HOUGHTON, Mich. - Homecoming 2010 was a success for the home team as Michigan Tech trumped Ohio Dominican 45-6 in front of 2,669 fans at Sherman Field today. The Huskies' scored the game's first 45 points before the second-string defensive unit gave up a late touchdown. The win was Tech's fourth-straight to open the season and keeps the Huskies atop the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference standings.

Michigan Tech finished the game with a 428-to-170 advantage in yards of total offense and did not punt once on the afternoon. Running backs Phil Milbrath (119 yards on 14 carries) and Akeem Cason (92 yards on 21 carries) accounted for 211 of the team's 279 yards rushing.

"We moved the ball, executed our game plan and hit some key plays on third down that kept drives alive," said head coach Tom Kearly. "Our defense did a nice job again.

"I'm proud of the way we continued to play hard throughout the game. It's always good to get a win on Homecoming."

The Huskies rattled off touchdowns on their first three possessions. After receiving the opening kickoff, they marched 53 yards for their first score. Quarterback Steve Short converted three first downs during the drive, including a 14-yard strike to Milbrath for the game's first touchdown at 4:51.

The Huskies' defense went to work, shutting down Panthers' quarterback Jeremy Fudge and forcing a punt. It didn't take the Huskies long to strike again as Milbrath rushed three times, including a season-long 40-yarder, to extend the Huskies' lead to 14-0.

In the second quarter, the Huskies went to Cason, who found the endzone on a six-yard rush to push the margin 21-0.

After a Todd Storm sack for a fumble at the Panther 26-yard line late in the first half, Tyler Cattelino had a chance to add to the lead. His 42-yard field goal attempt into the wind sailed wide left as time expired.

Tech's defense held ODU to just 11 yards on its first possession of the second half before Chet White tackled punter Ryan Breen before he could get his kick away. That set up the offense at the Panther 26. Milbrath took the next play up the middle for a touchdown and a 28-0 advantage.

Quinn Parnell intercepted a Jeremy Fudge pass on the next play from scrimmage, and eight plays later Coach Kearly pulled a trick out of his bag-a flea-flicker that saw Short connect with Matt Curtin from 30 yards out.

In the fourth quarter, Cattelino added a 27-yard field goal and Cason turned in a 19-yard touchdown run to make the score 45-0.

Ohio Dominican put together an eight-play, 60-yard drive that broke up the shutout. Fudge found running back Mike Noffsinger on a swing pass with 1:50 to play. A two-point conversion pass failed.

Mike Rittenour led the Tech defense with seven tackles. Jesse Vandenberg added six tackles including a sack. With only 40 yards rushing allowed today, the Huskies' defense has surrendered just 54 yards on the ground in the last two weeks.

Perhaps the most telling stat of the game was third-down conversions. Tech was 8-of-14 compared to 2-of-10 for the Panthers.

Short completed 13-of-21 passes for 131 yards and two touchdowns. He rushed for 50 more yards and was intercepted once. Fellow quarterbacks Brent Heim and Roy Wojtala also saw action in the contest.

Michigan Tech will hit the road for the next two weeks beginning with a game at Sagainaw Valley State next Saturday (Oct. 9) at 12 noon.

Notes: Tech's 45-point output was its highest since Sept. 18, 2008, when it posted a 47-21 win at Northern Michigan … Milbrath has been over 100 yards rushing all four games this season … The Huskies lead the GLIAC in scoring defense allowing 9.0 points per game.