Dante Basanese, a Michigan Tech senior defensive back from Iron Mountain, earned All-GLIAC honorable mention honors in 2024. He’s one of four team captains this season. (Michigan Tech photo)

The Michigan Tech football team will meet Northern Michigan in the Superior Dome in Marquette for the 23rd installment of the Miner’s Cup on Saturday at noon Eastern time.

Starting in 1920, the two U.P. rivals have faced each other 97 times. Michigan Tech holds the series lead, 51-41-5, with the Huskies currently holding the second-longest win streak in series history, at 14 consecutive wins. The Wildcats’ last win came in 2009.

Northern Michigan enjoyed its first win since Nov. 12, 2022, over the weekend with a 42-21 pummeling of second-year GLIAC affiliate Roosevelt. The Wildcats set the single-game rushing record in the win with the duo of Noah Dobert and Jahi Wood combining for 476 total rushing yards on 68 carries.

The Wildcats are 1-6 on the season and 1-3 in the GLIAC.

Michigan Tech enters rivalry week 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the GLIAC after falling to No. 1 nationally-ranked Ferris State 38-10 on Saturday at Kearly Stadium in Houghton.

The Huskies’ receiving core is led by Kingsford’s Nic Nora with 411 yards and five touchdowns. Nora is a redshirt sophomore.

On defense, Iron Mountain’s Dante Basanese, a senior captain, has two interceptions on the season to go with 37 total tackles, four pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

The Tech roster also includes sophomore defensive back Ian Popp of Norway, sophomore receiver Matthew Colavecchi of Iron Mountain, sophomore defensive lineman Noah Johnson of Kingsford, sophomore offensive lineman Max Nason of LaBranche, redshirt sophomore receiver Luke Gorzinski and freshman linebacker Lane Gorzinski, both of Powers, freshman receiver Dylan Plunger of Hermansville and freshman offensive lineman Kevin Giuliani of Crystal Falls.

Saturday’s game will be broadcast on TV6.