2023 Michigan Tech Huskies football team

American college football season

2023 Michigan Tech Huskies football

Conference	Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Record	5–5 (1–5 GLIAC)
Head coach	Dan Mettlach (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Bryan Thomas (7th season)
Home stadium	Kearly Stadium
Seasons ← 2022 2024 →

2023 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football standings
v t e
Team	W		L	W		L
No. 3 Grand Valley State $^	6	–	0	11	–	2
No. 9 Ferris State ^	5	–	1	8	–	3
Davenport	4	–	2	8	–	2
Saginaw Valley State	3	–	3	6	–	5
Wayne State (MI)	2	–	4	3	–	8
Michigan Tech	1	–	5	5	–	5
Northern Michigan	0	–	6	0	–	11

$ – Conference champion ^ – NCAA Division II playoff participant Rankings from AFCA Poll

The 2023 Michigan Tech Huskies football team represented Michigan Tech University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2023 NCAA Division II football season. Led by first-year head coach Dan Mettlach, the Huskies had an overall record of 5–5 with a mark of 1–5 in conference play. Michigan Tech played their home games at Kearly Stadium in Houghton, Michigan.

Coaching changes

After going 4–7 (2–4 GLIAC) in their 2022 campaign, Michigan Tech Athletics announced that head football coach Steve Olson would not return for a seventh season. Assistant head coach since 2019, Dan Mettlach, became the team's next head football coach.^[1]^[2]

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 9	1:00 p.m.	Hillsdale*	Klearly Stadium Houghton, MI	FloSports	W 45–20	2,188
September 16	2:00 p.m.	at Wisconsin–Platteville*	Pioneer Stadium Platteville, WI		W 24–20	3,987
September 23	2:00 p.m.	at Upper Iowa*	Harms-Eisched Stadium Fayette, IA		W 34–31	1,700
September 30	1:00 p.m.	No. 18 Davenport	Klearly Stadium Houghton, MI	FloSports	L 0–28	2,600
October 7	1:00 p.m.	at Wayne State (MI)	Tom Adams Field Detroit, MI	FloSports	L 21–23	3,021
October 14	7:00 p.m.	at Northern Michigan	Superior Dome Marquette, MI (Miner's Cup)	FloSports	W 62–0	5,907
October 21	1:00 p.m.	No. 9 Ferris State	Klearly Stadium Houghton, MI	FloSports	L 21–35	1,233
October 28	3:00 p.m	at No. 3 Grand Valley State	Lubbers Stadium Allendale, MI	FloSports	L 13–44	13,014
November 4	1:00 p.m.	Minot State*	Klearly Stadium Houghton, MI	FloSports	W 37–3
November 11	1:00 p.m	Saginaw Valley State	Klearly Stadium Houghton, MI		L 21–38	1,191
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from Coaches' Poll released prior to the game

^[3]

Coaching staff

Name	Position	Season
Dan Mettlach	Head Coach	1st
Phil Milbrath	Running backs coach/special teams coordinator	7th
Bryan Thomas	Defensive coordinator/linebackers	14th
Jack Rustman	Offensive line coach	2nd
JT Jurasin	Linebackers coach	1st
Kellen O'Neill	Wide Receivers coach	1st
Michael Donnelly	Defensive Backs coach	1st
Ken Klein	Defensive line coach	11th
Blake Hewitt	Assistant Offensive Line coach	1st
Adrian Saterstad	Assistant Linebackers coach	1st

Game summaries

Hillsdale

Week One: Hillsdale Chargers at Michigan Tech – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Hillsdale	3	3	7	7	20
Michigan Tech	7	21	14	3	45

at Klearly Stadium • Houghton, MI

Date: September 9, 2023
Game time: 1:00 p.m.
Game weather: Sunny
Game attendance: 2,188
Referee: Carl Chapman
TV: FloSports
Source:^[4]

Game information

First Quarter

(06:41) MTU TD: Ethan Champney 12-yard pass from Alex Fries (kick)
MTU 7–0; 6 plays, 68 yards, 2:27
(00:57) HIL FG: Julian Lee 31-yard Field Goal
MTU 7–3; 12 plays, 47 yards, 5:36

Second Quarter

(12:21) MTU TD: Darius Willis 7-yard pass from Alex Fries (kick)
MTU 14–3; 10 plays, 75 yards, 3:36
(10:49) MTU TD: Samuel Kinne 47-yard fumble recovery (kick)
MTU 21–3; 0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00
(05:32) HIL FG: Julian Lee 38-yard Field Goal
MTU 21–6; 9 plays, 37 yards, 5:12
(01:56) MTU TD: Ethan Campney 28-yard pass from Josh Byers (kick)
MTU 28–6; 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:34

Third Quarter

(10:04) MTU TD: Drew Collins 15-yard pass from Alex Fries (kick)
MTU 35–6; 1 plays, 15 yards, 0:04
(02:31) HIL TD: Michael Herzog 2-yard run (kick)
MTU 35–13; 13 plays, 73 yards, 7:28
(00:30) MTU TD: Kolby Hindenach 30-yard run (kick)
MTU 42–13; 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:00

Fourth Quarter

(08:35) HIL TD: Garrit Aissen 1-yard run (kick)
MTU 42–20; 7 plays, 38 yards, 2:56
(03:30) MTU FG: Drew Wyble 27-yard Field Goal
MTU 45–20; 9 plays, 63 yards, 4:57

Passing

MTU – Alex Fries: 18/27, 258 yards, 3 TD
HIL – Garrit Aissen: 19/32, 115 yards, 2 INT

Rushing

MTU – Kobly Hindenach: 8 carries, 72 yards, 1 TD
HIL – Michael Herzog: 28 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD

Receiving

MTU – Ethan Champney: 7 receptions, 148 yards, 2 TD
HIL – Logan VanEnkevort: 4 receptions, 38 yards

At Wisconsin–Platteville

Week Two: Michigan Tech at UW Platteville – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan Tech	7	14	0	3	24
UW Platteville	0	14	6	0	20

at Pioneer Stadium • Platteville, WI

Date: September 16, 2023
Game time: 1:00 p.m.
Game weather: Sunny
Game attendance: 3,987
Referee: Kole Knueppel
TV: FloSports
Source:^[5]

Game information

First Quarter

(10:50) MTU TD: Ethan Champney 8-yard pass from Alex Fries (kick)
MTU 7–0; 7 plays, 78 yards, 1:39

Second Quarter

(09:25) UWP TD: Brandt Stare 89-yard pass from Carl Richardson (kick)
MTU 7–7; 2 plays, 90 yards, 0:47
(06:28) MTU TD: Kolby Hindenach 1-yard run (kick)
MTU 14–7; 1 plays, 1 yards, 0:05
(02:29) UWP TD: Jett Gillum 1-yard pass from Justin Blazek
Tied 14–14; 10 plays, 80 yards, 3:54
(00:18) MTU TD: Alex Fries 7-yard run (kick)
MTU 21–14; 5 plays, 53 yards, 0:39

Third Quarter

(10:28) UWP FG: Andrew Schweigert 31-yard Field Goal
MTU 21–17; 7 plays, 52 yards, 1:33
(07:01) UWP FG: Andrew Schweigert 41-yard Field Goal
MTU 21–20; 6 plays, 43 yards, 2:10

Fourth Quarter

(12:42) MTU FG: Drew Wyble 19-yard Field Goal
MTU 24–20; 8 plays, 27 yards, 2:45

Passing

MTU – Alex Fries: 27/44, 288 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
UWP – Carl Richardson: 14/33, 232 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT

Rushing

MTU – William Marano: 20 carries, 59 yards
UWP – Zachary Bothun: 12 carries, 47 yards

Receiving

MTU – Ethan Champney: 11 receptions, 143 yards, 1 TD
UWP – Brandt Stare: 7 receptions, 143 yards, 1 TD

At Upper Iowa

Week Three: Michigan Tech at Upper Iowa – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan Tech	0	7	7	20	34
Upper Iowa	10	14	7	0	31

at Pioneer Stadium • Fayette, IA

Date: September 23, 2023
Game time: 1:00 p.m.
Game weather: Cloudy
Game attendance: 1,700
Referee: David Green
Source:^[6]^[7]

Game information

First Quarter

(10:29) UIU TD: Mante Morrow 13-yard pass from Marcus Orr (kick)
UIU 7–0; 3 plays, 12 yards, 0:57
(08:34) UIU FG: Thomas Forte 44-yard Field Goal
UIU 10–0; 13 plays, 41 yards, 0:21

Second Quarter

(11:10) UIU TD: Eddie Burgess 23-yard pass from Marcus Orr (kick)
UTU 17–0; 2 plays, 96 yards, 3:20
(08:03) UIU TD: RJ Wells 8-yard run (kick)
UIU 24–0; 6 plays, 33 yards, 3:09
(02:58) MTU TD: Michael Bates Jr 0-yard INT return
UIU 24–7; 0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00

Third Quarter

(12:12) MTU TD: William Marano 5-yard run
UIU 24–14; 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:48
(02:42) UIU TD: Michael Orr 1-yard run
UIU 31–14; 7 plays, 50 yards, 5:52

Fourth Quarter

(14:54) MTU FG: Drew Wyble 49-yard Field Goal
UIU 31–17; 10 plays, 43 yards, 2:48
(11:11) MTU TD: Ethan Champney 73-yard pass from Alex Fries (kick)
UIU 31–24; 1 plays, 73 yards, 0:11
(07:42) MTU TD: Brandon Michalak 18-yard pass from Ethan Champney (kick)
Tied 31–31; 3 plays, 32 yards, 1:13
(00:36) MTU FG: Drew Wyble 30-yard Field Goal
MTU 34–31; 9 plays, 47 yards, 2:08

Passing

MTU – Alex Fries: 11/20, 131 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT
UIU – Marcus Orr: 29/36, 328 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT

Rushing

MTU – William Marano: 20 carries, 147 yards, 1 TD
UIU – RJ Wells: 12 carries, 53 yards, 1 TD

Receiving

MTU – Ethan Champney: 1 receptions, 73 yards, 1 TD
UIU – Mante Morrow: 11 receptions, 141 yards, 1 TD

No. 18 Davenport

Week Four: Davenport at Michigan Tech – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Davenport	7	7	7	7	28
Michigan Tech	0	0	0	0	0

at Klearly Stadium • Houghton, MI

Date: September 30, 2023
Game time: 1:00 p.m.
Game weather: Sunny
Game attendance: 2,600
Referee: Bryan Earl
Source:^[8]^[9]

Game information

First Quarter

(04:16) DU TD: Caleef Jenkins 7-yard run (kick)
DU 7–0; 9 plays, 70 yards, 5:00

Second Quarter

(00:00) DU TD: Peyton Brown 5-yard pass from Jason Whittaker (kick)
DU 14–0; 15 plays, 86 yards, 8:27

Third Quarter

(06:22) DU TD: Caleef Jenkins 1-yard run (kick)
DU 21–0; 14 plays, 69 yards, 8:34

Fourth Quarter

(12:21) DU TD: Micah Wilson 72-yard punt return (kick)
DU 28–0; 0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00

Passing

MTU – Alex Fries: 9/25, 76 yards, 1 INT
DU – Jason Whittaker: 14/23, 150 yards, 1 TD

Rushing

MTU – Alex Fries: 6 carries, 22 yards
DU – Myren Harris: 26 carries, 112 yards

Receiving

MTU – Darius Willis: 5 receptions, 43 yards
DU – Mante Morrow: 11 receptions, 141 yards, 1 TD

At Wayne State (MI)

Week Five: Michigan Tech at Wayne State – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan Tech	0	7	7	7	21
Wayne State	3	7	7	6	23

at Adams Field • Detroit, MI

Date: October 7, 2023
Game time: 1:00 p.m.
Game weather: Cloudy
Game attendance: 3,021
Referee: Bradley Mutnick
Source:^[10]

Game information

First Quarter

(08:10) WSU FG: Griffin Milovanski 22-yard Field Goal
WSU 3–0; 13 plays, 86 yards, 6:46

Second Quarter

(12:06) MTU TD: William Marano 5-yard run (kick)
MTU 7–3; 8 plays, 46 yards, 3:03
(06:34) WSU TD: Kendall Williams 1-yard run (kick)
WSU 10–7; 11 plays, 74 yards, 5:25

Third Quarter

(12:06) MTU TD: Darius Willis 45-yard pass from Alex Fries (kick)
MTU 14–10; 6 plays, 56 yards, 2:54
(07:18) WSU TD: Eli McLean 1-yard run (kick)
WSU 17–14; 8 plays, 63 yards, 4:39

Fourth Quarter

(11:58) WSU FG: Griffin Milovanski 47-yard Field Goal
WSU 20–14; 11 plays, 50 yards, 5:25
(07:32) WSU FG: Griffin Milovanski 38-yard Field Goal
WSU 23–14; 6 plays, 43 yards, 2:58
(07:20) MTU TD: Ethan Champney 70-yard pass from Alex Fries (kick)
WSU 23–21; 1 plays, 70 yards, 0:12

Passing

MTU – Alex Fries: 9/25, 76 yards, 1 INT
DU – Jason Whittaker: 14/23, 150 yards, 1 TD

Rushing

MTU – Alex Fries: 6 carries, 22 yards
DU – Myren Harris: 26 carries, 112 yards

Receiving

MTU – Darius Willis: 5 receptions, 43 yards
DU – Mante Morrow: 11 receptions, 141 yards, 1 TD

At Northern Michigan

Week Six: Michigan Tech at Northern Michigan – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Michigan Tech	17	14	24	7	62
Northern Michigan	0	0	0	0	0

at Superior Dome • Marquette, MI

Date: October 14, 2023
Game time: 7:00 p.m.
Game weather: Indoor
Game attendance: 5,907
Referee: Carl Chapman
Source:^[11]^[12]

Game information

First Quarter

(07:53) MTU TD: William Marano 3-yard run (kick)
MTU 7–0; 13 plays, 79 yards, 6:58
(06:18) MTU TD: Darius Willis 14-yard pass from Alex Fries (kick)
MTU 14–0; 1 plays, 9 yards, 0:08
(01:21) MTU FG: Drew Wyble 30-yard Field Goal
MTU 17–0; 6 plays, 19 yards, 3:20

Second Quarter

(02:28) MTU TD: William Marano 12-yard run (kick)
MTU 24–0; 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:43
(00:53) MTU TD: Alex Fries 4-yard run (kick)
MTU 31–0; 3 plays, 32 yards, 1:33

Third Quarter

(11:35) MTU TD: Alex Fries 25-yard run (kick)
MTU 38–0; 4 plays, 60 yards, 2:15
(09:46) MTU TD: Darius Willis 25-yard pass from Alex Fries (kick)
MTU 45–0; 3 plays, 37 yards, 1:36
(09:25) MTU TD: Hunter Beuchel 22-yard Fumble recovery (kick)
MTU 52–0
(02:56) MTU FG: Drew Wyble 39-yard Field Goal
MTU 55–0; 9 plays, 42 yards, 4:24

Fourth Quarter

(00:47) MTU TD: Jake Rueff 3-yard run (kick)
MTU 62–0; 6 plays, 37 yards, 1:43

Passing

MTU – Alex Fries: 15/21, 240 yards, 2 TD
NMU – Aiden Hoard: 19/31, 131 yards, 2 INT

Rushing

MTU – Alex Fries: 11 carries, 74 yards, 2 TD
NMU – Brock Franklin: 5 carries, 7 yards

Receiving

MTU – Darius Willis: 10 receptions, 202 yards, 2 TD
NMU – Franko Williams: 3 receptions, 29 yards

No. 9 Ferris State

Week Seven: Ferris State at Michigan Tech – Game summary

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Ferris State	7	14	7	7	35
Michigan Tech	0	7	14	0	21

at Klearly Stadium • Houghton, MI

Date: October 21, 2023
Game time: 1:00 p.m.
Game weather: Cloudy
Game attendance: 1,233
Referee: Jayson Dibble
Source:^[13]^[14]

Game information

First Quarter

(12:24) FSU TD: Carson Gulker 12-yard run (kick)
FSU 7–0; 5 plays, 78 yards, 2:31

Second Quarter

(13:24) FSU TD: Carson Gulker 15-yard run (kick)
FSU 14–0; 1 plays, 15 yards, 0:05
(11:59) MTU TD: Drew Collins 20-yard run (kick)
FSU 14–7; 4 plays, 83 yards, 1:22
(03:20) FSU TD: Cason Gulker 4-yard run (kick)
FSU 21–7; 4 plays, 83 yards, 2:03

Third Quarter

(09:25) MTU TD: Alex Fries 9-yard run (kick)
FSU 21–14; 11 plays, 75 yards, 5:35
(05:31) FSU TD: Cason Gulker 3-yard run (kick)
FSU 28–14; 7 plays, 70 yards, 3:50
(02:31) MTU TD: Ethan Champney 43-yard pass from Alex Fries (kick)
FSU 28–21; 6 plays, 75 yard, 3:00

Fourth Quarter

(10:16) FSU TD: Cason Gulker 3-yard run (kick)
MTU 35–21; 17 plays, 74 yards, 7:07

Passing

MTU – Alex Fries: 23/40, 326 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
FSU – Aiden Hoard: 6/11, 107 yards

Rushing

MTU – Alex Fries: 9 carries, 40 yards, 1 TD
FSU – Carson Gulker: 28 carries, 120 yards, 5 TD

Receiving

MTU – Darius Willis: 5 receptions, 81 yards
FSU – Xavier Wade: 6 receptions, 134 yards

References

^ Cannizzaro, Matt. "Michigan Tech Football in 2023: What to Know About The Huskies". FloSports. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
^ Ludlum, Mike (November 29, 2022). "Dan Mettlach Named New Michigan Tech Football Head Coach". Upper Michigan Source. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
^ "Michigan Tech 2023 Schedule". Michigan Tech Athletics. July 30, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
^ "Hillsdale at Michigan Tech". Michigan Tech Athletics. September 9, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
^ "Michigan Tech at Wisc.-Platteville". Michigan Tech Athletics. September 16, 2023. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
^ "Michigan Tech at Upper Iowa". Michigan Tech Athletics. September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
^ "Michigan Tech at Upper Iowa". Upper Iowa Athletics. September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2023.
^ "Panthers play homecoming spoiler with 28-0 victory at Huskies". Davenport Athletics. September 30, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
^ "Tech Football handled by No. 18 Davenport, 28-0". Michigan Tech Athletics. September 30, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
^ "Michigan Tech Falls Short at Wayne State, 23-21". Michigan Tech Athletics. October 7, 2023. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
^ "Tech Posts 62-0 shutout at NMU to win 13th-straight Miner's Cup". Michigan Tech Athletics. October 14, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
^ "Huskies win 13th consecutive Miner's Cup 62-0". Iron Mountain Daily. October 16, 2023. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
^ Harrington, Joe (October 21, 2023). "Ferris State Football Takes Down Michigan Tech Football". FloSports. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
^ "Ferris State Football Bounces Back With a Road Triumph At Michigan Tech". Ferris State Athletics. October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 21, 2023.

v t e Michigan Tech Huskies football
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