HILLSDALE, Mich. - It was a case of missed opportunities for the Michigan Tech football team today. The Huskies (4-2, 4-2 GLIAC) had three drives stall deep inside Hillsdale (6-1, 5-1 GLIAC) territory in a 24-17 loss to the No. 8-ranked Chargers.

Tech's defense held the high-powered HC offense to its lowest point total of the season and nearly 100 yards below its average of total offense. The Huskies offense, meanwhile, put up 272 yards and found the endzone just once on the day.

Perhaps the most telling statistic of the game was third-down conversions, where the hosts were 7-of-14 compared to Tech's 2-of-11.

"We had our chances," said head coach Tom Kearly. "We played hard, but made enough mistakes against a good team to keep ourselves from winning. They were able to stay on the field on third down and we weren't. That was the key to the game."

Phil Milbrath gained 54 yards on his first two runs of the day to put the Huskies down at the Charger 20. Four plays later, Kearly elected to go for it on fourth-and-three at the 13, and Steve Short's keeper was stopped shy of the first down.

Later in the quarter, Tech scored the first points of the game with special teams. Kevin Nancarrow blocked a punt and Aaron Allen picked it up and returned it 30 yards for a touchdown with 1:54 on the clock.

Hillsdale's offense, looking at a third-and-13 deep in its own territory was set to punt for the third time on the day before a 54-yard pass play changed the momentum.

The Chargers scored five plays later to tie the game at seven. Later in second quarter, Hillsdale put together an 84-yard drive to take a 14-7 lead which they would hold heading into halftime.

Tech's defense stepped up in the third quarter. It held HC to three-and-outs on its first three possessions. That set up the offense in good field position each time.

The first time was a nearly identical situation as the opening drive. The Black and Gold had the ball at the Hillsdale 13 and elected to go for it on fourth-and-three. The Chargers' defense got the turnover on downs again.

The second short field resulted in a touchdown. Short hit Justin Springer on a perfectly thrown pass for a 34-yard score at the 8:08 mark. With the third short field, Tyler Cattelino gave the Huskies a 17-14 lead with a 30-yard field goal.

HC wasn't to be denied on its fourth drive of the half. It ran 14 straight plays to go 72 yards spanning the quarter break and regained the lead 21-17 with 13:38 to play.

On the next possession, punter Matt DeJong, who had handled two high snaps earlier, dropped the snap and was tackled for an eight-yard loss. The hosts used the short field to add a 30-yard field goal for a 24-17 lead with 8:42 to go.

Tech, needing a touchdown to tie, moved the ball down to the HC 25. Short missed a wide open Bryan LaChapelle at the goal line on third down, then did the exact same thing on fourth down.

The Huskies never got the ball back. Hillsdale ate up the final 6:18 by picking up a key fourth down along the way.

Milbrath accounted for 149 yards rushing on just 15 carries and was part of a 179-yard rushing day for the Huskies. Short was an uncharacteristic 9-of-21 passing for 93 yards and a touchdown.

The Chargers' big guns were quarterback Troy Weatherhead and running back Joe Glendening. Weatherhead went 21-of-30 for 215 yards. Glendening rushed 36 times for 156 yards and two touchdowns.

Chet White (14 tackles) and Mike Rittenour (12) paced the Huskies' defense.

Neither team turned the ball over in the game. The hosts held a 38:15-to-21:45 advantage in time of possession.

Michigan Tech will play three of its final four games at home. The Huskies host Northwood at Sherman Field next Saturday (Oct. 23) at 1 p.m.

Notes: Short, who broke the school's all-time passing leader a week ago, became Tech's all-time leader in total offense during the game. He surpassed Dave Walter's (1983-86) mark of 8,345 and now has 8,447 yards … Milbrath tallied his fifth 100-yard rushing game of the season.