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Ashland Football
Weekly Report |
Game 3 – Ashland
(1-1/0-1 GLIAC) at Gannon (1-1/1-1) Weekly Opponents Stats Comparison (PDF) For years, Ed McBain has written the 87th Precinct novels. Readers are comfortable with the same cast of characters in a familiar setting. Same thing goes for John Sandford and his Lucas Davenport/Prey series. The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference prefers to stir the pot – and the plot. This week the conference introduces a new protagonist to AU fans – the Gannon Golden Knights. This is Gannon’s first year playing GLIAC football. These two teams could develop an interesting rivalry, they are just three hours apart and because of geography, they could find themselves recruiting against each other on a regular basis in northeastern Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania. Both teams enter this game trying to rebound from losses at home. Last Saturday night, the Eagles lost their GLIAC opener to Ferris State at Community Stadium, while Gannon fell at home to defending NCAA Division II national champion Grand Valley State. Sights and Sounds of the Game Ashland Times-Gazette sports editor Dusty Sloan will make the trip to Erie, PA, to cover this week’s game. His story will appear in Monday’s paper. The Mansfield News-Journal will have a game account in the Sunday’s edition. For a complete look at AU football, fans are invited to tune in to the Lee Owens Show. That one-hour program airs every Wednesday at 7 p.m., on WMFD-TV in Mansfield, OH. Jeff Allen serves as the host of the Lee Owens Show. Streaks and Strings Senior running back Antwan Hart (Detroit, MI/Erie C.C.) has rushed for over 100 yards in each of AU’s first two games. Hart rambled for a career-best 159 yards on 22 carries with two touchdowns last week. In the opener at home against Saint Joseph’s, he had 101 yards on 13 carries. Hart is the GLIAC leader in rushing with 260 yards (130.0 ypg.). The Eagles haven’t won two of their first three games since the 2001 season when AU began the year with a win against Edinboro, a loss to Wayne State and a victory over Findlay. This is the second of two consecutive road games for AU. A year ago, Ashland was 1-4 on the road. Over the last two seasons, the Eagles are 2-8 away from their home turf. The Series Series Quiz (Answers at bottom of page, click here if you want them now!)
Eagle Update The game was tied at halftime, 7-7. AU was in front, 10-7 after three quarters, but FSU scored 10 fourth-quarter points to force the extra session. The Bulldogs also scored on their overtime possession and even though they missed the extra point, the Eagles couldn’t get into the end zone on their possession. AU’s last play resulted in an interception in the end zone. That gave FSU its third straight win over the Eagles and dropped the Eagles’ all-time overtime record to 1-3. Ashland’s first two drives of the game went into FSU territory, the first to the FSU34, the second to the FSU10. That first march ended with an interception and the second trip concluded with a missed three-pointer. Had the Eagles been able to hit paydirt after those drives, maybe an overtime period wouldn’t have been needed. The AU offense was fueled by Hart’s 159 yards. Sophomore quarterback Nick Strance (Willard, OH) clicked on 19 of 38 passes for 203 yards. Hull and sophomore wide receiver Brandon Gilmore (Mansfield, OH/Madison) had four catches each. Junior wide receiver Dalorean White (Warrensville Heights, OH/Erie C.C.) carried the ball three times for 49 yards and returned two kickoffs for 57 yards. Three AU players reached twin digits in tackles. Freshman defensive back Ronnie Smith (Columbus, OH/DeSales) was in on 11 stops, all solo. He also had three pass breakups. Senior safety Aaron O’Reilly (Columbus, OH/DeSales) had 10 tackles (nine solo) and a pass breakup. Sophomore linebacker Allen Lattimore (Dayton, OH/Colonel White) had 10 tackles (nine solo), three tackles for loss and a pair of sacks. Senior linebacker Chris Campbell (Newark, OH) had two interceptions. He returned one theft 59 yards. Noteworthy
The Quotebook Owens on last week’s game. “We played hard as a team, played with a lot of heart. We just didn’t play very smart at times. We probably didn’t coach real smart. Sometimes I think we tried to get too much done. Again, we played well enough to win. “They (Ferris State) did a great job of taking our defensive line and linebackers out of the game. We were dominating up front early in the game. They couldn’t run the ball against us, but they attacked us where we were weak. I give Ferris State a lot of credit, they were a well-coached football team. Their game plan was solid. They did what they had to do to move the ball against our defense.” Campbell on his first two interceptions. “I just tried to get my hands up, tuck it and run. I just try to do what I can.” Campbell on bouncing back to play Gannon. “There’s no carryover. Next week we can go to Gannon and start all over. We can win.” Wide receivers coach Greg Gillum on the play of Gilmore. “I’m very pleased with the way he’s playing, he’s our leading receiver and making catches at crucial times. The thing I need to see with Brandon is more consistency, that’s what he needs to work on. He’s really come a long way with his blocking. He worked hard this summer in the weightroom and that’s evident on the football field. This past week, for the first time, I saw him knocking down corners and safeties.” Owens on Gannon and quarterback Darmel Whitfield. “He is a threat to run. They spread you out and he’ll run counters, traps and draws. Their passing game is very quick, it’s hard to pressure him. They’ll run quick routes against our young defenders and we have to find some answers for it.” On Deck |
Series Quiz Answers
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