September 20th, 2024 8:00pm
HOUGHTON, Mich. - The Upper Iowa football team (2-1) spoiled No. 24 Michigan Tech's (3-1) homecoming on Saturday afternoon, 21-14. The Peacocks overcame a 3-0 deficit in the turnover margin to get the victory over the Huskies.
The Peacock passing defense was stout, allowing only 89 yards. Upper Iowa tallied four pass breakups and two sacks while holding Michigan Tech to a season-low in both points and passing yards.
Upper Iowa got off to a rough start with a fumble by Eddie Burgess and an interception by Darryl Overstreet Jr. on the first two drives of the game. Michigan Tech quarterback Alex Bueno capitalized with the opening touchdown of the game, lowering his shoulder on a read option. The Huskies led 7-0 with 3:37 left in the opening quarter.
The Peacock offense responded with a 15-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. UIU converted three third downs and a fourth down on the drive, ending with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Overstreet Jr. to Mante Morrow on 3rd-and-9.
After an unsportsmanlike penalty halted the next MTU drive, the Peacocks went right down the field again on an eight-play, 70-yard drive. Overstreet Jr. found Burgess on a nine-yard play-action touchdown pass to take a 14-7 lead.
Upper Iowa tacked on one more touchdown as Overstreet Jr. went 6-of-8 on the final possession of the first half. The biggest play of the possession came on an 18-yard rush by the senior quarterback on 3rd-and-10. He later found Logan Rosauer for the tight end's first career touchdown on a one-yard pass. UIU did not punt in the opening 30 minutes and led 21-7 at halftime.
Michigan Tech used a 15-yard drive of its own to score a touchdown to open the second half. The Huskies were aided by a pair of UIU offside penalties on fourth and third downs. Bueno found Bryce Kurncz for the touchdown to end the 7:35 drive.
The Huskies had one more solid scoring opportunity early in the fourth quarter. Back-to-back 20+ yard plays by Michigan Tech got the Huskies on UIU's side of the field. Later in the drive on 4th-and-2 from the eight-yard line, Yashua Pettis Taylor made an impact play. He tackled Bueno for a one-yard loss to end the possession inside the Peacock 10-yard line.
The Peacock offense then killed 6:53 off the clock before giving the ball back to Michigan Tech one final time. An Evan Dorn sack on the opening play helped the UIU defense get the final three-and-out of the game. On the ensuing possession, an offsides penalty by the Huskies on 4th-and-2 allowed the Peacocks to kneel and seal the victory.
Overstreet Jr. finished the game 26-of-35 with 205 passing yards. He threw three touchdowns and one interception. This marks the senior's first career game with 25+ completions and the first for the program since Marcus Orr in 2023 vs. Michigan Tech.
Morrow led the team in receiving with 74 yards on six catches and a touchdown. Burgess finished with 46 yards on five catches and a touchdown. Angelo Butts added six catches for 40 yards.
On the ground, Damon Head Jr. had 18 carries for 71 yards. Overstreet Jr. was the team's second leading rusher with 41 yards on six carries. 39 of his rushing yards came in the first half.