COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. — Marvin Atkins rushed for 196 yards and two touchdowns to lead a dominating performance by Michigan Tech in the Battle at the Ballpark tonight. The Huskies racked up 427 yards of total offense and did not allow Ferris State into the endzone in a 38-6 triumph.
Tech, who was the visitor (although with the pep band and significant majority of black and gold in the crowd of 2,964 made it feel like a home game), improved to 1-4 overall and 1-4 in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play with the win.
“It’s a good team win,” said head coach Tom Kearly. “We’ve been through a lot of adversity with injuries and a tough schedule, but we never quit. Marvin ran hard, and we played very good assignment football on defense.
“We want to use this game as a springboard for the rest of our season.”
As well as Atkins played, there were plenty other candidates for Superior Player of the Game. The Tech defense allowed just 32 yards of passing, the lowest total since it held Northwood to 15 in 2006. It also had three takeaways as David Carmody, Justin Dillon and Ben Foelker picked off passes. FSU tallied just 164 yards of total offense.
Carmody’s interception led to Tech’s first touchdown of the year. The Huskies drove to the one-yard line, then made a statement by going for it on fourth and goal. Mike Macpherson found the endzone with 7:34 to go in the first quarter for a 7-0 score.
Macpherson scored again early in the second quarter for a 14-0 advantage to cap a 10-play, 75-yard drive. The Bulldogs got on the board with a field goal at 7:33 remaining in the half, but the Huskies answered again. This time it was Atkins finding the endzone from four yards away.
FSU (1-5 overall, 0-5 GLIAC) drove the field and added a 34-yard field goal as time expired in the opening half for a 21-6 score at the break.
Michigan Tech made perhaps its biggest statement of the game to start the third quarter. The Black and Gold reeled off a 14-play, 72 yard drive that took nearly seven minutes off the clock. They converted four third downs on the drive, which culminated in a four-yard pass from Heim to Pat Carroll.
Tyler Cattelino, who was 5-for-5 on extra points in the game, drilled a 27-yard field goal late in the third quarter and Atkins wrapped up scoring in the fourth with a nine-yard run.
“My offense line did a great job of opening up holes,” said Atkins, who had his best game of the year despite battling illness all week. “The gave me time to make reads and make the cuts from there.”
Heim completed 15-of-20 passes for 157 yards in his second collegiate start. He was a main factor in the Huskies converting 9-of-13 third downs. Freshman Cedrick Barber carried the ball 12 times for 48 yards in the fourth quarter and helped the Huskies total 270 rushing yards.
Tech held the ball for more than 39 of the game’s 60 minutes—that includes a second half that saw a 24-to-6 minute advantage in time of possession.
Chet White led the Tech defense in tackles with six.
Michigan Tech will return to Houghton for Homecoming next week. The Huskies will host Findlay at Sherman Field at 1 p.m.
Photo Credit: Michigan Tech
