Box score

INDIANAPOLIS-  The Greyhound defense forced five turnovers en route to a 38-20 win over Michigan Tech at Key Stadium Saturday night.  Despite holding the statistical advantage in nearly every category, the Huskies gave up the big play multiple times to an opportunistic Greyhound squad that earned its second straight win.

The UIndy defense was the story, nabbing three interceptions and two fumbles for a +4 turnover margin for the Hounds.  #J.T. Owens# snagged a pair of picks, one for a score, and Alex Byrnes nearly had a pick six himself, being tackled at the 2-yardline in the first half after a 51-yard runback.

It would be the defense that would set-up the first score with the Hounds stuffing a fourth and one attempt to give the ball back to the offense.  From there, UIndy (3-5, 2-5 GLIAC) engineered its first scoring drive, one of five that took five plays or less for an efficient Greyhound offense.

Joe Leach grabbed the first score, hauling-in a 26-yard strike from Rob Doyle for a 7-0 lead.  MTU (1-6, 1-6 GLIAC) answered, but Collin Coffer blocked the extra point to keep the Hounds on top. 

On the next MTU possession, Josh Martin stripped quarterback Brent Heim and Randall Courtney pounced on it deep in Huskie territory.  One play later, Halston Love marched unscathed off tackle from 11 yards out and a 14-6 score.

Byrnes got in on the action on the ensuing drive, picking-off a Heim pass at midfield and cruising down the near sideline all the way to the 2-yardline.  Paul Corsaro executed the jump pass with Dustin Burford, his first of two receiving scores on the night.  His second came just before the end of the half, rumbling 12 yards and diving into the endzone as UIndy enjoyed a 28-6 margin at the break. 

Owens made his mark on the next two MTU possessions.  He picked-off a pass deep in Huskie territory and returned it to midfield.  While the offense was forced to punt, Owens put an exclamation point on his night when he snagged another interception and returned it 42 yards to the house as UIndy stretched its lead to 35-6. 

The defense continued to pour it on, forcing a fumble on the first play, and Indianapolis tacked-on three more when Jace Morrison connected from 33 yards out and the rout was on.  Trailing by that same score in the fourth quarter, MTU managed to piece together a pair of scoring drives to post a 38-20 final score.

Michigan Tech outgained UIndy 265-231 and converted 10-of-18 third downs.  But, the Huskies were unsuccessful on all three fourth-down tries and put the UIndy offense in prime position on too many occasions.

Mike Dum gathered 14 total tackles and Max Davis had nine for a hungry Indianapolis defense.  Courtney had 2.0 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a recovery and Owens had 79 yards on two INT returns to go along with a sack and four total tackles.  Doyle finished the night 12 of 23 for 182 yards and a pair of scores.

UIndy returns to Key Stadium for the final time this season next Saturday for its homecoming tilt against Tiffin.  Kickoff starts at 6:00 p.m.