The Eagles Online

2002 Ashland University Football: The Ferris State Game
November 4, 2002

Ashland (2-8/2-7) at Ferris State (4-4/3-4)
Saturday, Nov. 9, 1:30 p.m.
Top Taggart Field

Scouting Ferris State

The Bulldogs can create havoc on both sides of the ball. FSU had won three straight games before losing at Findlay last week, 28-21 and it can be argued that the ‘Dogs should have won that contest. FSU outgained the Oilers, 507-361. Sophomore quarterback Tom Marsan compiled a career-high 396 yards passing, completing 19 of 39 passes with two touchdowns. The 6-3, 173-pound Marsan is the GLIAC leader in passing yards per game (256.4) and total offense (261.6 ypg.). He’s eighth in pass efficiency (104.7 rating). Marsan has completed 165 of 320 passes (51.6 percent) for 2,051 yards with nine touchdowns and 16 interceptions.

Derek Fudge, a 5-9, 175-pound junior, leads the ground game. He’s sixth in the league in rushing with 721 yards (3.9 ypc., 90.1 ypg.). FSU is third in the league in pass offense (260.8 ypg.).

The Bulldog defense has given a good account of itself in 2002. FSU is third in the GLIAC in scoring defense (21.6 ppg.), first in pass defense (165.1 ypg.), fifth in rush defense (164.5 ypg.) and fifth in total defense (329.6 ypg.). The Bulldogs are also fifth in the conference in sacks (18-135 yards). This team features three of the top four tacklers in the GLIAC.

Junior Luke Piepkow, a 6-3, 226-pound middle linebacker, is second in stops (90 total/37 solo, 11.2 tackles per game). The league’s third-leading tackler is 5-11, 199-pound sophomore Kevin Myers (86/42, 10.8) and 6-2, 228-pound sophomore linebacker Rob Mida (83/39, 10.4) is fourth. Jason Feasel, a 6-4, 268-pound senior defensive tackle, is tied for first in the league in sacks (7.5). Bo Moore, a 6-2, 245-pound senior defensive end, is sixth in sacks (6.0). DeRen Ellis, a 6-0, 170-pound senior cornerback, has three interceptions.

This Week’s Storyline
For most students at Ashland University, finals are still over a month away. For the football players at AU, finals of a different kind will take place this Saturday in Big Rapids, MI.

This is the last football game of the season for the Eagles, which means this is the last time the seniors on this year’s team will take the field. That’s not the only reason that this week’s Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game between the Eagles and Bulldogs should have plenty of emotion. Ferris State shouldn’t be lacking in feeling, either. The ‘Dogs have won three of their last four games and this is their final home game.

Eyes and Ears
All Ashland University football games can be heard live on WNCO (1340 AM). This is the 10th consecutive year WNCO has carried the games. The broadcast team is comprised of play-by-play man Sam Renfroe and color commentator Bill Linson. This is Renfroe’s seventh season doing the games and this is Linson’s second season behind the microphone.

The Ashland Times-Gazette covers all home games and selected road games. The AU-Ferris State game story will appear in Monday’s paper. The Mansfield News Journal staffs all AU home games and provides recaps on all road games. The News Journal will have a game story in the Sunday edition.

Who’s the Boss?
Ashland’s head coach is Gary Keller. Keller is in his ninth season as AU’s head coach and brings a 49-45-0 record into this week’s game. This is Keller’s 20th season with the Eagles, prior to being named the head coach he was an assistant coach under Dr. Fred Martinelli. Keller was the defensive coordinator for nine years before being elevated to the top spot and as the “D” coordinator, he directed defenses that led the country in total defense twice and was the national leader in rush defense twice. As the head coach, he guided the Eagles to a Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference championship and a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs in 1997. He was the conference coach of the year in 1997. Keller is a 1973 Bluffton (OH) graduate.

The head coach of the Bulldogs is Jeff Pierce. He’s in his eighth year as the FSU head coach and brings a 53-33 record into Saturday’s game. Pierce was an assistant coach at FSU for 12 years before being elevated to the top spot in 1995. Under his guidance, the Bulldogs have won or shared three GLIAC championships and in 1995 and 1996, made trips to the NCAA Division II playoffs. The 1995 team advanced to the national semifinals. The Ferris State boss was the GLIAC coach of the year in 1995. He’s second in career victories at FSU, trailing only his former boss, Keith Otterbein.

Pierce was the Ferris State defensive coordinator before becoming the head coach and in that role, he directed some of the best defenses in the country. His 1992 team led the country in fewest points allowed.

Pierce is a 1979 Ferris State graduate. He played defensive back for the Bulldogs from 1974-77.

Ashland-Ferris State
AU holds a 10-4 lead in the all-time series and has won three consecutive games against the Bulldogs. This is the first time the teams have met since 1999 when the Eagles won at Top Taggart Field, 26-22. FSU went into that game in first place in the GLIAC. Ashland dominated play early and carried a 23-7 lead into the fourth quarter. The Bulldogs cut that spread to 26-20 late in the fourth quarter and had the ball at the AU4 when Ashland defensive back Scott Parks picked off a Matt McCarthy pass in the end zone. AU sacked McCarthy once and intercepted him three times. Linebacker Bobby Mercer scooped up a fumble and returned it 68 yards for a touchdown. FSU came into the game leading the league in scoring (50.0 ppg.) and total offense (559.3 ypg.).

In 1998, AU won a wild contest at Community Stadium, 59-37. AU’s point total was just two off the school record (61 vs. Defiance in 1922). AU had 603 yards in total offense, 304 yards on the ground.

In 1997, the teams opened the season in Big Rapids and the Eagles won, 26-7. That win helped send the Eagles on their way to a conference title and a spot in the NCAA playoffs.

The last Ferris State win in the series came in 1996, 26-0 in Ashland.

Another Look at Last Week
For one afternoon, Indianapolis quarterback Matt Kohn looked like a cross between Michael Vick and Fran Tarkenton. Kohn completed 18 of 21 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown and ran for 37 yards and a touchdown on nine carries as Indianapolis stopped the Eagles, 35-14 last Saturday (Nov. 2) at Key Stadium in Indianapolis.

The Eagles got off to a promising start, taking the opening kickoff and moving 67 yards in three plays for a 7-0 lead. The TD came on a 41-yard pass, sophomore quarterback John Szabo (Dayton, OH/Julienne-Chaminade) finding sophomore wideout Michael Hull (Cincinnati, OH/Sycamore) across the middle. But Indy came back to score on its first possession and added another touchdown before the end of the quarter. That came with 8:15 left in the opening stanza, Kohn finding Travis Zike with a 5-yard touchdown pass. All told, Indy scored 28 unanswered points before the Eagles got back on the scoreboard.

The Eagles hurt themselves with six turnovers – three lost fumbles and three interceptions. Once the ‘Hounds had the lead, they worked the clock perfectly. In time of possession, Indy led, 34:09-25:51. UI running back Donnie McCoy had only 22 yards on six carries, but he scored three times. His TD runs covered 10, 4 and 5 yards.

Ashland led in total yardage, 324-307. However, AU had just 46 yards rushing and that’s a major problem for a team that lives by its running game.

Cutting Records
The AU record book has been under heavy revision this season. Here’s an update on everything that’s been happening – and could happen this week at Ferris State.

  • Michael Hull (Cincinnati, OH/Sycamore) – The sophomore now owns AU single-game and single-season records for receptions. Last week Hull had eight receptions for 111 yards and a touchdown. He has 68 receptions and that’s an AU single-season mark, breaking the record of 60 set by Bob Rosati in 1972. Hull is second in the GLIAC in receptions per game (6.80) and third in receiving yards per game (785, 78.5).
  • J.R. McCoy (Unionville Center, OH/Fairbanks) – A senior tailback, McCoy gained 49 yards on 18 carries last week. McCoy is in pursuit of the AU career rushing record. Keith Weaver owns the record with 3,943 yards. McCoy needs 76 yards to pass Weaver. McCoy has gained 762 yards this season and is eighth in the GLIAC in rushing. He has 3,868 yards in his career.
  • John Szabo (Dayton, OH/Julienne-Chaminade) – A sophomore quarterback, Szabo has set school single-season records for completions (188) and attempts (341).

    Szabo has thrown for 2,098 yards, the second highest total in school history. The record is 2,262 yards by Mark Molk in 1998. Szabo needs 165 yards to break that record.

    Szabo has completed 188 of 341 passes for 2,098 yards and 10 touchdowns. He’s been intercepted 12 times. Szabo is fifth in the GLIAC in passing yards per game (209.8), sixth in pass efficiency (109.5 rating) and seventh in total offense (190.0 ypg.).

  • Austin Wellock (North Canton, OH/Green) – A redshirt freshman kicker, Wellock is 15 of 17 on field goal tries. The school single-season mark for field goals is 16, set by Bryan Seward in 1990. Wellock has 61 points and the record for most points scored by an AU kicker in a season is 73, set by Matt Pifer in 2001. Wellock is third in the conference in kick scoring (61/6.1 ppg.) and first in field goals made (1.5 fpg.).

Eagle Elite

  • Brett Bartlow (West Chester, OH/Lakota East) – The junior defensive end is second on the team in sacks (6-25).
  • Geoff Henry (Medina, OH) – A senior linebacker, Henry is third on the team in tackles (58 total/25 solo).
  • Kevin Lacey (Greenwich, OH/South Central) – Lacey’s a senior nose tackle. He leads the team in sacks (7-36) and tackles for loss (10.5-51). He’s fifth in the GLIAC in both categories.
  • Brady Miller (Cincinnati, OH/Elder) – Miller, a freshman linebacker, is fourth on the team in tackles (56/36 solo). He’s tied for the team lead in interceptions (3).
  • Aaron O’Reilly (Columbus, OH/DeSales) – A junior strong safety, O’Reilly had a team-high 12 tackles (10 solo) last week. His day included two tackles for loss. O’Reilly is second on the team in tackles (77/50 solo).
  • Toby Stepsis (Shelby, OH) – A senior free safety, Stepsis leads AU in tackles (78/43) and interceptions (three).

Notes From the Nest

  • AU is third in the league in sacks (22-118).
  • Even counting last week’s loss, AU is 7-2 in November over the last four seasons.
  • This week marks the second time this season AU will play on artificial turf. The other time was at Northern Michigan. The last time AU played at FSU, Top Taggart had grass.
  • The first game Gary Keller coached as the head coach at AU was against Ferris State in 1994. FSU won that game at Community Stadium, 16-14.
  • AU ends the season this week, a week earlier than most Division II teams. That’s because the Michigan Tech-AU game, originally slated to be played next week, was moved to the beginning of the season.
  • McCoy caught a 17-yard TD pass from Szabo last week. That’s the first receiving TD of the tailback’s career.

The Quotebook

Keller on the play of Indy quarterback.

“We came at him with blitzes, four-man stuff and he ducked out of it. Really, the only time we caught him was when I grabbed him and shook his hand at the end of the game.”

Keller summarizing last week’s game.

“We failed to make plays. Turnovers killed us.”

On Deck
This is the final game of the regular season. AU opens the 2003 season on the road at Michigan Tech. The home opener will be against Edinboro, the lone non-conference game on the 2003 slate.