|
Huskies Run Wild in
51-14 Win Over Eagles |
|
John Kerry could learn a thing or two about impressing voters from the Michigan Tech football team. Critics and pundits say Kerry is evasive and won’t commit to one way of thinking. It’s been said voters are hesitant to cast a vote his way because of his waffling on the issues. That shouldn’t be a concern for Michigan Tech, which is attempting to crack the NCAA Division II Top 20. Tech committed to the running game and sprinkled in a long-range passing attack in pounding Ashland, 51-14 Saturday night (Sept. 25) at Community Stadium. Tech was ranked 27th two weeks ago. Saturday’s thrashing of Ashland should help the Huskies, 4-0 overall and in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, keep moving forward. “They played like an undefeated team that’s in the heat of the conference race,” said AU head coach Lee Owens. “We weren’t prepared for that. “It’s not the first time I’ve been in that situation, usually it was Iowa or Nebraska,” continued Owens, who watched the Eagles fall to 2-3, 1-3 in the GLIAC. “They (Michigan Tech) could have posed for Iowa the way they ran the ball.” MTU sophomore tailback Lee Marana rushed for 234 yards and three touchdowns and redshirt freshman Daryl Graham had 105 yards on 14 carries and two scores. Tech rushed for 371 yards and outgained the Eagles, 606-361. Entering the game, Ashland was allowing 82.2 ypg., on the ground and hadn’t allowed a running back to rush for 100 yards since the next-to-last game of the 2003 season. Michigan Tech scored on its first four possessions and led, 27-0 at the end of the first quarter. Marana finished off the first two drives with scoring runs of 1 and 3 yards. His last scoring run, which covered 4 yards, put the Huskies in front, 34-0. Michigan Tech scored the game’s first 44 points and had a 41-0 halftime lead. Tech also did well throwing the ball. Quarterback Dan Mettlach, a senior, was 10 of 15 passing for 235 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore wide receiver Kirk Williams had five catches for 139 yards. Tech had pass plays of 58, 39 and 31 yards. “They exposed us in just about every way you can expose a football team,” lamented Owens. “They took advantage of a young secondary and a weakened linebacking corps. Their right tackle (Joe Berger), he’s as good a tackle as I’ve seen at any level. He just dominated tonight.” The Eagles played without junior linebacker Devin Conwell (Baltimore, MD/Montgomery C.C.), their leading tackler and emotional leader on defense. Conwell is on an indefinite suspension because of a violation of team rules. The players who were on the field hurt their own cause with 12 penalties, 11 in the first half. The school single-game record for infractions is 15. Owens was disappointed in the fact that AU had several personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct calls. “We’re getting beat out there and then we lose our composure,” sighed Owens. “It’s frustrating. Don’t stop yourself, they’re doing a good enough job stopping us.” Ashland senior tailback Antwan Hart rushed for 164 yards on 25 carries. He scored AU’s final touchdown on a 55-yard run. Senior wide receiver Michael Hull caught eight passes for 99 yards. Sophomore quarterback Nick Strance completed 15 of 29 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown. Because of the thinning of the linebacking corps, AU turned to true freshman Brian Joyner for minutes last night and the rookie ended the evening as AU’s leading tackler with 10 stops (seven solo). He had two tackles for loss and one fumble recovery. This was Michigan Tech’s fourth consecutive win over Ashland. |