quarter as Theo Burkett broke free on a 19-yard
run. The point after was missed, leaving the score 10-6.
Tech looked as though it would extend its lead at the
end of the half, but Scarlett was intercepted in the
endzone—one of his few mistakes of the game.
Winona drove into Michigan Tech territory with less
than 20 seconds remaining in the half, but Todd Storm
collected his third sack of the game to quell the
threat.
Four takeaways helped the Huskies shut out the
Warriors in the second half, but the game was still in
doubt until the fourth quarter.
Drew Vanderlin blind-sided quarterback John Tiegland
and forced a fumble at the WSU 33-yard line. Tech drove
29 yards before tacking on a 21-yard field goal for a
13-6 margin.
Later in the third quarter, defensive tackle Jacob
Clark fell on a fumbled WSU exchange. The Huskies again
took advantage by driving 36 yards capped by a 12-yard
pass from Scarlett to Cason.
Mead’s 42-yard field goal midway through the fourth
quarter iced the game by making it a three score game.
Storm (2.5), Clark (1.0) and Vanderlin (1.5) combined
for five sacks on Tiegland, and the Huskies’ defense
limited the Warriors to 114 passing yards.
Storm had a team-high eight tackles and was named
Superior Player of the Game.
Cason finished with 42 yards on 15 carries. Backup
running back Cedrick Barber added 20 rushes for 4 yards
Scarlett threw to seven different receivers. Pat
Carroll posted a team-high 54 yards on five receptions.
Michigan Tech, which has won five straight games
dating back to last season, will play its home opener
next Saturday (Sept. 10). The Huskies host GLIAC foe
Lake Erie at 1 p.m. at Sherman Field.
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