# 2023 Michigan Tech Huskies football team

The 2023 Michigan Tech Huskies football team represented Michigan Tech University as a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) during the 2023 NCAA Division II football season. Led by first-year head coach Dan Mettlach, the Huskies had an overall record of 5–5 with a mark of 1–5 in conference play. Michigan Tech played their home games at Kearly Stadium in Houghton, Michigan.
After going 4–7 (2–4 GLIAC) in their 2022 campaign, Michigan Tech Athletics announced that head football coach Steve Olson would not return for a seventh season. Assistant head coach since 2019, Dan Mettlach, became the team's next head football coach.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 9 | 1:00 p.m. | Hillsdale* | Klearly StadiumHoughton, MI | FloSports | W 45–20 | 2,188 |
| September 16 | 2:00 p.m. | at Wisconsin–Platteville* | Pioneer StadiumPlatteville, WI | | W 24–20 | 3,987 |
| September 23 | 2:00 p.m. | at Upper Iowa* | Harms-Eisched StadiumFayette, IA | | W 34–31 | 1,700 |
| September 30 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 18 Davenport | Klearly StadiumHoughton, MI | FloSports | L 0–28 | 2,600 |
| October 7 | 1:00 p.m. | at Wayne State (MI) | Tom Adams FieldDetroit, MI | FloSports | L 21–23 | 3,021 |
| October 14 | 7:00 p.m. | at Northern Michigan | Superior DomeMarquette, MI (Miner's Cup) | FloSports | W 62–0 | 5,907 |
| October 21 | 1:00 p.m. | No. 9 Ferris State | Klearly StadiumHoughton, MI | FloSports | L 21–35 | 1,233 |
| October 28 | 3:00 p.m | at No. 3 Grand Valley State | Lubbers StadiumAllendale, MI | FloSports | L 13–44 | 13,014 |
| November 4 | 1:00 p.m. | Minot State* | Klearly StadiumHoughton, MI | FloSports | W 37–3 | |
| November 11 | 1:00 p.m | Saginaw Valley State | Klearly StadiumHoughton, MI | | L 21–38 | 1,191 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AFCA Poll released prior to the gameAll times are in Eastern time |||||||

## Coaching staff

| Name | Position | Season |
| Dan Mettlach | Head Coach | 1st |
| Phil Milbrath | Running backs coach/special teams coordinator | 7th |
| Bryan Thomas | Defensive coordinator/linebackers | 14th |
| Jack Rustman | Offensive line coach | 2nd |
| JT Jurasin | Linebackers coach | 1st |
| Kellen O'Neill | Wide Receivers coach | 1st |
| Michael Donnelly | Defensive Backs coach | 1st |
| Ken Klein | Defensive line coach | 11th |
| Blake Hewitt | Assistant Offensive Line coach | 1st |
| Adrian Saterstad | Assistant Linebackers coach | 1st |

## Game summaries
### Hillsdale

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Hillsdale | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
| Michigan Tech | 7 | 21 | 14 | 3 | 45 |
at Klearly Stadium • Houghton, MI
* Date: September 9, 2023
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 2,188
* Referee: Carl Chapman
* TV: FloSports
* Source:
Game information :
First Quarter
(06:41) MTU TD: Ethan Champney 12-yard pass from Alex Fries (kick) MTU 7–0; 6 plays, 68 yards, 2:27
(00:57) HIL FG: Julian Lee 31-yard Field Goal MTU 7–3; 12 plays, 47 yards, 5:36
Second Quarter
(12:21) MTU TD: Darius Willis 7-yard pass from Alex Fries (kick) MTU 14–3; 10 plays, 75 yards, 3:36
(10:49) MTU TD: Samuel Kinne 47-yard fumble recovery (kick) MTU 21–3; 0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00
(05:32) HIL FG: Julian Lee 38-yard Field Goal MTU 21–6; 9 plays, 37 yards, 5:12
(01:56) MTU TD: Ethan Campney 28-yard pass from Josh Byers (kick) MTU 28–6; 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:34
Third Quarter
(10:04) MTU TD: Drew Collins 15-yard pass from Alex Fries (kick) MTU 35–6; 1 plays, 15 yards, 0:04
(02:31) HIL TD: Michael Herzog 2-yard run (kick) MTU 35–13; 13 plays, 73 yards, 7:28
(00:30) MTU TD: Kolby Hindenach 30-yard run (kick) MTU 42–13; 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:00
Fourth Quarter
(08:35) HIL TD: Garrit Aissen 1-yard run (kick) MTU 42–20; 7 plays, 38 yards, 2:56
(03:30) MTU FG: Drew Wyble 27-yard Field Goal MTU 45–20; 9 plays, 63 yards, 4:57
Passing
MTU – Alex Fries: 18/27, 258 yards, 3 TD
HIL – Garrit Aissen: 19/32, 115 yards, 2 INT
Rushing
MTU – Kobly Hindenach: 8 carries, 72 yards, 1 TD
HIL – Michael Herzog: 28 carries, 106 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
MTU – Ethan Champney: 7 receptions, 148 yards, 2 TD
HIL – Logan VanEnkevort: 4 receptions, 38 yards :

### At Wisconsin–Platteville

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Michigan Tech | 7 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 24 |
| UW Platteville | 0 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 20 |
at Pioneer Stadium • Platteville, WI
* Date: September 16, 2023
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 3,987
* Referee: Kole Knueppel
* TV: FloSports
* Source:
Game information :
First Quarter
(10:50) MTU TD: Ethan Champney 8-yard pass from Alex Fries (kick) MTU 7–0; 7 plays, 78 yards, 1:39
Second Quarter
(09:25) UWP TD: Brandt Stare 89-yard pass from Carl Richardson (kick) MTU 7–7; 2 plays, 90 yards, 0:47
(06:28) MTU TD: Kolby Hindenach 1-yard run (kick) MTU 14–7; 1 plays, 1 yards, 0:05
(02:29) UWP TD: Jett Gillum 1-yard pass from Justin Blazek Tied 14–14; 10 plays, 80 yards, 3:54
(00:18) MTU TD: Alex Fries 7-yard run (kick) MTU 21–14; 5 plays, 53 yards, 0:39
Third Quarter
(10:28) UWP FG: Andrew Schweigert 31-yard Field Goal MTU 21–17; 7 plays, 52 yards, 1:33
(07:01) UWP FG: Andrew Schweigert 41-yard Field Goal MTU 21–20; 6 plays, 43 yards, 2:10
Fourth Quarter
(12:42) MTU FG: Drew Wyble 19-yard Field Goal MTU 24–20; 8 plays, 27 yards, 2:45
Passing
MTU – Alex Fries: 27/44, 288 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
UWP – Carl Richardson: 14/33, 232 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT
Rushing
MTU – William Marano: 20 carries, 59 yards
UWP – Zachary Bothun: 12 carries, 47 yards
Receiving
MTU – Ethan Champney: 11 receptions, 143 yards, 1 TD
UWP – Brandt Stare: 7 receptions, 143 yards, 1 TD :

### At Upper Iowa

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Michigan Tech | 0 | 7 | 7 | 20 | 34 |
| Upper Iowa | 10 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 31 |
at Pioneer Stadium • Fayette, IA
* Date: September 23, 2023
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Cloudy
* Game attendance: 1,700
* Referee: David Green
* Source:
Game information :
First Quarter
(10:29) UIU TD: Mante Morrow 13-yard pass from Marcus Orr (kick) UIU 7–0; 3 plays, 12 yards, 0:57
(08:34) UIU FG: Thomas Forte 44-yard Field Goal UIU 10–0; 13 plays, 41 yards, 0:21
Second Quarter
(11:10) UIU TD: Eddie Burgess 23-yard pass from Marcus Orr (kick) UTU 17–0; 2 plays, 96 yards, 3:20
(08:03) UIU TD: RJ Wells 8-yard run (kick) UIU 24–0; 6 plays, 33 yards, 3:09
(02:58) MTU TD: Michael Bates Jr 0-yard INT return UIU 24–7; 0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00
Third Quarter
(12:12) MTU TD: William Marano 5-yard run UIU 24–14; 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:48
(02:42) UIU TD: Michael Orr 1-yard run UIU 31–14; 7 plays, 50 yards, 5:52
Fourth Quarter
(14:54) MTU FG: Drew Wyble 49-yard Field Goal UIU 31–17; 10 plays, 43 yards, 2:48
(11:11) MTU TD: Ethan Champney 73-yard pass from Alex Fries (kick) UIU 31–24; 1 plays, 73 yards, 0:11
(07:42) MTU TD: Brandon Michalak 18-yard pass from Ethan Champney (kick) Tied 31–31; 3 plays, 32 yards, 1:13
(00:36) MTU FG: Drew Wyble 30-yard Field Goal MTU 34–31; 9 plays, 47 yards, 2:08
Passing
MTU – Alex Fries: 11/20, 131 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT
UIU – Marcus Orr: 29/36, 328 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
MTU – William Marano: 20 carries, 147 yards, 1 TD
UIU – RJ Wells: 12 carries, 53 yards, 1 TD
Receiving
MTU – Ethan Champney: 1 receptions, 73 yards, 1 TD
UIU – Mante Morrow: 11 receptions, 141 yards, 1 TD :

### No. 18 Davenport

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Davenport | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| Michigan Tech | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Klearly Stadium • Houghton, MI
* Date: September 30, 2023
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 2,600
* Referee: Bryan Earl
* Source:
Game information :
First Quarter
(04:16) DU TD: Caleef Jenkins 7-yard run (kick) DU 7–0; 9 plays, 70 yards, 5:00
Second Quarter
(00:00) DU TD: Peyton Brown 5-yard pass from Jason Whittaker (kick) DU 14–0; 15 plays, 86 yards, 8:27
Third Quarter
(06:22) DU TD: Caleef Jenkins 1-yard run (kick) DU 21–0; 14 plays, 69 yards, 8:34
Fourth Quarter
(12:21) DU TD: Micah Wilson 72-yard punt return (kick) DU 28–0; 0 plays, 0 yards, 0:00
Passing
MTU – Alex Fries: 9/25, 76 yards, 1 INT
DU – Jason Whittaker: 14/23, 150 yards, 1 TD
Rushing
MTU – Alex Fries: 6 carries, 22 yards
DU – Myren Harris: 26 carries, 112 yards
Receiving
MTU – Darius Willis: 5 receptions, 43 yards
DU – Mante Morrow: 11 receptions, 141 yards, 1 TD :

### At Wayne State (MI)

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Michigan Tech | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Wayne State | 3 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 23 |
at Adams Field • Detroit, MI
* Date: October 7, 2023
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Cloudy
* Game attendance: 3,021
* Referee: Bradley Mutnick
* Source:
Game information :
First Quarter
(08:10) WSU FG: Griffin Milovanski 22-yard Field Goal WSU 3–0; 13 plays, 86 yards, 6:46
Second Quarter
(12:06) MTU TD: William Marano 5-yard run (kick) MTU 7–3; 8 plays, 46 yards, 3:03
(06:34) WSU TD: Kendall Williams 1-yard run (kick) WSU 10–7; 11 plays, 74 yards, 5:25
Third Quarter
(12:06) MTU TD: Darius Willis 45-yard pass from Alex Fries (kick) MTU 14–10; 6 plays, 56 yards, 2:54
(07:18) WSU TD: Eli McLean 1-yard run (kick) WSU 17–14; 8 plays, 63 yards, 4:39
Fourth Quarter
(11:58) WSU FG: Griffin Milovanski 47-yard Field Goal WSU 20–14; 11 plays, 50 yards, 5:25
(07:32) WSU FG: Griffin Milovanski 38-yard Field Goal WSU 23–14; 6 plays, 43 yards, 2:58
(07:20) MTU TD: Ethan Champney 70-yard pass from Alex Fries (kick) WSU 23–21; 1 plays, 70 yards, 0:12
Passing
MTU – Alex Fries: 9/25, 76 yards, 1 INT
DU – Jason Whittaker: 14/23, 150 yards, 1 TD
Rushing
MTU – Alex Fries: 6 carries, 22 yards
DU – Myren Harris: 26 carries, 112 yards
Receiving
MTU – Darius Willis: 5 receptions, 43 yards
DU – Mante Morrow: 11 receptions, 141 yards, 1 TD :

### At Northern Michigan

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Michigan Tech | 17 | 14 | 24 | 7 | 62 |
| Northern Michigan | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
at Superior Dome • Marquette, MI
* Date: October 14, 2023
* Game time: 7:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Indoor
* Game attendance: 5,907
* Referee: Carl Chapman
* Source:
Game information :
First Quarter
(07:53) MTU TD: William Marano 3-yard run (kick) MTU 7–0; 13 plays, 79 yards, 6:58
(06:18) MTU TD: Darius Willis 14-yard pass from Alex Fries (kick) MTU 14–0; 1 plays, 9 yards, 0:08
(01:21) MTU FG: Drew Wyble 30-yard Field Goal MTU 17–0; 6 plays, 19 yards, 3:20
Second Quarter
(02:28) MTU TD: William Marano 12-yard run (kick) MTU 24–0; 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:43
(00:53) MTU TD: Alex Fries 4-yard run (kick) MTU 31–0; 3 plays, 32 yards, 1:33
Third Quarter
(11:35) MTU TD: Alex Fries 25-yard run (kick) MTU 38–0; 4 plays, 60 yards, 2:15
(09:46) MTU TD: Darius Willis 25-yard pass from Alex Fries (kick) MTU 45–0; 3 plays, 37 yards, 1:36
(09:25) MTU TD: Hunter Beuchel 22-yard Fumble recovery (kick) MTU 52–0
(02:56) MTU FG: Drew Wyble 39-yard Field Goal MTU 55–0; 9 plays, 42 yards, 4:24
Fourth Quarter
(00:47) MTU TD: Jake Rueff 3-yard run (kick) MTU 62–0; 6 plays, 37 yards, 1:43
Passing
MTU – Alex Fries: 15/21, 240 yards, 2 TD
NMU – Aiden Hoard: 19/31, 131 yards, 2 INT
Rushing
MTU – Alex Fries: 11 carries, 74 yards, 2 TD
NMU – Brock Franklin: 5 carries, 7 yards
Receiving
MTU – Darius Willis: 10 receptions, 202 yards, 2 TD
NMU – Franko Williams: 3 receptions, 29 yards :

### No. 9 Ferris State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Ferris State | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
| Michigan Tech | 0 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 21 |
at Klearly Stadium • Houghton, MI
* Date: October 21, 2023
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Cloudy
* Game attendance: 1,233
* Referee: Jayson Dibble
* Source:
Game information :
First Quarter
(12:24) FSU TD: Carson Gulker 12-yard run (kick) FSU 7–0; 5 plays, 78 yards, 2:31
Second Quarter
(13:24) FSU TD: Carson Gulker 15-yard run (kick) FSU 14–0; 1 plays, 15 yards, 0:05
(11:59) MTU TD: Drew Collins 20-yard run (kick) FSU 14–7; 4 plays, 83 yards, 1:22
(03:20) FSU TD: Cason Gulker 4-yard run (kick) FSU 21–7; 4 plays, 83 yards, 2:03
Third Quarter
(09:25) MTU TD: Alex Fries 9-yard run (kick) FSU 21–14; 11 plays, 75 yards, 5:35
(05:31) FSU TD: Cason Gulker 3-yard run (kick) FSU 28–14; 7 plays, 70 yards, 3:50
(02:31) MTU TD: Ethan Champney 43-yard pass from Alex Fries (kick) FSU 28–21; 6 plays, 75 yard, 3:00
Fourth Quarter
(10:16) FSU TD: Cason Gulker 3-yard run (kick) MTU 35–21; 17 plays, 74 yards, 7:07
Passing
MTU – Alex Fries: 23/40, 326 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
FSU – Aiden Hoard: 6/11, 107 yards
Rushing
MTU – Alex Fries: 9 carries, 40 yards, 1 TD
FSU – Carson Gulker: 28 carries, 120 yards, 5 TD
Receiving
MTU – Darius Willis: 5 receptions, 81 yards
FSU – Xavier Wade: 6 receptions, 134 yards :