HOUGHTON, Mich. - Michigan Tech outscored Saginaw Valley State 28-10 in the final three quarters of play, but four special teams miscues in the first quarter spotted the nation's No. 16-ranked team 28 points and allowed the visitors to come away with a 38-28 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference football victory at Sherman Field this afternoon.

For the second straight game, Tech outgained its opponent in total offensive yards and had a plus-six-minute margin in time of possession in a loss. Today, the Huskies gained 385 yards, including a career-high 265 passing yards from quarterback Brent Heim, while holding the Cardinals to 348.

"We really hurt ourselves again with the big mistakes," said head coach Tom Kearly. "We had four bad plays on special teams that gave them easy points, and you can't do that in this league."

The mistakes: a 13-yard punt by Jon Mills that set up the Cardinals on a short field for a touchdown at the 12:18 mark; a blocked punt two minutes later that was scooped up for another score; a fumble on the ensuing kickoff that led to a 13-yard touchdown run with 8:32 showing on the clock; and a roughing the punter call that kept alive a 90-yard drive which resulted in a 19-yard scoring pass with :51 left in the opening quarter.

From that point forward, the Huskies played a very good game. They limited Saginaw to just 10 points while putting up 28 on the board thanks in large part to the play of Heim and two big-time touchdown catches by sophomore Steve Worthy.

Heim completed 20-of-33 passes for 265 yards and three touchdowns-important stats on a day when tailbacks Marvin Atkins and Phil Milbrath combined for just 53 yards.

"Heim played well, but that defensive front with those linebackers is one of the best in the GLIAC," said Kearly.

Tech's comeback attempt began midway through the second quarter as Heim capped a 54-yard drive with a two-yard quarterback keeper around the left end. The junior's first career touchdown run made the score 28-7 with 7:54 to go in the half.

After holding the Cardinals on downs, Tech drove 72 yards before Heim found a leaping Worthy in the back left corner of the endzone from 28 yards away. The score at halftime was 28-14.

SVSU scored on the opening drive of the third quarter for a 35-14 advantage. The Huskies nearly answered right away as they drove down to the Cardinal seven. But they came away with no points after a 24-yard field goal attempt by Tyler Cattelino sailed wide left.

Worthy hauled in his second sensational catch of the day early in the fourth quarter to bring the Huskies back within two scores. This time, it was a 37-yard pass from Heim which Worthy snared above a defender as he crossed the goal line.

The play of the game for Saginaw may have come with nine minutes to go. Tech had the visitors backed up on a third-and-13 at their own 40 with its sights set on getting the ball back to further cut into the deficit. Instead, SVSU QB Charles Dowdell completed a 51-yard pass to tight end Galen Stone that eventually set up a 20-yard field goal.

The Huskies answered with a 77-yard march capped by Milbrath's eight-yard reception from Heim to get within 38-28, but the drive took 16 plays and all but 34 second off the remaining fourth-quarter clock.

Tech was successful on its on-side kick attempt, but back-to-back sacks by the Cardinals put the game away.

Saginaw Valley gained 202 yards on the ground thanks to a game-high 111 from Xavier Walker. Tech managed just 92 yards rushing.

Worthy posted a career-high 97 yards on six catches in the game. Bobby Slowik added 57 yards on five receptions for the hosts.

Linebacker John van der Laan posted nine tackles to pace the defense. Kirk Kunnen added seven tackles including 1.5 for loss.

Michigan Tech (1-7 overall, 1-7 GLIAC) has two games remaining on its schedule. It will travel to Tiffin next Saturday (Oct. 31) before a Nov. 7 home game vs. Northwood.