The Eagles Online -- Ashland University Athletics

Strance, Defense A Winning Combo Against Gannon
September 10, 2005

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Experienced travelers know all about tourist traps. They entice you to town, then do some price gouging, taking your time, money and pleasure.

Eagles Notebook

Much was made this preseason when senior Devin Conwell moved from linebacker to free safety. Most of the attention centered around how Conwell would do in the secondary. What was lost in that switch was what the move did for the other Ashland linebackers. As a group, that linebacking corps has paced a defense that’s shown very few weak spots through three games.
The Full Story

Until Saturday (Sept. 10), the Gannon University football team had successfully avoided Ashland’s Community Stadium, never playing a football game in the city limits. Now the Golden Knights may never want to return. The Eagles took away the pass, the run and all the Golden Knights’ fun in a 27-0 triumph.

Ashland is 3-0 (2-0 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) for the first time since 1992. Dating back to last season, the Eagles have won their last three home games and outscored the opposition, 74-3. That stretch includes a 24-0 win over Hillsdale and a 23-3 victory over Findlay.

While the defense was shutting down the Golden Knights (1-2/1-2), AU junior quarterback Nick Strance was giving the home fans a look at his new, improved game. Strance completed 15 of 26 passes for 198 yards and tied a school, single-game record with four touchdown passes. Before Strance, the last Ashland quarterback with four scoring passes in a game was Dustin Powers in 1994 against St. Francis.

All in all, there wasn’t much to find fault about in this AU win. About the only negative came after the Eagles’ first scoring drive when the PAT kick missed splitting the uprights.

“A lot of things went well,” said AU head coach Lee Owens. “At the end, we broke the end of rope on the Victory Bell. Maybe it’s not used to be rung that much.”

Two years ago, the Eagles were at the end of their rope. They were 2-9 and seemingly sentenced to the bottom half of the GLIAC standings. A year ago, AU finished 5-6 and now is undefeated heading into the fourth week of the season and a showdown with national power Grand Valley State.

“Next week we find out if we’re for real, a pretender or contender,” said Owens.

“That’s real big,” said linebacker Jeremy Crabtree, who had a career-high 11 tackles (10 solo), four tackles for loss (22 yards) and an interception. “That’s the first thing we talked about after ringing the bell. We’ll celebrate for five minutes and get ready for Grand Valley.”

Crabtree got the Eagles started against Gannon. He picked off an Alex Dukes pass on Gannon’s first possession and set up the Eagles at the GU23. Moments later, Strance found senior wide receiver Dalorean White with a 23-yard scoring pass. That same tandem found the end zone again, from 52 yards out, with 1:40 left in the first quarter and the Eagles led, 13-0 after the initial 15 minutes.

With 3:02 to go before halftime, Strance connected with sophomore wide receiver David Ziegelhofer on a 17-yard scoring pass. The final score came early in the second half, Strance finding tight end Brian Mong with a 22-yard scoring pass.

AU’s scoring drives were short and to the point, they consisted of 2 plays and 23 yards, 6 plays and 68 yards, 3 plays and 17 yards and 3 plays and 65 yards.

“After the first half at Saint Joseph’s we’ve been rolling,” said Strance. “I think we’re starting to jell better as a unit. We’re having great practices, no missed assignments.”

“Every week the offense gets better,” added senior wide receiver

Dalorean White, who caught five passes for 87 yards.

“Against Saint Joe’s, we came out a little shaky. We still haven’t played to our potential. The offensive line is great. We’ve only played three games, we have a lot to build on.”

Owens would agree with that last line, he’s still the one urging caution.

“It’s still evolving,” said the AU head coach, when asked to evaluate the unit. “It needs to get better. Nick is making plays he didn’t make a year ago.”

For over a year now the defense has made plays and Saturday was no exception. Ashland outgained the Golden Knights, 345-153. On the ground, the Eagles held the upper hand, 147-84. AU was paced by tailback Jason Schwalm, who surpassed 100 yards for the second consecutive game with 115 yards on 20 carries. Gannon was led by Brad Hammond’s 60 yards on 18 carries. That’s a pretty good work day considering that the Eagles entered the game fifth in the country in rush defense, giving up 28.0 ypg.

All of those numbers will get a stern test next week against Grand Valley. But the Eagles deserve credit for putting themselves in this position. Their focus hasn’t wandered over the season’s first three weeks.

“It’s easy to do,” said Owens, when asked about how many teams lose track of the task at hand. “We just didn’t allow it, the veterans didn’t allow it. We have some seniors that are really hungry.”

Hungry, and ready to bring another visitor to that football tourist trap – Community Stadium.