HOUGHTON, Mich. – For the 98th time in over 100 years, the Michigan Tech football team will meet Northern Michigan in the Superior Dome for the 23rd installment of the Miner's Cup on Saturday at noon.
Fans can follow the action at https://michigantechhuskies.com/live for live stats, live stream ($) and radio play-by-play.
Watch The Huskies
All home and GLIAC games will be streamed on FloCollege. Michigan Tech fans can watch all home and conference games in volleyball, basketball, football and soccer with one subscription. FloCollege provides each subscriber with access to all content and events with the purchase of a monthly or yearly subscription. Subscriptions are offered in two different billing packages - monthly and annual. Discounts are available for students enrolled at GLIAC member and associate member institutions. You must subscribe with a .edu email address to be eligible. FloCollege is available on iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire, and Chromecast.
The Series
Starting in 1920, the two U.P. rivals have faced each other the most in program history. Michigan Tech holds the series lead, 51-41-5, with the Huskies currently holding the second-longest win streak in series history, at 14 consecutive wins. The Wildcats' last win came in 2009. Since the turn of the century, the Black & Gold own a 20-4 record against Northern Michigan.
About the Wildcats
Northern Michigan enjoyed its first win since Nov. 12, 2022, over the weekend with a 42-21 pummeling of second-year GLIAC affiliate Roosevelt. The Wildcats set the single-game rushing record in the win with the duo of Noah Dobert (243 rushing yards) and Jahi Wood (233 rushing yards) combining for 476 total rushing yards on 68 carries.
Despite the win, the Wildcats are just 1-6 on the season and 1-3 in the GLIAC. Head coach Shane Richardson holds a 1-28 record in three seasons at the helm of NMU and is winless in the Superior Dome during his tenure. Northern Michigan was selected to finish last in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll in July.
The offense relies heavily on the run game, as the Wildcats' three quarterbacks have combined for 102 passing attempts totaling 10 interceptions and three passing scores. NMU's top receiver is Isaac Olson with six receptions for 121 yards, including a season-long of 60 yards.
Northern Michigan's 259.9 rushing yards per game ranks second in the league and seventh in the country behind Dobert (797 rushing yards) and Wood (570 rushing yards), who combine for 13 touchdowns on the ground.
Defensively, Jax Hertel ranks second in the league and 28th nationally with 9.3 tackles per game and 65 total tackles on the season.
About the Huskies
Michigan Tech enters rivalry week 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the GLIAC after falling to No. 1 nationally-ranked Ferris State (38-10) on Saturday at Kearly Stadium.
The Huskies saw three quarterbacks command the offense on Saturday, with Alex Bueno throwing for 65 yards, Joe Hartlieb going 5-for-7 for 39 yards and true freshman Elliott Larner had three carries for 35 yards, including a rushing score.
For the season, Bueno has tossed for 1,216 yards and 12 touchdowns while rushing for 258 yards on 72 carries for three scores. Running back Jake Rueff is the team's top rusher with 346 net rushing yards on 88 carries with a touchdown.
The Huskies receiving core sees four players with over 100 yards receiving, led by Nic Nora's 411 yards and five touchdowns, with veteran Ethan Champney (346 yards), Bryce Kurncz (243 yards) and Rueff (103 yards) combining for four touchdowns. Captain Drew Collins has two receiving touchdowns with nine catches for 92 yards this season.
Linebacker Chase Koch paces the defense with a team-leading 5.57 solo tackles, which sits atop the GLIAC and 15th in the country. The Madison, Wisconsin, native has 60 total tackles this season to go with a team-leading two interceptions and four TFLs. Dante Basanese also has two interceptions on the season to go with 37 total tackles, four pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
As a whole, the Black & Gold's defense has the league's second-best total defense (271.6 yards per game), which ranks 11th nationally. The Huskies allow 20.6 points per game backed by the second-best rushing defense in the GLIAC, holding the opposition to 97.7 rushing yards per outing.
Sophomore kicker Avery Kucharski has been a weapon for the Huskies, averaging 1.29 field goals per game, going nine-for-12 on field goals this season with a season-long of 44 yards.
One Last Thing
The last time Michigan Tech played in the Superior Dome, it resulted in a 62-0 shutout of the Wildcats, the highest scoring victory in series history. The Huskies held NMU to -46 rushing yards–a program record for Michigan Tech, en route to the 50th win for the Huskies in series history.
