Huskies top Wildcats in another Miners Cup classic

MARQUETTE — In sports, there is the joy of victory and there is the agony of defeat. For the past two seasons, the Northern Michigan football team has lost the Miners Cup game to Michigan Tech on the final play of the game. And this past weekend, it happened again.

The Wildcats fell in double overtime to the Huskies, 51–45. NMU had a 12 point lead at halftime, but several miscues allowed MTU to get back in the game and eventually get the win. Afterwards, the team talked about how to put this loss in the rearview as they look ahead to the final week of the regular season.

“We’re not going to blame anybody. It’s going to be a situation where if anyone is going to get blamed, it’s going to be me. I know there’s going to be some people out there talking about all the things they would’ve done differently. It’s so easy after the fact. Our football team, my football team, that football team downstairs played their heart out today and did enough to win, and somehow it just didn’t go our way again. I’m heartbroken, no one is happy, but we’ll regroup tomorrow and play Week 11,” head coach Chris Ostrowsky said.

“I think there’s a lot of guys on this team that have the mentality that they’re not just going to give up because there’s nothing really to play for. There is something to play for and that’s to win. It’s not like this is just a throw–away game. It’s not. It’s a football game and we’re going to come to win. Same mentality as always,” said quarterback Shaye Brown.

Running back Jake Mayon racked up a career–high 240 yards rushing that put him over 1000 on the season, the first for NMU since 2007. The Wildcats battle at Tiffin in the season finale.

As for the Huskies, they talked about another thrilling win, starting with the hero of the game.

“It opened up right outside and my wide receiver made a great block and I just gave it everything I could to get into the endzone. I love this rivalry. It’s so much fun. You know coming in that they’re going to play their heart out and you know that it’s always going to come down to giving it that little bit of extra effort, and it was awesome that we were able to do that today,” running back John Williams said.

“Words really can’t describe it. Northern is such a talented team and every year we play them so hard. They always bring it every single year. It doesn’t matter if we’re here or there. It’s just the nature of the rivalry that always brings out their best and our best. Hats off to them. It was another close game and we were just overjoyed that we were able to come out with the victory,” said quarterback Brandon Cowie.

“This is seven years. We’ve two or three classes now that came in at Michigan Tech and went through their five years of playing and have won this football game every year. That’s something that might not mean a lot to a lot of people, but that cup in our trophy case right now is priceless,” head coach Tom Kearly said.

The Huskies close out the season at home this Saturday as they face Findlay on Senior Day.