Michigan Tech wide receiver Ethan Champney (right), celebrates with wide receiver Bryce Kurncz (83) after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter of a game against Bemidji State Thursday, Aug. 29, in Bemidji, Minnesota. (Photo courtesy of Michigan Tech University)

HOUGHTON — There was an awful lot for Michigan Tech Huskies football coach Dan Mettlach to like about his team’s 19-13 overtime loss to the No. 25 Bemidji State Beavers last Thursday. At the same time, there is plenty of room for improvement, as evidenced by the fact that the Huskies returned home with a loss, rather than a win, despite leading for much of the contest.

“Love the way our guys played,” he said. “We were fast, physical. The effort was never in question. Did a lot of really good things. Obviously going to Week One, after being in camp for three weeks against yourselves, you’re never quite sure what you have or don’t have. So, we found a lot out in that game. It was a tough ride home after losing a game where we felt like we had plenty of chances to win on the road against a Top-25 team, but our guys handled it well.

“Looking forward to South Dakota Mines now, there’s some stuff that we have to clean up. Obviously, we’ll have some different bodies playing different spots to try to shore up some of those deals, but, you lose a tough game like that, good football teams find a way to get better from what happened or didn’t happen. That’s exactly what I think we did.”

One of the positives of their season opener for the Huskies was the play of freshman kicker Avery Kucharski, who hit two field goals, including one to tie the game and force overtime.

“He’s been incredible since the day we recruited him,” said Mettlach. “Being in the situation we were in, needing to have a kicker come in and be the guy right away, not a usual situation for us, but that’s the spot we were in, he accepted the role. (He) was excited about the role right from the start. Got up here in July and was working out with our guys like he was a vet. So, he’s handled it well the entire time.

“He’s got a huge leg. Our guy saw that right from Day One.”

His confidence in his own abilities made it easier for the rest of the Huskies to get excited about him as well.

“The team was behind him and excited about him right from the start, whether it be the field goal in the third quarter, or the one that put us in the OT,” Mettlach said. “The way he handled it, the maturity that he went about it with, our guys can’t help but have confidence in him, and same thing with our staff. We’re lucky to have him, and excited about what his future is going to be here.”

Two other players who made plays in big moments for the Huskies against the Beavers were junior receiver Ethan Champney, who scored a touchdown, and senior receiver Brandon Michalak.

Champney turned a short throw into a 27-yard touchdown to open the game’s scoring with 8:25 remaining in the first quarter, and Michalak made a huge catch for an 11-yard gain in overtime to set up a field goal attempt.

Senior quarterback Alex Fries threw for 261 yards in the game thanks to the play of the receivers, according to Mettlach.

“I felt like Ethan did play well,” he said. “I wish we could have given him more chances. We were not able to stretch the field vertically at all with some protection issues and so on.

“We have to find a way to get Michi (Michalak) involved. He made two huge catches down the stretch, one to keep us on the field in the two-minute, and then the other one to get us into the field goal range to tie it.”

Mettlach feels that the Huskies’ receiver corps is as deep as it has been in several seasons, and it will only get better as they find the running game.

As far as what needs work, Mettlach feels that penalties proved costly at key moments. Along with shoring those up, improving running will make the Huskies formidable.

“We had way too many penalties that put us behind the sticks,” he said. “So, in order for those guys (the receivers) to be able to push it downfield, and stretch the field from that standpoint, you have to be able to run it. You have to be able to get to your play-action game and so on and so forth.

“We will get that fixed up and count on those guys being difference makers for the whole fall.”

SCOUTING THE HARDROCKERS

The Hardrockers make the trek to Houghton in a similar position to the Huskies in that they are 0-1 after a loss to Colorado State-Pueblo last Thursday, 35-6.

Senior quarterback Jake Martinelli leads the Hardrockers offense after being a backup the last three seasons. He threw for 164 yards last week against the Thunderwolves.

Senior Max Hoatson was Martinelli’s favorite target. The receiver caught 42 passes last season for 486 yards and five touchdowns.

Like the Huskies, the Hardrockers struggled to get their running game established against the Thunderwolves. Junior running back Ty Harris looks to lead the group after rushing 67 times last season for 361 yards.

GAME TIME

The Huskies and Hardrockers will meet at Kearly Stadium in Houghton Thursday night, with opening kickoff set for 6 p.m.