Ashland Football Weekly Report
October 11, 2005

Game 8– Ashland (5-2/4-2) at Hillsdale (2-5/2-5)
Saturday, October 15, 2005, 2:30 p.m.
Hillsdale, MI/Muddy Waters Stadium

There is never a shortage of communication options in this day and age. It seems like there is a cable television station on every corner and radio stations can be found up and down the dial. There are two things everyone has today – a Social Security number and a cell phone. And, of course, the internet is just a click away.

The Ashland University football team hasn’t used instant messaging to get its point across, but the message is still getting through loud and clear. Preferring to let actions speak louder than words, the Eagles are proving to be a solid, resourceful football team. AU comes into this week’s battle with Hillsdale riding a two-game winning streak. Ashland has already equaled last season’s win total and for the first time since 1999, appeared in the NCAA Division II regional rankings last week.

There are four weeks left in the regular season and there’s plenty left for the Eagles to accomplish. But the Eagles can’t overload themselves with information. As the coaches and players have emphasized, AU’s focus needs to be on the here and now. That doesn’t figure to be a problem this week away from home against one of AU’s oldest rivals.

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. The game is also webcast on the AU athletics website.

Ashland-Hillsdale
The Chargers have a 21-14 advantage in the series. The teams have split the last six games. A year ago at Community Stadium, the Eagles prevailed, 24-0. The shutout was AU’s first since 1997. The Eagles outgained the Chargers, 327-158. Tailback Antwan Hart ran for 114 yards on 36 carries and scored one touchdown.

The victory put an end to a four-game AU losing streak and also snapped a two-game slide against Hillsdale. The winner of this annual clash receives the Travelling Trophy.

History Lesson – Hillsdale

• 2004 – at Ashland 24, Hillsdale 0 – AU defense controlled play all afternoon, Devin Conwell (Baltimore, MD/Montgomery C.C.) spearheaded that unit with 11 tackles (all solo).
• 2003 – Hillsdale 24 at Ashland 21 – HC scored the game-winning TD with 40 seconds to play in regulation. AU mishandled a snap from center on a 30-yard field goal attempt and botched a snap from center from punt formation that led to a touchdown.
• 2002 – at Hillsdale 37, Ashland 7 – The Chargers scored the game’s first 34 points. HC running back Kevin Clive ran for 136 yards and four touchdowns.
• 2001 – at Ashland 24, Hillsdale 10 – AU pounded out 275 rushing yards as J.R. McCoy gained 139 yards and Marcus Mitchell had 133 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Linebacker Brock Swonguer had 17 tackles
• 2000 – Ashland 17 at Hillsdale 10 – It was Oct. 7, a night game at HC and the temperature dipped to 29 degrees. AU trailed, 10-7 heading into the fourth quarter. The Eagles used a Jeff Leopold TD pass and 37-yard Matt Pifer field goal to pull away in the final 15 minutes. AU won despite five turnovers.

The GLIAC Report
Two conference teams – Grand Valley State (6-0) and Saginaw Valley State (6-0) are undefeated and those two teams meet this week in Allendale, MI. Last week, Michigan Tech fell from the ranks of the unbeaten thanks to a 25-14 loss at Wayne State. The win was the first of the season for the Warriors (1-5). That score opened eyes around the league. Wayne State has shown great improvement and played well at top-ranked Grand Valley two weeks ago before falling, 36-22. Now the Warriors have knocked off a team ranked ninth in the country. WSU is AU’s opponent next week.

Getting back to the GLIAC race, MTU and Northwood are sitting just behind Saginaw Valley and Grand Valley. NU is 6-1, 5-1 in the GLIAC. Michigan Tech is 5-1 overall and in the league. Michigan Tech plays at Northwood this week. Grand Valley (#1), Saginaw Valley (#5), Michigan Tech (#9) and Northwood (#15) all appeared in last week’s AFCA Top 25 Division II poll.

As for the Eagles, they remain the GLIAC’s least penalized team with 25 infractions for 205 yards (29.3 ypg.). Ashland is also the league leader in Red Zone defense, teams are scoring just 40 percent of the time (6-15) they visit that territory against AU. The Eagles are tied for second in scoring defense (12.0 ppg.), are third in total defense (273.3 ypg.), fourth in rush defense (104.7 ypg.) and fifth in pass defense (168.6 ypg.). AU is second in sacks (22-128) and tied for second in fewest sacks allowed (5-28).

AU Head Coach Lee Owens
Lee Owens begins his second season at AU with a career mark on the college level of 50-69. 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 was a successful high school coach before moving to the collegiate ranks. 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
The Eagles continued to make Community Stadium a chamber of horrors for Northern Michigan. Last week, AU stopped the Wildcats, 27-10. That’s the seventh consecutive time NMU has lost in Ashland. NMU’s all-time record in Ashland is 1-7.

The Eagles were in front, 13-0 after one quarter and 27-10 at halftime. AU outgained the visitors, 399-223 and coaxed NMU into three turnovers. Wide receiver Dalorean White had 275 all-purpose yards and scored three touchdowns. White had an 87-yard TD reception and finished the day with four receptions for a career-high 155 yards. The senior carried the ball five times for 68 yards with scoring runs of 39 and 17 yards. AU also got a touchdown from sophomore running back Jon Schroeder (Avon Lake, OH), who scored on a 5-yard run.

Defensively, sophomore defensive back Kelly Ajala (Pittsburgh, PA/Schenley) got the first interception of his career. Junior nose tackle Kyle Zelazny (Westerville, OH/Westerville, OH) posted three tackles (all solo), two sacks and a forced fumble. AU’s leading tackler was junior linebacker Allen Lattimore (Dayton, OH/Colonel White), who was in on nine stops (four solo). Another solid game was turned in by junior defensive back Chris Holland (Youngstown, OH/Rayen) who had six tackles (all solo) and a fumble recovery.

Some of AU’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). This is his first season at safety after spending the last two years at linebacker. Conwell is third on the team in tackles with 56 (21 solo).
• Jeremy Crabtree (Pickerington, OH) – A senior linebacker, Crabtree is fifth on the team in tackles (40/26 solo). He leads the team in tackles for loss (8-43) and is tied for the team lead in interceptions (2) and sacks (4).
• Luke Busson (Wadsworth, OH/Kent State) – The sophomore linebacker has 42 tackles (25 solo) and that puts him fourth on the team. Last week, Busson had six tackles (five solo).
• Blake Dickson (North Canton, OH/Jackson) – A stalwart at left guard, Dickson was second team All-GLIAC in 2004.
• 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). This season, Lattimore has 58 tackles (24 solo), seven tackles for loss and four sacks. He’s tied for the team lead in sacks and is second in tackles for loss. In total tackles, Lattimore is second on the team.
• Brady Miller (Cincinnati, OH/Elder) – The quarterback of the defense, this senior linebacker leads the Eagles in tackles (61/30 solo). Miller is 14th in the league in tackles per game (8.7). Miller also has 6.5 tackles for loss (25 yards) and four sacks. He’s tied for the team lead in sacks and is third in tackles for loss. Against Northern Michigan, Miller was in on eight tackles (six solo).
• Brian Mong (Columbus, OH/Watterson) – A 6-3, 264-pound senior tight end, Mong is third on the team in receptions (12).
• 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 in three games this year. He’s gained a team-high 750 yards rushing (4.5 ypc.). Schwalm is fourth in the GLIAC in rushing (107.1 ypg.) and 10th in all-purpose yardage (109.4 ypg.).
• 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 has completed 86 of 152 passes (56.6 percent) for 1,005 yards. He has nine TD passes and seven interceptions. He’s fourth in the GLIAC in pass efficiency (122.4 rating), fifth in passing yards per game (143.6) and seventh in total offense (144.7 ypg.).
• Dalorean White (Warrensville, OH/Erie C.C.) – White has caught a team-best 36 passes for 572 yards (15.9 ypc.) with five touchdowns. The senior is fourth in the GLIAC in receptions per game (5.14), receiving yards per game (81.7) and all-purpose yards (128.7 ypg.). White is third in kickoff return average (25.7 ypr.). He has had over 100 yards receiving two of the last three games.
• David Ziegelhofer (Lexington, OH) – This sophomore wide receiver has caught 22 passes for 194 yards (8.8 ypc.). He’s second on the team in receptions. Ziegelhofer is AU’s leading punt returner (6.8 ypr.).

Quick Hitters

• Ashland hasn’t allowed a sack for three consecutive games.
• AU’s two best games in total offense have come in the last two weeks (457 vs. Mercyhurst/399 vs. Northern Michigan).
• The Eagles have outscored the opposition, 36-5 in the first quarter.
• AU has led in time of possession in five of seven games this year. The only games Ashland hasn’t led in that department came against Saint Joseph’s and Michigan Tech. AU is fourth in the GLIAC in time of possession (31:19 per game).
• Only once this season has a running back (Michigan Tech’s Lee Marana) rushed for over 100 yards against AU. Dating back to last season, only four backs in the last 14 games have reached the century mark against AU.
• Strance has moved into third place in career passing yards (3,757) at AU. He’s first in career completions (361) and passing attempts (689).
• Over the past two weeks, AU has converted 47 percent (14-30) of its third down opportunities. The Eagles are at 35 percent for the season.

Dalorean White on the AU offense.

“I still don’t think we’ve played up to our potential. We can be even better next week.”

Kyle Zelazny on this year’s defense.

“I think we’re more mature than we were a year ago. Last year when things didn’t go well we panicked a little bit. This year, if things don’t go well we know how to handle it. Someone steps up and makes a play.”

Secondary coach Steve Clinkscale on the play of Conwell.

“Devin’s played four positions in our defense, free safety, strong safety, inside linebacker and outside linebacker. He’s smart enough to play them all and play them well. He’s a factor on every play. Statistically, he’s been a little quieter than last season, but he’s having a great season.”

Owens on the AU offense and success on third down.

“Executing on third down has always been a priority. The last couple of weeks have been better for us. I think that comes down to the offense taking ownership on third down. We’re coming back in the evening looking at film, making guys away of where the marker is, where we have to get the ball to.”

Owens on teams playing hard down the stretch.

“Why wouldn’t you expect to see that same thing from Hillsdale? They’re at the same point we were last year. We decided to make a statement at the end of the year. I wouldn’t be surprised if Hillsdale does the same thing. Teams in this conference will fight you hard.”

Owens on AU’s ability to control the clock in the second half last week.

“We didn’t score points, but we used a lot of clock. Even in the third quarter when we didn’t score, they didn’t score, we thought it would be difficult for them to beat us in the fourth quarter. We said, ‘Let’s hold onto the ball, not do anything stupid, don’t turn it over. We ate up most of that quarter.”

On Deck
Ashland returns home next Saturday (Oct. 22, 1 p.m.) for a date with Wayne State. That is Football Alumni Day.