Upper Iowa University Athletics

HOUGHTON, Mich. - No. 25 Michigan Tech (3-1) blocked a Peacock extra point and scored a fourth-and-goal touchdown from the one-yard line in overtime to defeat UIU (1-2), 33-32. Saturday's sloppy battle between the Peacocks and the Huskies featured four blocked kicks and seven total turnovers.

Trailing 23-20 in the fourth quarter, the Peacocks drove 75 yards down the field and ate up six minutes of game time to take a 26-23 lead with a four-yard rushing touchdown by Ronald Wilson Jr. The extra point was blocked, putting the Peacocks up by three with 3:24 left.

After a return out to the 34-yard line, Michigan Tech drove the ball down the field with a nine-play, 43-yard drive highlighted by a 23-yard run and an 11-yard run by Jake Rueff. A 50-yard field goal by Avery Kucharski tied the game with 50 seconds left. 

On the next drive, the Peacock offense got moving with a 16-yard rush by quarterback Zamar Wise. A 25-yard completion to tight end Logan Rosauer helped set up a 51-yard field goal with two seconds left. Nathan Behne's kick was blocked once again, sending the game into overtime. 

On the first possession of the extra period, Damon Head Jr. found the end zone with a three-yard rushing touchdown. UIU's extra point was blocked once again, keeping the advantage at six points. 

Rueff ran for 20 yards on the first play for the Michigan Tech offense in overtime. Khamryn Beaver tackled MTU's Alex Bueno in the backfield for a five-yard loss on the next play. A short pass on third and goal got the Huskies to the one-yard line, and a Bueno tush push into the end zone tied the game at 32-32. Kucharski's extra point went through the uprights to win the game.

This was the first overtime game for the Peacocks since 2024, which was a win against William Jewell (Mo.). UIU's last overtime loss was in 2023 to McKendree (Ill.). Both games were in Harms-Eischeid Stadium.

Michigan Tech fumbled on the first possession of the game, and the Peacocks capitalized with Wise finding the end zone from a yard out to take an early 7-0 lead. It didn't last long, as MTU quarterback Elliott Larner ran 75 yards on their next offensive play for the game-tying touchdown.

Behne knocked in his first field goal with a 27-yarder after an 11-play, 64-yard drive to take a 10-7 lead. Another Husky fumble gave the Peacocks the ball in enemy territory. Behne split the uprights from 40 yards out for the 13-7 lead after the opening quarter. 

Midway through the second quarter, safety Jalen Hodo intercepted Larner in the Peacock red zone. On the next drive, Wise was picked off by defensive lineman Darius Jones Jr., who ran the ball back 35 yards for the touchdown and the 14-13 lead.

The Peacocks struck just before the end of the half. After an 18-yard completion and an 11-yard completion to Head Jr., Wise found LJ Nyenow Jr. from 34 yards out in the end zone for the score. This was the freshman's second touchdown of the season and gave UIU a 20-14 lead at halftime. 

A high snap on a punt gave Michigan Tech the ball at the Peacock three-yard line early in the third quarter. The Peacock defense pushed the Huskies back 21 yards to force a field goal, aided by a sack by defensive end Daniel Robinson. Kucharski split the uprights from 41 yards out, cutting the lead to 20-17. 

On UIU's first drive of the fourth quarter, Michigan Tech's Jaiden Bolden recorded the second Husky interception of the day. A facemask and an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty gave the Michigan Tech 30 extra yards to the UIU 15-yard line. Three plays later, Larner found paydirt to give the Huskies a 23-20 lead after a missed extra point. 

Wise led the Peacocks in rushing with 24 carries for a season-high 147 yards. This is the third straight game the quarterback has led UIU in rushing. He had one touchdown on the ground and a long of 29 yards while averaging 6.1 yards per carry. The senior quarterback was 16-of-27 through the air with a season-high 187 passing yards and a touchdown as well.

Head Jr. ran for 34 yards and a touchdown, while Wilson Jr. had 30 yards and a touchdown. Wilson Jr. added 45 yards receiving, and Head Jr. had 35 receiving yards. Rosauer led the Peacocks with five catches for 56 yards. Nyenow Jr. totaled two catches for 46 yards and a score.

On defense, Braylon Kammrad was UIU's leader with 10 tackles, including eight solo. That marks the most tackles by a Peacock in a single game this season. Demontay Mack added seven tackles (four solo) with a tackle-for-loss. Nevan Foss totaled five tackles and two pass breakups.

Larner led Michigan Tech with 131 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. He was 6-of-14 in the passing game with 23 yards. Rueff totaled 15 carries for 101 yards rushing. Chase Koch recorded 14 tackles (five solo), while Zachary Jackson had 12 tackles (6 solo) and a sack for the MTU defense.

The Peacocks outgained the Huskies, 391-275. Michigan Tech held a 237-204 advantage on the ground while the Peacocks had a 187-38 advantage through the air. This is the second straight season that UIU has held Michigan Tech to under 100 passing yards, as the Huskies only had 89 in 2025's contest. 

Upper Iowa totaled 27 first downs to Michigan Tech's 15. UIU held the ball for 34:45 compared to 23:28 for MTU. The Huskies were 1-for-10 on third downs while the Peacocks were 5-of-14. MTU had 11 penalties for 103 yards, while the Peacocks had five for 60 yards. MTU had four turnovers, and UIU had three.

GLVC play starts next week for the Peacocks as they hit the road one last time in September against the Lincoln (Mo.) Blue Tigers (1-2, 0-1 GLVC). Lincoln fell to Quincy (Ill.) (1-2, 1-0 GLVC) on Saturday, 34-27. Kickoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. in Jefferson City, Missouri.