On Saturday, for the 10th year in a row, they defeated the Northern Michigan University Wildcats 24-20 at Kearly Stadium. The coveted Miner’s Cup stays in the Copper Country.

Michigan Tech head coach Steve Olson said before the game that he expected this matchup to be like the majority of the other games against NMU — a close one that would be decided in the last few minutes.

He hit the nail on the head as this game had three lead changes and was won in the latter half of the fourth quarter.

With snow falling briskly in the second half and a temperature in the upper 30s, it had all the trappings of an Upper Peninsula rivalry game for the standing room-only crowd.

Ravon Johnson

“It was an awesome game and an awesome win for our program,” Olson said. “Northern Michigan is a big rival and winning this football game is something that our team sets as a goal every year, and we feel really good about it.”

The Huskies (3-2, 1-2 GLIAC) got on the scoreboard first just a little more than five minutes in. They took over on the NMU 43-yard line and scored on a 30-yard pass when Tech quarterback Will Ark found wide receiver Jacob Wenzlick open in the end zone to make it 7-0 with 9:56 remaining in the period.

Less than a minute into the second quarter, Tech kicker Evan Gornick kicked a 29-yard field goal. But it was the last time the Huskies would score until the second half.

The Wildcats (1-5, 0-4 GLIAC) took over and piled up 13 points before halftime, which included two field goals by NMU kicker Daniel Riser and a 27-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ryan Johnson to receiver Ravon Johnson, making it Wildcats 13-10 at halftime.

MTU needed less than 2 1/2 minutes of the second half to regain the lead. The Huskies marched 82 yards, keyed by a 12-yard pass caught by running back Jared Smith. It culminated in a 35-yard pass from Ark to Wenzlick for the TD, putting Tech back ahead 17-13.

“Our wide receivers did a really nice job and it was nice to see the ball get to those guys in the open field,” Olson said. “It was also good to see Will (Ark) be able to throw and run the football today. It gave us a balanced offense and that was nice to get some big plays today.”

Northern wasn’t finished, however. With 2:13 left in the third, Johnson found Tyshon King open with a screen pass and the running back turned it into a 75-yard score. The lead was back in NMU’s hands, 20-17, headed into the fourth.

Following a Northern punt, the Huskies took over at around midfield. Tech wasted no time in going to work and moved the ball up field, keyed by several strong runs by Smith and Jordan Ferguson. Then Ark threw a 10-yard pass to Ben Hartley for a TD and a 24-20 lead with 7:24 remaining.

That was all the Huskies needed as their defense stepped up their game and the clock wound down.

“I was very happy with how our defense played together today,” Olson said. “There are things to clean up and get better at, but overall, I am very happy.”

The Huskies outgained NMU 467-276, with Tech gaining 347 yards passing and 120 on the ground. Smith led MTU with 76 yards on 22 carries, while Wenzlick caught nine passes for 213 receiving yards.

The Wildcats had a near-even split, gaining 158 yards passing and 118 yards rushing. Ryan Johnson completed 6 of 17 passes for 158 yards and an interception, with Tyshon King making his one scoring catch for 75 yards and adding 114 yards rushing in 25 carries.

Next up for NMU is a game against Grand Valley State (5-1) at 1 p.m. Saturday.