RAPID CITY, S.D. – The South Dakota Mines football team is coming off a week one loss and looking to get back on track with an opponent they don't typically face in Michigan Tech.
The Hardrockers meet up with the Huskies for an evening matchup on Thursday.
GAME INFORMATION
Michigan Tech:
Date/Time: Sept. 5 / 4:00 PM MT
Site: Houghton, Michigan
Stadium: Sherman Field
Series Overall: Never Met
Streak: Never Met
Series at Michigan Tech: Never Met
Streak at Michigan Tech: Never Met
Last Meeting: Never Met
Watch Live: GLIAC Network |
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GETTING HIS FEET WET
Jake Martinelli got his first start of his career last Thursday night at home against CSU Pueblo and seemed to get more comfortable as the game went on, finishing with 164 passing yards in his first start.
MAN IN THE MIDDLE
After nearing 100 tackles last season,
Hunter Newsom was a disruptor in week one, recording two tackles for a loss of 11 yards.
SPLENDID SCHWAB
Newsom's battery mate in the linebacking corps,
Jacob Schwab also had a big game, recording 1.5 tackles for loss, a sack, a fumble recovery and an interception.
TWO WAY TISCHLER
Kaleb Tischler is pulling double duty this year, starting at safety and punting. In week one, he checked both boxes, leading the team with eight tackles and recording 474 yards of punting, an average of 43.1 yards per punt, three 50-yard plus punts and a long of 72.
TERRIFIC TAYLOR
Connor Taylor started week one perfectly as he continues to move to the top of the record books at South Dakota Mines. Already having surpassed the career extra points record last season, he currently sits at 190 career points, just 32 away from Jamie Dale's 222. He went 2-2 to give him 25 field goals made for his career, eight short of the all-time record of 33.
ROAD WARRIORS
Throughout
Charlie Flohr's time at South Dakota Mines, the Hardrockers have been successful on the road, carrying an 11-7 record since 2020.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN TECH
Michigan Tech brings most of its starters back from last season's 2023 team that went 5-5, including quarterback, Alex Fries who ranked second in the GLIAC in passing yards and touchdowns while both of his top receiving options return in Darius Willis and Ethan Champney.
Don Hansen All-America Honorable Mention Punter Brenden Lach returns as well, and he is a weapon. In 2023, he averaged 44.6 yards per punt to come in fourth nationally.
Defensively, the Huskies bring back Marc Sippel, Hunter Buechel and Owen Watson who averaged 9.3, 7.6 and 6.5 tackles per game.
Defensive backs, Dante Basanese and Sam Ahern return, having each averaged three interceptions per game in 2023.
Michigan Tech was slated to finish fifth in the GLIAC Preseason Coaches' Poll and similarly to the Hardrockers, got their season underway last week.
Michigan Tech gave #25 and 2022 and 2023 playoff team Bemidji State a run for their money as they took an early 10-0 lead before pushing the Beavers to overtime, before ultimately falling, 19-13.
Fries, Willis and Champney impressed as Fried completed 28-43 for 261 passing yards and a touchdown with no turnovers, while Willis caught 10 passes for 113 yards and Champney scored while catching five passes for 74 yards.
On the defensive side, Sippel and Dante Basanese recorded 14 and 11 tackles, while Ahern recorded an interception.
Fans can find the latest on South Dakota Mines football all year long on X and Instagram (@hardrockerfb), while also following on Facebook at Hardrocker Football. The latest on South Dakota Mines athletics can be found by following us on X at @GoHardrockers, hardrockerathletics on Instagram and Hardrocker Athletics on Facebook.
About South Dakota Mines
The South Dakota School of Mines & Technology is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and NCAA Division II offering 13 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletic programs. The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 members, as well as four associate members, located in the states of California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Utah.
