HOUGHTON, Mich. — Another one possession game produced another win for the Michigan Tech football team as it outlasted Hillsdale, 39-36, at Sherman Field in both team's Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference opener today. The game's frenetic pace, which produced a combined 885 yards of total offense despite steady rain, did not end until the Huskies tackled the Chargers' kicker on a potential game-tying field goal attempt with 1:33 to play.

Michigan Tech improved to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in GLIAC play. It looked as though it would walk away with an easy victory after taking a 39-16 lead on Tyler Cattelino's field goal with 11:37 to play. Hillsdale (1-1 overall and 0-1 GLIAC) would not go away. The visitors rattled off 20 straight points in under seven minutes to get within 39-36. After forcing Tech to punt with 3:37 left on the clock, HC drove to the Huskies' 21-yard line. A delay of game penalty pushed the Chargers back five yards before holder Aaron Waldie couldn't handle the snap on the 43-yard field goal attempt. Tech rushed in to tackle kicker Mark Petro to take over the ball on downs. The hosts kneeled on the ball to kill the remaining time.

"You could feel the momentum shift to their sideline in the fourth quarter," said head coach Tom Kearly. "We just made enough big plays to preserve the win."

The game was full of momentum changes. Hillsdale scored 13 straight points for a 13-7 lead by the 1:15 mark of the first quarter. After Tech's second fumble inside the red zone, safety Jesse Vandenberg turned the tide by tackling HC quarterback Troy Weatherhead in the endzone for a safety.

Tech scored on each of the next two possessions for a 22-13 lead. David Carmody's interception in the endzone with :12 remaining in the first half preserved the nine-point advantage at halftime.

The Huskies' surge carried over into the second half as they scored two more touchdowns, making it 29 unanswered points. The teams traded field goals on the next two drives. Cattelino's 32-yarder proved to be the game-winner.

"We made a couple bad decisions in the second half, and we've got to cut out the turnovers," said Kearly. "But overall, I thought Short and our offense moved the ball well against their defense, and our defense played well in the right spots."

Short accounted for 298 yards of total offense with 241 of those coming on 14-of-23 completions. Phil Milbrath totaled 125 yards and three touchdowns. A touchdown and 60 of those yards came on six straight carries in the third quarter.

Keith White posted another huge game with seven catches for 137 yards. A 44-yard chunk came down the middle of the field early in the third quarter and set up Milbrath's second TD of the day.

Carmody headlined the Tech defense and was named Superior Player of the Game. He tallied a team-high 11 tackles to go with his second quarter interception.

Robert Haynes led the team in all-purpose yards with a near-school record 192 yards of kickoff returns (199 yards is the record) and a 22-yard interception return.

Michigan Tech, which is 2-0 for the first time since 2005, will host GLIAC foe Ashland next Saturday (Sept. 13). The Eagles, who will come to Sherman Field with an 0-2 record, were picked to finish second in the GLIAC preseason poll.

Notes: Vandenberg's safety was the first scored by Tech since Aug. 25, 2007, at Winona State ... Tech has won five consecutive games vs. Hillsdale at Sherman Field ... Freshman Stephen Worthy tallied his first career touchdown with a 36-yard reception from Short just 2:12 into the game ... The Huskies are 20-4 (83.3 percent) in their last 24 games at Sherman Field