HOUGHTON, Mich. — For the second straight year, Michigan Tech’s annual spring intrasquad game came down to the wire. Team Black’s 82-yard drive in the final 1:25 led to the go-ahead score in a 13-12 win.

Team White appeared to have the game in control with a 12-7 advantage and possession of the ball deep in Black territory with the clock winding down. Black used all of its timeouts to keep the clock stopped and forced White to turn it over on downs to gain possession.

The game-winning drive took just three plays. The first was a 36-yard completion on a trick play. Tight end Mat Brynick received a throwback from quarterback Brent Heim and proceeded to hit receiver Bobby Slowik with a rainbow pass across the 50.

Heim then connected with Slowik on a 40-yard strike down to the six. Freshman running back Josh Hauswirth capped the drive with the six-yard run to paydirt to make the score 13-12. The two-point conversion pass was incomplete.

White had 30 seconds to work with from their own 35-yard line, but freshman Alex Delebreau’s opening pass of the drive was picked off by Eric Stage — his second of the game — to end the threat.

“This game’s for the players,” said head coach Tom Kearly. “They had fun, played with intensity and passion and were really competing for the bragging rights in the lockerroom.

“The best news is we had no injuries.”

The game began as a defensive struggle before Heim’s 44-yard pass to Slowik opened scoring at 5:37 of the second quarter. Nick Koskiniemi added the extra point for a 7-0 margin.

Team White answered with a 65-yard drive on the ensuing possession. A pass interference call and 49 yards rushing from Cedrick Barber moved the ball down to the two-yard line. Fullback Michael Macpherson then carried the ball to the goalline. The ball came loose on the play, and when the officials didn’t signal a touchdown until later, right guard Matt Desotell was credited with the touchdown. Tyler Cattelino’s extra point bounced off the left upright, leaving the score 7-6.

White took the lead at the 12:30 mark of the fourth quarter as Alex Delebreau’s pass found Ethan Shaver open at the 10-yard line. Shaver then shook off a tackle to reach the endzone for a 12-7 advantage. The two-point conversion pass from Delebreau to Shaver was broken up.

Black fumbled its first snap of the next possession and Justin Armstrong recovered for Team White. After a few plays, Cattelino’s 47-yard field goal and chance to add to the five-point lead missed short.

White stopped Black once more before seemingly closing out the game with a drive deep into Black territory as time wound down.

Senior quarterback Steve Short, who did not play in the game due to injury precaution, took credit for calling the trick play that started Team Black’s game-winning drive.

Barber finished with 97 rushing yards to lead all players. Heim was 5-of-14 for 119 yards and a touchdown. Delebreau finished 6-of-19 for 100 yards and a score. Slowik (three catches for 120 yards) and Justin Springer (three catches for 71 yards) were the top receivers in the game.

Defensively, Team Black was led by Greg Pedersen’s eight tackles including a sack. Team White was led by Todd Storm with four stops and a sack and Matt Carothers with four tackles including 2.5 for loss.

“Today’s game capped a really good spring for us,” said Kearly. “With the new turf, we were able to get outside and get a high quantity of high quality work that has helped us improve. Our expectations are high for next year, and I was very pleased that our work ethic matched our expectations this spring.”

Michigan Tech will open its 2009 season on September 5 with a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game at Hillsdale.

Notes: Several hundred fans turned out at Sherman Field today ... Many Huskies did not participate in the game due to injury or injury precaution, most notably senior quarterback Steve Short and junior running back Phil Milbrath ... A running clock was used except for the final two minutes of each half.