Ashland Football Weekly Report
November 2, 2004

Game 11 – Ashland (5-5/4-5 GLIAC) at Indianapolis (3-7/2-7)
Saturday, November 6, 2004, 1 p.m.
Key Stadium, Indianapolis, IN

Weekly Opponents Stats Comparison (PDF)

The Ashland University Eagles are in Fourth and Done territory.

Not fourth down territory, although the Eagles have performed very well in that situation over the last three weeks. Ashland takes a three-game winning streak to Indianapolis. This is the final game of the season and the Eagles are trying to finish with a flurry, ending the year with a four-game winning streak. That would be the perfect way to end the season and head into offseason recruiting.

There have been numerous factors that have gone into AU’s late-season run, but success in the fourth quarter is one major key. Over the last three games, AU has outscored the opposition in the fourth quarter, 44-7. At Wayne State, the Eagles scored 21 points in the final 11:07. In last week’s 23-3 win over Findlay, AU put 16 points on the scoreboard in the final 15 minutes to break open a close game.

AU will need to keep that pattern intact this week. Indianapolis is playing its best football of the season and has an offense that doesn’t shirk away from coming from behind.

Sights and Sounds of the Game
All Ashland University football games can be heard live on WNCO (1340 AM). This is the 12th consecutive year the station has served as the home of AU football. Sam Renfroe and Bill Linson will be on hand to describe all the action.

Ashland Times-Gazette sports editor Dusty Sloan will cover Saturday’s game and his story will appear in Monday’s edition.

AU football fans who want another look at the Eagles 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 program.

Streaks and Strings
This is the first time AU has won three consecutive games since the 2001 season. The last time AU strung together four consecutive wins was in 1999 when after losing the opener at Hillsdale, the Eagles reeled off six straight wins. Ashland finished 7-3 that season. AU has four Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victories. The last time the Eagles won more GLIAC games in a season was in 2001 when they went 5-5.

Senior tailback Antwan Hart (Detroit, MI/Erie C.C.) has rushed for over 100 yards in six consecutive games. He’s reached the century mark in nine of 10 games this season. Hart, who has gained 1,266 yards, needs 150 yards to set the school single-season rushing record.

Junior linebacker Devin Conwell (Baltimore, MD/Montgomery C.C.) has reached twin digits in tackles in his last seven games. Conwell has 106 tackles, a year ago he was in on 121 stops. Conwell is the first AU player to tally 100 or more tackles in consecutive seasons since linebacker Brock Swonguer in 2000 and 2001.

Senior wide receiver Michael Hull (Cincinnati, OH/Sycamore) didn’t catch a pass last week and that’s news – Hull had registered at least one reception in 34 consecutive games prior to last week.

The Series
Indianapolis has won the last two meetings between the schools to cut the Ashland advantage in the series to 16-9. The teams played in Ashland last season and the Greyhounds won, 35-24. Indy wide receivers Travis Zike and Rob Mager both had seven receptions. Zike accounted for 122 yards with a touchdown and Mager had 80 yards receiving. Another wideout, Cesare Manning, averaged 21.0 ypc., catching four passes for 84 yards. He had TD catches of 11 and 54 yards. Kohn completed 21 of 36 passes for 319 yards. McCoy hurt the Eagles on the ground, gaining 106 yards on 31 carries. Indy outgained the Eagles, 463-266. AU senior Toure Carter returned a kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown. That’s the longest kickoff return in school history.

The teams played in Indianapolis in 2001 and 2002. In 2001, AU won at Key Stadium, 23-10. In 2002 the Greyhounds prevailed, 35-14. Indianapolis has won four of the last six times the teams have played. Ashland enjoyed an eight-game winning streak against the ‘Hounds from 1986-1993. That’s the longest winning streak in the series. The teams first played in 1954.

Series Quiz (Answers at bottom of page, click here if you want them now!)

1. The University of Indianapolis has made one postseason appearance. When did it occur and what was the result?
2. In the final game of the 1996 season at Indianapolis, the Greyhounds defeated the Eagles, 19-16 at Key Stadium. What is the special significance of that game?
3. In 1998 and 1999 the Indianapolis defense featured a pair of linebackers who were AFCA All-Americas. Name those linebackers.

Eagle Update
It was Senior Day last Saturday and AU sent its 13 seniors out with a bang in their final home game, beating intra-state rival Findlay, 23-3. Seniors played a major role in the triumph. Hart rushed for 158 yards on 34 carries and had fourth-quarter scoring runs of 3 and 17 yards. Senior kicker Austin Wellock (North Canton, OH/Green) scored the first touchdown of his career on a 5-yard run on a fake field goal. Wellock also had a PAT and a 44-yard field goal last week, accounting for 10 points.

Senior safety Aaron O’Reilly (Columbus, OH/DeSales) and senior linebacker Chris Campbell (Newark, OH) had interceptions last week and senior linebacker Brady Miller (Cincinnati, OH/Elder) had seven tackles (all solo) with two tackles for loss and a sack. Only Conwell with 10 tackles (nine solo) made more stops than Miller. Conwell’s line included a pair of tackles for loss, a sack and a pass breakup.

A wind that gusted to 20 miles per hour made it a challenging day to throw the football. AU sophomore quarterback Nick Strance (Willard, OH) completed five of 14 passes for 50 yards. The AU signal-caller didn’t have to worry about airing it out because the running game and the defense controlled the contest. Ashland forced three UF turnovers and collected four sacks. The Eagles outgained the Oilers, 246-174. Findlay was 3-for-13 on third down conversions. AU limited UF running back Michael Simpson to 92 yards on 28 trips (3.3 ypc.).

Wellock’s TD came on AU’s opening drive and capped a 13-play, 70-yard march. Ashland led 7-0 after two quarters and was in front, 7-3 entering the fourth frame. Hart’s first TD came on a 3-yard burst with 10:35 to go in regulation. The Detroit native scampered through the Oilers for a 17-yard TD run with 5:33 to play. Wellock’s three-pointer came with 32 seconds to play.

The Owens File
The Eagles are under the direction of Lee Owens, who is in his first season with the Eagles. Owens came to Ashland after nine seasons as the head coach at the University of Akron. As a head coach on the college and high school levels, Owens has a career mark of 134-98-2. At Akron, his teams were known for their ability to strike from anywhere on the field. In 2003, the Zips were sixth in the nation in pass offense, ninth in total offense and 11th in scoring. Akron went 7-5 last season.

Prior to coaching at Akron, Owens was an assistant coach at Ohio State (1992-95). He joined the Buckeyes after a successful career on the high school level. Owens’ record on the prep level is 89-32-2. In 1985 at Galion High School he won a state championship and was named the Ohio High School Coach of the Year. Owens also coached at legendary Massillon Washington High School (1988-92) where he was 35-13 in four seasons.

Owens is originally from nearby Mansfield, OH, and Madison High School. He earned his undergraduate degree from Bluffton College in 1977 and his master’s degree from Ashland in 1981.

Noteworthy

• Over the last five seasons, AU is 3-2 in season-ending games.
• Ashland has led in time of possession for four consecutive games and during that string, has never held the ball for less than 30:56 (at Northern Michigan). Last week, AU had the ball for 34:53. When AU last won in Indianapolis (23-10 in 2001) the Eagles led in time of possession, 38:39-21:21.
• Hart has rushed for over 150 yards four times this season and has gone past that plateau each of the last two games. The single-season rushing mark he has in his sights belongs to J.R. McCoy (1,415 yards in 2001. Hart’s 2004 total is already the second best in school history. The AU tailback is third in the GLIAC in rushing (126.6 ypg.) and fourth in all-purpose yardage (130.7 ypg.).
• Sophomore linebacker Allen Lattimore (Dayton, OH/Colonel White) is second in the league in tackles for loss (12-40) and tied for second in sacks (7-35). Conwell is third in tackles (11.8 tpg.) and tied for seventh in tackles for loss (12-40). Campbell sits alone at the top of the heap in fumble recoveries (3).
• Junior wide receiver Dalorean White (Warrensville Heights, OH/Erie C.C.) is second in the GLIAC in kickoff return average (19.5).

GLIAC Laurels

Hart is this week’s GLIAC offensive player of the week. This is the first time in the senior’s career that’s he captured the award. In his two-year AU career, Hart has played 21 games and has rushed for over 100 yards 12 times. The Detroit native has 1,972 yards in his career and that places him ninth on AU’s career rushing list.

Wellock received this week’s GLIAC special teams player of the week citation. This is the second time in his career he’s earned that piece of hardware – he also won the award after kicking six field goals at Wayne State in 2002. As rare as that feat was, scoring a touchdown last Saturday also puts him in some select company. Wellock’s touchdown run last week marks the first time AU’s regular kicker scored a touchdown since 1961.

In 1961, the Eagles used a kicker-by-committee routine. Tom Sharpe had four extra points and two touchdowns. Ed Barney and John Belu both had three extra points and Bob Swartz had one touchdown and one PAT.

AU assistant coach Tim Seder scored a two-point conversion on a run during his playing days with the Eagles. He also helped design last week’s play, using a play that was called for him when he played with the Dallas Cowboys. Seder scored two touchdowns on fake field goals in Dallas.

“We always go out there with the mindset to kick and then adjust,” explained Seder. “But we’re always looking for a little something. Austin and Kyle (holder Kyle Johann) looked at a lot of film last week. I had Kyle give Austin a signal, you want to give your kicker as much time as possible to get ready.

“It (threat of a fake) can slow down the rush a little bit,” continued Seder. “We try to take what a team gives you. Players like that too, it’s an exciting part of the game. As a kicker, any time I got my hands on the ball and could run it, I liked that. I told Austin before the game we wanted to get him a touchdown.”

Fresh Legs
A year ago, Hart split the starting tailback job with Jason Schwalm (Kenosha, WI/Dublin Coffman). When Schwalm was lost to injury in the first game of the season, AU fans wondered how Hart would be able to hold up as the feature back. Well, the Eagles are playing their final game and Hart is moving like it’s the first week of the season. He has 259 carries – when McCoy set the school single-season record for rushing he carried the ball 302 times. Also, over the last three weeks, here’s what Hart has done in the second half of games.

“He just gets stronger and stronger,” marveled Owens. “He can get those few extra yards.”

Remember this, throughout the second half and late in games, defenses know they’re going to get a full diet of Hart and he’s still getting yards. He deserves a lot of credit for picking up yards and allowing the Eagles to move the chains and hold onto the ball. The offensive line can’t be overlooked either, it’s been at its best late in games when fatigue is often a factor.

A Solid Front
Entering this week’s game, the Eagles are second in the GLIAC in rush defense, allowing 108.6 ypg. Ashland was second in the conference in that same category a year ago, yielding 112.4 ypg., and in 2001, AU was third (128.8 ypg.) against the rush. What that says is that at Ashland, defense begins with stopping the running game.

“It’s our linebackers’ ability to make plays,” said AU defensive coordinator Jim Meyer. “We give us some yards through the air, that’s in the equation. Teams try to control the ground game because that makes throwing the ball easier. Our scheme, the 3-4 scheme, it’s been a thorn in the side for our offense. We try and put together a concept that keeps offensive linemen guessing. We’re not big. It helps our lighter, quicker guys. Plus, we have linebackers who can pursue. It all works pretty well. It’s conducive to the talent we have.”

Taking A Look Ahead
The 2005 AU schedule appears below. As was the case this season, the Eagles will play 10 GLIAC games and a non-conference game against Saint Joseph’s.

Aug. 27 at Saint Joseph’s TBA
Sept. 3 at Ferris State TBA
Sept. 10 GANNON 7 p.m.
Sept. 17 GRAND VALLEY STATE 7 p.m.
Sept. 24 at Michigan Tech TBA
Oct. 1 at Mercyhurst TBA
Oct. 8 NORTHERN MICHIGAN 1 p.m.
Oct. 15 at Hillsdale TBA
Oct. 22 WAYNE STATE 1 p.m.
Oct. 29 at Findlay TBA
Nov. 5 INDIANAPOLIS 1 p.m.

Series Quiz Answers

1. In 1975, Indy finished 8-3 and lost to eventual NCAA Division III national champion Wittenberg, 17-13 in the first round of playoffs.
2. It was the first overtime game in AU history.
3. Ted Liette – 1998, Josh Gentry – 1999.