This story was written by MIchigan Tech Athletics. Scroll down to see the NMU Sports Information story.
Click the video buttons to see NMU highlights taken by RRN's Casey Ford, plus comments from Tech Coach Dan Mettlach.
HOUGHTON, Mich. – The No. 14-ranked Michigan Tech football team won its 16th straight Miner's Cup after defeating rival Northern Michigan 56-33 Saturday afternoon at Kearly Stadium. The Huskies were 5 for 5 in the red zone and scored eight touchdowns on the day, going a perfect 8 for 8 on the point after
Tech improved to 6-1 overall and 3-0 in the GLIAC and handed NMU its seventh loss
"Winning the Miner's Cup is always one of our team goals, and it was important to get the win today," Tech coach Dan Mettlach said. "We didn't play particularly well on defense, giving up too many third downs and missing some tackles, but we'll continue to work on that side of the ball and get it cleaned up. The offense played well from the start and controlled the line of scrimmage."
Touchdowns were scored on the first three drives of the game. Tech struck first with an 8-play, 61-yard drive that was capped off by a six-yard run to the end zone by Jake Rueff.
NMU quickly answered. The Wildcats had a 45-yard passing play that set up a four-yard rush by Noah Dobert. The extra point was missed.
Alex Bueno and Abram Larner connected on a 64-yard scoring play on the second play of Tech's second drive of the game.
After a turnover on downs, Tech went 71 yards in four plays, and Elliott Larner scampered for 58 yards to the endzone as the first quarter clock expired to make it a two-score game.
Elliott Larner scored again in with 4:28 left in the second after Alex Bueno and Abram Larner set up the score with a 24-yard pitch-and-catch.
NMU scored for the second time with 14 seconds left in the first half, marching 90 yards in 14 plays and taking 4:07 off the clock. They still left too much time for Tech.
Alex Bueno connected with Abram Larner for 13 yards and set up a first-and-ten on their own 47 with two seconds left. After a timeout, Bueno tossed to Abram Larner again, but this time he lateraled it to Bryce Kurncz on the hook and ladder, and he scored on the final play of the half.
The Alex Bueno to Abram Larner connection continued in the second half with a 72-yard play to set up another short rushing score by Elliott Larner—this time from four yards out and Tech led 42-12.
NMU scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Wilson Ptacek scored on a six-yard pass from Matt Stevens at 14:08.
Chase Koch forced a Wildcats fumble deep in their own territory, and Pierce Miller recovered. Alex Bueno Found Abram Larner on a seven-yard score two plays later.
NMU's Matt Steven scored at 5:57 on a one-yard dive to cap off a five-play, 69-yard drive.
Noah Hofmann made it a 16-point game with a three-yard touchdown run with 1:38 left.
The Huskies tacked one final touchdown on when Robert Lalain tossed to Jaxon Lippert from 15 yards out with 26 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
NMU had more yards and first downs, but the Huskies averaged 9.8 yards per play on the day and committed only two penalties to six for the Wildcats.
Alex Bueno finished 10 for 13 for 268 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Robert Lalain was 3 for 5 for 25 yards and a score. Elliott Larner led the ground attack with 93 yards and three touchdowns. Abram Larner had 236 yards receiving on eight catches with two scores.
Chase Koch and Mahdi Sabbagh each finished with nine tackles to lead the Black and Gold. Connor Briones had three tackles, including a sack.
The Michigan Tech Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026 was introduced at halftime. The class included former hockey student-athletes Colin Murphy, Darcy Way, and Wayne Weller, former football players Andy Bonk and Mike Horan, former basketball players Lucy (Dernovsek) Slowik and Jason Marcotte, volleyball player Sarah (Nash) Hurley, endurance athlete Deedra Irwin, and Scott Kieser, who played football and basketball for the Huskies.
THE FOLLOWING STORY AND PHOTO ARE COURTESY OF NMU SPORTS INFORMATION
HOUGHTON, Mich. – Against a backdrop of beautiful fall colors and amid strong winds at Sherman Field, the Northern Michigan football team showed significant signs of improvement on Saturday afternoon, despite falling 56-33 to Michigan Tech in the Miner's Cup.
Most notably was freshman quarterback Matt Stevens.
Making his first career start, Stevens led the Wildcats to season highs in points and total yardage, completing 25 of 38 passes for 319 yards and a touchdown while adding 68 rushing yards and a score on the ground, all while not turning the ball over. It was the most passing yards for a Wildcat quarterback since Mariano Valenti threw for 368 yards against Quincy on September 23, 2023.
Northern totaled 553 yards of offense, its most in a game since gaining 566 in a 42-14 win over Post on September 24, 2022. The Wildcats also set season highs with 234 rushing yards and 319 passing yards, outgaining the Huskies by 61 yards overall. NMU matched Michigan Tech 21-21 in the second half.
The Wildcats also received a strong performance from Noah Dobert, who rushed for 110 yards and two touchdowns, while Noah Hofmann added 55 rushing yards and a score. Wilson Ptacek led the receiving corps with seven catches for 82 yards and a touchdown.
Michigan Tech capitalized on several explosive plays to build a 35-12 halftime lead, including a 64-yard touchdown pass and a late scoring play featuring a lateral. The Huskies finished with 492 yards of offense, averaging 9.8 yards per play on 50 plays, while Northern averaged 6.4 yards across 86 plays.
Tech's Alex Bueno completed 10 of 13 passes for 268 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with Abram Larner eight times for 236 yards and two scores. Elliott Larner added 93 rushing yards and three touchdowns on just 10 carries.
