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Eagles Hold Off ‘Hurst
for Second Straight Football Win |
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Ashland University senior tailback J.R. McCoy has carried the ball more than any player in AU history – 846 times. He’d be the first to tell you – a football isn’t really too heavy to lug around. Carrying a football team around on your shoulders, now that’s a different story. Saturday (Oct. 12) at Community Stadium, McCoy scored on an 8-yard run with 1:01 left in the fourth quarter to cap a 10-point fourth quarter and send Ashland (2-5/2-4 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) past Mercyhurst (2-4/1-4), 27-20. The win was AU’s second straight and came in front of a Homecoming crowd of 2,750. McCoy finished with 98 yards on 32 carries with two touchdowns. He came into the game needing 14 rushing attempts to break a record for rushing attempts that stood since 1984. The old record was owned by Antoine Gaiter, who had 827 attempts (1981-84). Those who watched McCoy as a freshman had no idea this day would come. He shared the starting tailback spot with Paul Bockmore and ran so timidly inside the 20 that he was often pulled in short-yardage situations. McCoy never scored a touchdown as a freshman and many thought AU would spend that offseason journeying around Ohio looking for running backs. Backs came and went, but McCoy got bigger and stronger and as the carries records shows, he rarely comes off the field these days. There are four games left in this season, plenty of time for McCoy to set the AU career rushing record (Keith Weaver, 3,943 yards). McCoy has 3,729 yards, he needs 215 yards to set the record. “A lot of people, at first sight, would never guess that,” said McCoy of the carries record. “I get that a lot. It (the record) is an honor. I’m thankful the Good Lord has kept me healthy.” McCoy’s winning TD run was set up by an interception. AU free safety Toby Stepsis intercepted a Jim Schuler pass at the MC42 and brought the ball back to the MC22. Stepsis had a monster game. He tied teammate Geoff Henry for the game high with 10 tackles (six solo). In addition to his interception, he knocked down a pair of passes. His last pass deflection came on the final play of the game during a mad scramble in the end zone. Schuler lofted the ball from the Ashland 35 to the end zone where Stepsis and a crowd of three MC receivers and two more AU defenders went up for the ball. “They were trying to stretch us all day,” said Stepsis of the play that resulted in his interception. “We noticed a tendency, he threw left, our right.” Schuler finished 22-38 for 262 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Eagles sacked him five times and had three interceptions. Schuler’s favorite target, tight end Jeff Thiel, caught eight passes for 121 yards and a touchdown. “He’s a tough quarterback,” praised Stepsis. “He has some good feet, he hurt us. He’s going to be a good one.” The ‘Hurst scored first, Vinny Repucci drilling a 27-yard field goal with 8:23 left in the first quarter. McCoy’s first touchdown run, a 7-yard scamper with 7:26 left in the first quarter, put Ashland in front, 7-3. Repucci’s second field goal of the game, with 1:15 remaining in the first frame, cut the AU lead to 7-6. The Lakers took the lead, 13-7 when Schuler found Thiel with a 34-yard scoring pass with 3:54 to go before halftime. That score capped a 9-play, 80-yard march. Ashland regained the lead with 2:36 to go in the half when sophomore quarterback John Szabo connected with senior wide receiver Kevin McMahon on a 65-yard scoring pass down the left sideline. The Lakers quickly answered, Schuler finding Brad Thompson with a 20-yard TD pass with 19 seconds remaining in the half. That gave the ‘Hurst a 20-14 advantage. “We didn’t execute well in the first half,” said AU head coach Gary Keller. “We weren’t sharp. We flushed their quarterback out and then we didn’t get the sack. We didn’t change anything at halftime, we just played better in the second half. We had the opportunity to make plays and we made plays.” All five AU sacks and two of the three interceptions came in the second half. Much of the pressure came up the middle. Both of AU’s nose tackles – sophomore Phil Gallo and senior Kevin Lacey - had two sacks. The other takedown went to redshirt freshman defensive end Thad Schlichter. In addition to Stepsis, junior defensive back Michael Westbrooks and freshman linebacker Brady Miller had interceptions. Redshirt freshman kicker Austin Wellock, who had six field goals a week ago, got the comeback started when he hit a field goal from 36 yards out with 1:37 to play in the third quarter. He connected again, from 26 yards, with 6:48 to go in regulation. That last three-pointer tied the game at 20 and set the stage for McCoy’s winning score. “This was a must win,” said McCoy. “The morale of our team was really down for the first five games. The guys have stepped up.” As has been the case for much of the last two seasons, many of the Eagles are following in McCoy’s footsteps now. “It’s been frustrating at times,” said McCoy of the first seven games. “But it’s all coming together. Everything will be great from now on. I feel it.” Notes From the Nest: Both teams struggled with the punting game. Mercyhurst had a punt blocked and averaged 27.0 ypp., on four kicks. Ashland punted four times and averaged 32.3 ypp. The Eagles also dropped a perfect center snap that resulted in a 13-yard loss…sophomore wide receiver Michael Hull, who’s listed among the GLIAC leaders in receptions per game, had six catches for 48 yards. Szabo finished 18-25 for 232 yards. He was sacked five times….Mercyhurst has never won at Community Stadium (0-3)…Ashland plays at Northern Michigan next Saturday. That game kicks off at 1 p.m. |