Ashland Football Weekly Report
September 13, 2005

Game 4 – Grand Valley State (3-0/3-0) at Ashland (3-0/2-0)
Saturday, September 17, 2005, 7 p.m.
Ashland, OH/Community Stadium

The Ashland University Eagles and the coaching staff put their game faces on early this week. Their countenances were determined, brows furrowed, eyes focused on the task at end.

AU fans will have their game faces on too, but look for a lot of smiles and laughter from that crowd. Two years ago, the Eagles were 2-9. A year ago, AU climbed to 5-6. Now, in the second year of the Lee Owens era, the Eagles are 3-0 for the first time since 1992 and playing one of the top teams in the country. It’s also Varsity Walk weekend, the annual Eagle Walk, Hogs and Eagles Night and after the game, there will be a fireworks show.

All of this adds up to a special night at AU. There are many reasons for the Ashland faithful to smile. This should be small college football at its best this week – two strong teams in an exciting atmosphere.

Sights and Sounds of the Game
All Ashland University football games can be heard live on WNCO (1340 AM). This is the 13th consecutive season the station has served as the home for AU football. Sam Renfroe will handle the play-by-play chores and Bill Linson will provide commentary. WMFD-TV will be showing the game on a tape delay basis. The station will show the game twice, the first on Saturday night at midnight, the second on Sunday at 7 p.m.

The Ashland University campus radio station, WRDL-FM (88.9) will also do the game live.

Dusty Sloan of the Ashland Times-Gazette will be on handle to chronicle the proceedings. His report will be in Monday’s paper. The Mansfield News-Journal will cover the game and the game story will run in Sunday’s editions.

Sideline Highlights
Prior to kickoff this week, the Eagles will have some special guests at the field. Numerous motorcycle riders will be on hand to circle the Community Stadium track. This is Hogs and Eagles Night. Last year was the first time that this event appeared on the AU schedule and it was a huge success.

Another pre-game special this week is the Varsity Walk Dedication. The 12th and 13th sections of the Walk will be dedicated in the newly created green area in front of the Recreation/Sports Sciences Center. To date, more than 1,200 bricks have been subscribed, generating over $230,000 for the Eagler Endowment Fund.

After the GVSU-AU game, a fireworks show will take place. The skies should light up approximately 10 minutes after the conclusion of the game.

Ashland-Grand Valley State
It’s been all Lakers in this series since 1993. The last time the Eagles got the better of GVSU was in the 1993 season, 29-14 at Community Stadium. Since that game, the Eagles have lost 11 consecutive games to the Lakers. GVSU leads the series, 11-2.

A year ago in Allendale, MI, the Lakers downed the Eagles, 37-7. The game was scoreless after the first 15 minutes. The home team took control of the game with a 17-point second quarter. GVSU led, 17-0 at the half and 27-0 after three frames. Grand Valley outgained the Eagles, 410-183. AU tailback Antwan Hart was limited to 25 yards on 13 carries. GVSU quarterback Cullen Finnerty threw two touchdown passes, kicker Scott Greene booted three field goals and Marvis Bryant returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown. The victory gave GVSU a 12-game winning streak and victories in 51 of its last 53 home games.

History Lesson – Ashland-Grand Valley State

• 2004 – at Grand Valley State 37, Ashland 7 - Against a very strong, fast AU defense, GVSU averaged 5.5 yards per play.
• 2001 – Grand Valley State 63 at Ashland 19 – Acrobatic GVSU wide receiver David Kircus had four catches for 62 yards and two touchdowns and Brian Lesniak rushed for 107 yards and two scores to fuel GVSU attack.
• 2000 – at Grand Valley State 38, Ashland 7 – The score was 7-7 with 7:54 left in the first half and then GVSU scored 38 unanswered points. Darren Smith returned an INT 100 yards for the Lakers’ final score.
• 1999 – Grand Valley State 44 at Ashland 26 – AU was ranked 19th in the country and had a six-game win streak, but GVSU’s Grant Malecke caught nine passes for 191 yards and the Lakers scored 24 second quarter points and led at the intermission, 31-13.
• 1998 – at Grand Valley State 42, Ashland 35 – Teams met in Grand Rapids, MI. AU trailed, 35-13 at the half, but rallied to tie the game at 35 with 10:13 remaining in regulation. GVSU answered with a game-winning, four-play, 69-yard scoring march. AU quarterback Mark Molk rushed for 112 yards and two touchdowns.

The GLIAC Report
The list of undefeated teams in the GLIAC includes five schools – Grand Valley State, Ashland, Michigan Tech (3-0), Findlay (2-0) and Saginaw Valley State (2-0). AU’s opponent on Sept. 24, Michigan Tech, escaped from Erie, PA, with a 24-20 win at Mercyhurst last Saturday. MTU tailback Lee Marana had 153 yards rushing and scored the winning touchdown with 28 seconds left in regulation. Tech entered the game fourth in the nation in rushing offense, but trailed the Lakers in rushing yards, 253-238. The ‘Hurst outgained the Huskies in total yardage, 421-367.

Mercyhurst is the team AU will play after Michigan Tech. The Lakers are still searching for their first victory. Turnovers have plagued the Lakers. MC had four giveaways against Michigan Tech and seven in a season-opening loss to Gannon.

Ashland continues to be among the GLIAC’s best defensive units. After three weeks, the Eagles lead the conference in rush defense (46.7 ypg.) and total defense (230.3 ypg.). AU is third in scoring defense (12.0 ppg.) and second in pass efficiency defense (101.1 rating) and sacks (12-60). Ashland is also the least penalized team in the league (10-86/28.7 ypg.).

AU Head Coach Lee Owens
Lee Owens begins his second season at AU with a career mark on the college level of 48-67. He spent nine seasons as the head coach at the University of Akron before coming to AU. A year ago, Ashland was 5-6. Owens’ record as a high school and college coach is 134-99-2. On the prep level, his record is 89-32-2. He won a state championship at Galion High School in 1985.

At Akron, Owens made vast improvements on the field and in the classroom. In 2000, the Zips won a share of the Mid-American Eastern Division title. He guided the school to its first consecutive winning seasons since the school became a Division I member (1999, 2000). Owens also recruited and coached some of the top players in Akron history, including quarterback Charlie Frye, now a member of the Cleveland Browns.

Off the field, in 2001 the Zips were presented with an academic achievement award for a graduation rate over 70 percent by the American Football Coaches of America (AFCA).

Owens is originally from Mansfield, OH. He received his bachelor’s degree from Bluffton in 1977 and his master’s degree from Ashland in 1981.

Eye on the Eagles
Last week was the home opener for AU and the home folks liked what they saw as the Eagles handled Gannon, 27-0. Junior quarterback Nick Strance (Willard, OH) tied a school single-game record with four touchdown passes. Strance fired two scoring passes to senior wide receiver Dalorean White (Warrensville, OH/Erie C.C.), those throws covered 23 and 52 yards. The AU quarterback found sophomore wide receiver David Ziegelhofer (Lexington, OH) with a 17-yard TD pass and connected with senior tight end Brian Mong (Columbus, OH/Watterson) on a 22-yard scoring pass. Strance is the first AU player to throw four TD passes in a game since Dustin Powers against St. Francis (IL) in 1994.

The Eagles were in front, 13-0 after the first 15 minutes and led, 20-0 at the intermission. Ashland outgained the visitors, 345-153 and had a 147-84 edge on the ground. Gannon threw for just 69 yards.

Senior linebacker Jeremy Crabtree (Pickerington, OH) had the best game of his career with 11 tackles (10 solo), four tackles for loss (22 yards) and an interception. The pick came on Gannon’s first possession and set up the Eagles’ first score.

Some of Ashland’s top players are listed below.

• Devin Conwell (Baltimore, MD/Montgomery C.C.) – A safety, Conwell was first team All-GLIAC last season. The senior’s had over 100 tackles each of the last two seasons and last year, led the country in solo tackles (80). The last AU player to have more solo tackles that Conwell was Ron Greer (84) in 1991. Conwell leads the team in tackles (27/14 solo).
• Jeremy Crabtree (Pickerington, OH) – A senior linebacker, Crabtree is tied for third on the team in tackles (20/15 solo). He has two interceptions, a sack and four tackles for loss.
• Luke Busson (Wadsworth, OH/Kent State) – The sophomore linebacker has 17 tackles (nine solo) and that puts him fifth on the team.
• Blake Dickson (North Canton, OH/Jackson) – A stalwart at left guard, Dickson was second team All-GLIAC in 2004. The coaching staff believes the senior can become one of the top offensive linemen in the country.
• Allen Lattimore (Dayton, OH/Colonel White) – A junior, Lattimore was an honorable mention All-GLIAC choice in 2004. A year ago, the athletic linebacker tied for first in the league in sacks (9.0) and was fourth in tackles for loss (18.0). Lattimore is second on the club in stops with 23 (13 solo). Lattimore is tied for second in the league in sacks (3-12) and tackles for loss (4.5-15).
• Brady Miller (Cincinnati, OH/Elder) – The quarterback of the defense, this senior linebacker had 69 tackles and two sacks last season. Miller is tied for third on the club in tackles (20/15 solo) and has three tackles for loss and an interception.
• Brian Mong (Columbus, OH/Watterson) – A 6-3, 264-pound senior tight end, Mong is expected to be a vital cog in the offense. He had 19 catches last season. Mong is third on the team in receptions (7).
• Jason Schwalm (Kenosha, WI/Dublin Coffman) – Schwalm appeared in just one game last year before going on the shelf with an injury. He had 661 yards rushing and averaged 5.1 ypc., in 2003. Schwalm has rushed for over 100 yards each of the last two weeks. He’s coming off a 115-yard performance against Gannon. The senior is third in the conference in rushing, averaging 114.3 ypg. He’s rushed for 343 yards and is averaging 4.7 ypc.
• Nick Strance (Willard, OH) – This is Strance’s second full season as the AU starting quarterback. He took over the spot midway through his freshman season. Strance is already the school’s career leader in completions (324). He’s completing 60.9 percent (39-64) of his passes. In last week’s win over Gannon, he clicked on 15 of 26 pass attempts for 198 yards and four touchdowns.
• Dalorean White (Warrensville, OH/Erie C.C.) – White has caught a team-best 17 passes for 202 yards (11.9 ypc.) with three touchdowns. Last week he had five receptions for 87 yards and two scores. White is fourth in the GLIAC in receptions per game (5.67) and ninth in receiving yards per game (67.3). He also leads the Eagles in kickoff return average (5-121/24.2).
• David Ziegelhofer (Lexington, OH) – This sophomore wide receiver has caught nine passes for 82 yards (9.1 ypc.) and returned five punts for 53 yards (10.6 ypr.). He leads the team in punt return average and is second in receptions.

Quick Hitters

• Ashland hasn’t started a season 4-0 since 1972 when the Eagles ran the table and finished 11-0. In their first four games that season, the Eagles defeated Franklin (14-7), Capital (17-7), Edinboro (51-7) and Wittenberg (33-3).
• Going back to last season, AU has won three consecutive home games. During that string, Ashland has outscored the opposition 74-3. Ashland has beaten Hillsdale (24-0), Findlay (23-3) and Gannon (27-0).
• The last time AU gave up a touchdown at Community Stadium came on Oct. 2, 2004, when Mercyhurst’s John Egbert caught a 55-yard TD pass from Jeff Nowling.
• Dating back to last season, Ashland has held six of its last seven opponents to less than 100 yards rushing.
• Conwell failed to reach double digits in tackles last week and that’s the first time that’s happened since the second game of the 2004 season – against Ferris State (there was one game in that streak where he didn’t play). For his career, Conwell is averaging 11.1 tackles per game.

The Quotebook

Quarterback Nick Strance on the offense last week.

“We wanted to set the tone, put the game away early. We knew we were a better team. We wanted to come out hot and we did.”

Strance on the offense over the first three weeks.

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

Wide receiver Dalorean White on his role in the offense.

“Any situation coach puts me in, I’ll make a big play. I’m supposed to make big plays.”

Defensive coordinator Jim Meyer on inside linebacker Jeremy Crabtree.

“He’s having a great year. He’s come a long way since the spring. He’s one of our fastest and strongest guys. He’s always had the speed and strength, but he was at outside linebacker. Now he’s playing within himself and really contributing.”

Meyer on the success of the defense.

“The defensive concept we have is conducive to our personnel, it fits us well. We don’t have real big guys, but we have guys who can run. This puts them in a position to do well.”

On Deck
The Eagles are back on the road next Saturday (Sept. 24, 1 p.m.), visiting Michigan Tech. The Ashland traveling party will depart from Akron-Canton airport on Friday afternoon and return to Ashland following the game on Saturday.