Tech football rides big second half to victory
Courtesy of MTU Athletics
CANTON, Ohio — Running back Charlie Leffingwell rushed for 65 yards and a touchdown and also caught a touchdown pass to help Michigan Tech defeat GLIAC newcomer Walsh 30-7 today at Fawcett Stadium. The Huskies, who outgained the Cavaliers 313-133 in total yardage, improved to 2-0 on the 2012 football season with the win.
The game was closer than the final score indicated—-at least through halftime. Tech held just a three-point margin at the break at 10-7. Garrett Mead opened scoring with a 21-yard field goal with 4:50 remaining in the first quarter. Bryan LaChapelle made it 10-0 when he caught his second touchdown pass of the season at the 12:09 mark of the second quarter.
Walsh (1-2 overall, 0-2 GLIAC) found the endzone for the only time of the day midway through the second quarter to pull within three.
After the Huskies’ opening drive stalled to start the second half, safety Emmett Bjorn turned the momentum of the game with an interception and 36-yard return to the Walsh 20. Just two plays later, Leffingwell rushed six yards for his first TD of the day.
Quarterback Tyler Scarlett capped a 61-yard drive later in the quarter to push Tech’s advantage to 24-7. The sophomore found Leffingwell standing wide open in the near left corner of the endzone for his second touchdown pass of the game.
The Black and Gold wrapped up scoring with Akeem Cason’s four-yard run in the fourth quarter. The Huskies had been set up with a short field by a DeShawn Nelson interception—Tech’s second takeaway of the day.
Just one week after Tech’s defense limited Tiffin to seven yards rushing, Walsh totaled just 56 on the ground. Bjorn and defensive lineman David Russek shared the team lead in tackles with six apiece.
Scarlett finished 15-for-25 passing for 131 yards and two touchdowns. LaChapelle was his top target, catching six balls for 73 yards and a score.
Running backs Leffingwell (65 yards), Cason (57 yards) and Cedrick Barber (50) combined for 172 of Tech’s 195 rushing yards on the day.
Michigan Tech will be back at home for its next two games. The Huskies host Findlay Saturday (Sept. 22) at Sherman Field at 1 p.m.