Houghton, Mich – Meeting the Pioneers for the first time in program history, Michigan Tech football is set to kick off its 100th reunion season Thursday night under the lights at Kerley Stadium in Houghton. The Huskies currently have three Division II opponents ranked in the nation’s top-25, but first have the responsibility of taking down the Pioneers, who play at the NCAA Division III level in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
For context
- The Huskies, led by head coach Steve Olsen, will also oversee the defensive line. He brings five years of experience at the helm and 2022-23 will be his 12th season at MTU overall. In a challenging schedule last fall, the Huskies lost to top-10 seed Grand Valley State, Division I St. Thomas and eventual Division II national champion Ferris State. However, the six-win effort came up short of getting a regional bid. Tech finished third in the GLIAC with a 5-2 conference record.
- The team’s top three quarterbacks on the depth chart return this season. Upperclassmen Will Marano (Dearborn, Mich.) and Emmett Boehler (James Twp., Mich.) will anchor the running game, both Michigan natives. Opening gaps and providing protection in the middle is senior first-team All-American center Hayden Huttula, along with senior left guard Lewis Thome (Leonard, Mich.).
Look at the huskies
- Michigan Tech football, in partnership with the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, has announced a four-year media partnership with FloSports beginning this fall. FloSports became the conference’s exclusive platform and broadcast more than 900 games across 21 sports at MTU, including football, basketball, soccer and volleyball.
Teacher Appreciation Night
- Thursday’s game is Teacher Appreciation Night at Kerley Stadium. Local teachers can purchase a ticket and get it free by using the code HuskiesLoveTeachers at BuyHuskiesTickets.com.
Come back
- Tech football graduated 16 seniors in 2021, including former All-American nose guard Nate LaJoie, and is set to honor 23 seniors this season on Oct. 29.
- Eight Huskies were named All-GLIAC with five honorable mentions. Eight of the 13 will return in 2022.
Key returns
- No. 58 Hayden Huttula (Sr., C, Hartland, Mich.) – AFCA First Team All-American, GLIAC Commissioner’s Award, Team Offensive Lineman of the Year. He started all 10 games, team captain.
- No. 3 Braxton Blackwell (Sr., DB, South Lyon, Mich.) – Second Team All-GLIAC, second on team with 74.0 total tackles, 32 solo, 1.5 sacks, team-high eight pass breakups.
- No. 15 Michael Bates Jr. (Junior DB, Dearborn, Mich. – Had a team-high four interceptions over the middle of the field, 100 yard interceptions for a touchdown at Northwood, seventh in total tackles (44.0) with 2.5 TFL., five passes broken up.
- No. 32 Drew Weible (So., K, Marquette, Mich.) – Second Team All-GLIAC, converted 9-11 field goals (82%) season-long 35-yard game at Wayne St., 23-24 extra points (96%) ,
- No. 9 Austin Schlicht (So., DE, Oxford, Mich.) – Honorable Mention All-GLIAC, first team of the year. Tied for second in GLIAC in sacks (8.0), two forced fumbles.
- No. 8 Will Arch (Sr., KB, Green Bay, Wis.) – Honorable Mention All-GLIAC, Harold Meese Sportsmanship Award. Started all 10 games, 1,715 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, 7 interceptions, Rushing: 64 yards, two touchdowns. Averaged 37.3 yards per punt (19 total).
A situation in defense
- 2021 First Team All-GLIAC and Fred Byrd Defensive Player of the Year Sam Keen is injured and will not play for the Huskies this fall. The Huskies are looking for young players starting on defense.
- One candidate is sophomore Austin Schlich (Oxford, Mich.). Schlich earned All-GLIAC honorable mention honors in his inaugural campaign and was named the team’s Rookie of the Year.
- He finished second in the conference with 8.0 sacks for 37 yards. He also forced two fumbles and posted 37.0 tackles.
POSITION to watch
- Senior Michael Munderloh (St. Louis, Mich.) steps into the Husky position (yes, you read that right. It’s a hybrid that replaces the traditional nickel) backed up by sophomore Hunter Buchel (Mile Lake, Wis.). The two add a physical presence rushing and returning in coverage.
Solid under pressure
- Sophomore kicker Drew Weible (Marquette, Mich.) proved himself under pressure last season as a true freshman when MTU kicked a 22-yard field goal to help beat Wayne State on the road in Detroit on the final play. Weible converted 9 of 11 field goal attempts (82-percent) with a season-long 35-yard strike and was named second-team All-GLIAC. He also connected on 23 of 24 extra points and landed 36 total possessions inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
- Look for quarterback Will Arch to compliment Weible as a punter on special teams this season.
Young receiving corps
- Two senior wide receivers, Hunter Richards and Jordan Janssen, led the Huskies in receptions a year ago. This year, four sophomores are in the running to become deep threats, including Ethan Champney (Saginaw, Mich.), Mitchell Stancina (Northfield, Minn.), Darius Willis (Warren, Mich.) and Brandon Michalak (Macomb, Mich. ).
- Willis went 30 for 393 yards and averaged 13.1 yards per game as a freshman.
- He also led all wideouts with five touchdown passes and was named honorable mention All-GLIAC.
Avoid sharp corners
- On paper, cornerback is where the Huskies stand out. Senior Kevin Lee (Warren, Mich.) finished with 37.0 tackles and three passes broken up in 2021, including two forced fumbles and one interception.
- The Huskies also bring in sophomores Jared Tarance (Westland, Mich.) and Jacob Newman (South Lyon, Mich.).
- Junior Michael Bates Jr. (Dearborn, Mich.) leads the GLIAC with four interceptions, including two touchdowns at free safety over the middle.
- He also broke up five passes (15th), had one fumble recovery and finished with 44.0 tackles (seventh on the team).
Scouting pioneers
- At this time, a new era begins for the pioneers. Ryan Mentz was hired on February 7 to replace retiring coach Mike Emendorfer. Emendorfer spent 23 years at UW-Platteville and leaves as the all-time winningest coach in program history.
- Muntz spent 16 seasons as the Pioneers’ offensive coordinator, entering his 18th season overall after being named associate head coach in 2016. Community Service Liaison for the Athletic Dept.
- Muntz was a four-year quarterback for the Pioneers and won the prestigious George Chryst Award in 2006.
- UW-Platteville’s biggest rival is UW-Whitewater, and each season the two teams compete for the traveling Pick Ax trophy.
- UW-Platteville is an NCAA Division III member in the WIAC. Five of the ten opponents on the schedule this season finished in the nation’s top-25 in 2021.
- The Pioneers recognized 18 seniors before their final home game against Wisconsin-Eau Claire last fall.
- Eleven players earned All-WIAC recognition, including senior quarterback Collin Schutz, who was named second-team All-WIAC. Schutz led the WIAC in passing yards and completed 64-percent of his passes with 28 touchdowns.
Opening and home opening records
- In 99 season openers, Michigan Tech posted a 49-45-4 record (.521 winning percentage). Northwood was MTU’s most common opponent on opening day, with the Huskies winning six of those 13 matches.
- MTU is 58-36-4 (.577 winning percentage) in home openers.
- It has been five years since the Huskies had a night game at home. MTU last played under the Kerley Stadium lights in 2011. It was September 30, 2017, in a 28-21 win over Northern Michigan in the Mineral Cup.
The Huskies were selected third in the Gilliam pre-election poll
- Just 34 days before the start of the 2022 season, Michigan Tech football was picked to finish third in the GLIAC Media Day annual preseason coaches poll with 24 votes. Defending Division II national champion Ferris State was picked to remain in first place with five first-place votes, followed by Grand Valley State with a pair. This season’s goals are undoubtedly an upset against one or both teams and of course a 12th straight Mineral Cup win over rival Northern Michigan.
- The 95th game against the Wildcats is set for Oct. 15 in Houghton. Rounding out the poll were Saginaw Valley State (22), Northern Michigan (14), Wayne State (12) and Davenport (8).
- The Huskies were picked fifth in the same poll last fall and exceeded expectations against Saginaw Valley State on the third day.
Key losses
- Nate LaJoie (Nose Guard, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.) – First Team All-GLIAC, Sr. season hampered by injuries but played all 10 games and recorded 29.0 tackles, 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, 2019 All-American (leading conference with 8.5 sacks ).
- Jordan Janssen (WR, Kimberly, Wis.) – Arc’s top target last season, had 44 receptions for 524 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 11.9 yards per catch.
- Marvin Wright (LB, Lansing, Mich.) – Second Team All-GLIAC and Al Bovard Team Most Valuable Player, 73.0 tackles (3rd), blocked shot, 2.0 sacks. 2018 ranked 34th in DII with 9.8 tackles per game, 96 tackles as freshman in 2017.
- Hunter Richards (WR, Houghton, Mich.) – Honorable Mention All-GLIAC, Ted Kerley Awardee, 20 receptions for 254 yards and three touchdowns, season-long 22-yard reception, played at Houghton High School.
- John Paramski (SAM-LB, Newberry, Mich.) – Honorable Mention All-GLIAC, led team with 78.0 total tackles, 10th in GLIAC tackles per game.
If you are going
- If you have mobile tickets for today’s game, it’s important to download the tickets to your mobile device before the game before heading to the stadium. This ensures quick and easy access to the stadium if you experience limited cellular service in and around Kerley Stadium.
- Food and beverages are not permitted outside Kerley Stadium. Discounts available for purchase. Offers accept both cash and card payments.
- Parking is $5 cash per vehicle and $3 cash for Michigan Tech students with student ID.
- Each VIP ticket comes with designated parking in Lot 24. When you go to a park, show the parking attendants your VIP ticket and they will let you park. If you purchase parking in Lot 85, parking attendants will show you a Lot 85 parking pass, and they will allow you to park.
- Visitors Guide
- Mobile ticket guide
- Discount menu
- Ticket office
Directions to Kearly Stadium
- From the South/East: Enter Houghton via US-41. Turn left (south) at the first stop light (McInnes Drive). Continue on MacInnes Drive past the Student Development Complex. The stadium will be on the right. Main event parking is in Lot 24 (in front of the stadium).
- From the West: Enter Houghton via the M26. Turn right on Sharon Street. Go about 1.5 miles on the road. The stadium will be on the left. Main event parking is in Lot 24 (past the stadium).
- The Central Ticket Office in the Student Development Complex will be open for any of your ticketing needs before and during the game. If you would like to pick up tickets at Will Call, they are available at the office in the Student Development Complex. If you have any problems with your tickets, you can visit the ticket office for assistance or stop by one of the ticket booths at the stadium entrances.
Husky merchandise
- Looking for new Huskies gear? Be sure to visit University Images located in the Student Development Complex for all your Michigan Tech merchandise and apparel needs. University images are open extended hours during sports and other special events.
- University images hours
