UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - Saginaw Valley State defended its home turf on Homecoming for a 43-31 win over Michigan Tech today at Wickes Stadium. The Huskies' offense put up 31 points and 444 yards of total offense, but the Cardinals racked up 43 points and 541 yards of total offense against a Tech defense that entered the game ranked No. 2 in the nation in points allowed.

Quarterbacks played a large role in the game. Tech quarterback Steve Short accounted for 354 total yards and four touchdowns and became the school's career passing leader during the game. The senior now has 6,977 career passing yards, surpassing Dave Walter's mark of 6,876.

SVSU quarterbacks combined to go 21-of-26 for 244 yards including an 18-of-21 completion mark by surprise freshman Jonathan Jennings, who came into the game as a backup.

"I thought all along Saginaw Valley State was a good football team, and they played like it today," said head coach Tom Kearly. "They had a great game plan, and Jennings came in and hurt us.

"We made too many mistakes and gave up too many big plays to beat a good team."

Tech hoped to grab an early lead against a Cardinal team that entered with a 1-4 overall record. Instead it was the hosts who put together a 75-yard drive on their first possession to take a 7-0 advantage.

Four minutes later, Short and tailback Phil Milbrath hooked up on a screen play to tie the game at 7-all with 2:06 left in the opening quarter.

SVSU marched right down the field and scored again on quarterback Charles Dowdell's second two-yard TD run of the day. That was Dowdell's last play of the game, however, as he sustained an apparent shoulder injury. Tech blocked the extra point to stay within 13-7.

Tyler Cattelino knocked through a 32-yard field goal to pull the Huskies within 13-10 at the 9:08 mark of the second quarter. Both teams added touchdown later in the quarter. The Cardinals, led now by Jennings, went 78 yards topped off with a 35-yard run. The Huskies got a 36-yard pass from Short to Bryan LaChapelle to keep the three-point margin.

SVSU threatened to get into the endzone late in the half, but settled for a 20-yard field goal and a 23-17 score at the intermission.

The Cardinals opened the second half with a 79-yard drive that only took 2:08 off the clock. The 30-17 lead stood until late in the third quarter. Todd Storm stripped Jennings and fell on the fumble at the SVSU 14-yard line. Six plays later, Short shoveled a four-yard pass to LaChapelle to cut the margin to 30-24.

Tech's defense stopped SVSU on its next possession, setting up the Huskies with the ball at their own 34 trailing by just six. The Black and Gold moved the ball into Cardinal territory, but the drive stalled out at the SVSU 43.

A short punt gave the ball back to the hosts in good field position, and they took advantage. SVSU converted two third downs on a 67-yard drive that took 5:30 off the clock and gave the Cardinals a 36-24 lead. Their two-point conversion pass failed.

Michigan Tech didn't give up to the final horn. The Huskies turned the ball over on downs and gave up a long TD run as they tried to get back into the game. Short's 18-yard pass to Steve Worthy with 15 seconds left provided the final points of the game.

Milbrath was held under 100 yards rushing for the first time this season, but racked up 227 yards of all-purpose yardage with 83 rushing and 144 receiving.

SVSU's Ronnie Lark rushed for a game-high 150 yards and was part of a 297-yard ground game for the Cardinals.

Tech was led on defense by Jesse Vandenberg's 15 tackles. Chet White added 11 more.

Michigan Tech will play another road game next week. The Huskies travel to face ninth-ranked Hillsdale Saturday (Oct. 16) at 1:30 p.m.