HOUGHTON, Mich. - The Miner's Cup will reside in Houghton for the next year after the No. 22-ranked Michigan Tech football team defeated Northern Michigan today 12-0 in a smashmouth-style game played in blowing wet snow. The Huskies (8-2, 8-2 GLIAC) held the Wildcats (5-6, 5-5 GLIAC) to 24 yards passing and 132 total yards in recording the program's first shutout since 2000.

"It turned into a survival contest today," said head coach Tom Kearly. "I guess that's the way it's supposed to be when you play your UP rivals in the last game of the year.

"We played well defensively and got help from the elements. And we seemed to make the big plays when we needed them again."

Quinn Parnell's over the shoulder interception and return to the NMU 40 led to the first score of the game. Steve Short found senior tight end Brian Stawowy wide open in the endzone for a touchdown. Tyler Cattelino's extra point was missed, leaving the score 6-0 at the 1:42 mark of the opening quarter.

NMU looked as though it would answer early in the second. John Privitelli broke free on a 50-yard run to the Huskies' three, where Kenny Stiger made a touchdown-saving tackle. Tech then held the Wildcats on four straight downs, taking over after Drew Vanderlin sacked Jacob Hicks at the three.

Stiger's play earned him Superior Player of the Game honors.

The teams continued to battle for field position until late in the half. Short engineered a drive down to the NMU 20, and the ball was moved to the 10 on a personal foul penalty against NMU. Cattelino came in and attempted a 27-yard field goal, but missed wide left. The score at half remained 6-0.

Tech added a touchdown in the third quarter on Short's quarterback sneak after he had hooked up on a 33-yard pass to Pat Carroll four plays earlier. Again the extra point was missed, leaving the score 12-0.

Northern Michigan did not move the ball into Tech territory until three minutes to go. A Privitelli run put the ball at the Tech 27 for a first down. The Huskies defense then held the Wildcats to a one-yard pass and three incompletions to ice the win.

Three Huskies combined to rush for 159 yards on the day. Akeem Cason posted a team-high 73 yards on 23 carries. Short gained 56 yards on 20 attempts. Senior Phil Milbrath, who was questionable because of injury entering the game, carried the ball 11 times for 33 yards.

Short was 7-of-17 passing for 74 yards. He had one touchdown and one interception.

Privitelli notched 103 yards on the ground with a bulk coming on the 50-yarder in the second quarter. The team totaled just 108 on the ground. Hicks was 4-of-13 for 24 yards and one interception.

Jesse Vandenberg posted seven tackles including two for loss to lead the Huskies. Vanderlin added four tackles including three for loss and both Michigan Tech sacks on the day.

Tech controlled the clock with a 39:11 in time of possession. The Black and Gold also won the turnover battle at plus-three after NMU fumbled four times and lost three of those.

Fifteen Michigan Tech seniors were honored before the game, and it is still up in the air whether they have played their final game in a Tech uniform. The Huskies were ranked No. 7 in last week's NCAA Super Region 3 poll, with only six teams from the region getting berths. All of the higher-ranked teams that Tech needed to lose ended up winning their games.

"It's tough to see the seniors play their final game here," said Kearly, who registered his 30th career coaching victory in the win. "We'll be disappointed if we don't get a bid to the regional, but if this is it, it's a great way to go out. Winning in a snow storm. Shutting out our rivals in front of our home fans."

The field for the 2010 NCAA Division II Playoffs will be announced tomorrow (Nov. 14) between 3 and 3:30 p.m. on ESPNews.

Notes: Tech finished in second in the GLIAC North Division standings and in a tie for second overall in the league … The Huskies have now had eight seasons of eight or more wins in program history. The school record for wins in a season is nine … Tech has won six of nine Miner's Cup games since the trophy was first handed out in 2002 … Tech's last shutout was a 34-0 blanking of Findlay at Sherman Field on Nov. 11, 2000 … The Huskies 8-2 record completes a six-game turnaround from a year ago when they were 2-8.