Schwalm Gets Records, Eagles Run Down Indy, 20-3, in Football Regular Season Finale
November 5, 2005

Complete Box Score

It’s getting to that time of the year – the cusp of the holiday season – when artists release new albums, greatest hits compilations and the like.

How about this boxed set put forth by the Ashland University Eagles – “Jason Schwalm and the Defense?”

Saturday (Nov. 5) against Indianapolis at Community Stadium, Schwalm rushed for 209 yards on 37 carries and set school single-season records for carries (306) and rushing yards (1,494 yards) and the Ashland defense didn’t allow a touchdown for the fifth time this season. That added up to the Eagles’ sixth consecutive win, 20-3.

Ashland is 9-2, 8-2 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The victory keeps AU’s slim NCAA Division II postseason hopes alive. This is the first time AU has won nine games since 1997. That’s also the last time the Eagles were invited to the NCAA postseason party (the playoff field is announced Sunday).

Schwalm broke Antwan Hart’s season-rushing record of 1,474 yards, set a year ago, with a 43-yard run with just over five minutes to play in the game. The previous carries record of 302 belonged to J.R. McCoy and had been set in 2001.

“I didn’t try to focus only on that,” said Schwalm, of his chances of getting the record. “I didn’t look and see how many yards I needed. I figured if it was going to happen, it would happen.”

“Coach (Doug) Geiser kept us posted in the second half,” said senior offensive lineman Blake Dickson. “Before that long run, we knew he needed 24 yards.”

“You just try to find out what you do best,” replied head coach Lee Owens, when asked about the rushing record falling in consecutive seasons. “He has really turned it up the last few weeks. I can’t believe how powerful he is. The offensive line feeds off of him.”

This was a game that perfectly followed the AU blueprint for success. Ashland broke a 3-3 tie and went ahead to stay with 14;57 to play in the first half when Schwalm capped a 12-play, 80-yard march with a 1-yard plunge. The key moment in that drive came when AU lined up in punt formation on fourth-and-15 from the Indy 38 and ran a fake punt. The Eagles picked up the first down on reserve tailback Jon Schroeder’s 21-yard run to the Indianapolis 17. That’s the second consecutive week AU ran a fake punt for a first down.

“The guys enjoyed working on it all week,” Owens said. “It was at a critical part of the game. We had to score a touchdown on that drive.”

The lead grew to 17-3 with 10:37 to go in the half when junior quarterback Nick Strance combined with senior tight end Brian Mong on a 9-yard scoring pass.

Ashland’s final points came on a 41-yard field goal by freshman Jared Karrasch with 7:30 remaining in the game.

Once AU got ahead by two touchdowns, the Greyhounds’ (6-5/5-5) comeback chances were as slim as Twiggy’s waistline. The Eagles finish the year allowing 9.7 ppg. They still have a chance to win the NCAA Division II title for scoring defense.

“The story all year has been our defense,” noted Owens. “I don’t know if we’ll win the national scoring defensive title, what a credit that would be. It has kept us in games all year. We jump out to a 17-3 lead, it would be really tough for them to come back. It’s a real credit to our players and coaching staff.”

Ashland sacked the Indianapolis quarterback tandem of Casey Gillin and Mitch Brown nine times. That’s the most sacks by the Eagles since they had 10 against Findlay in 1999. The Eagles limited the Greyhounds to 19 yards rushing (0.7 ypc.) and outgained the visitors, 413-226.

The defense turned the tide for good early in the second half. Indianapolis took the second-half kickoff and drove to the AU 1-yardline. On third down, Sam Elmore was stuffed for no gain. On fourth down, Gillin rolled right and was sacked by sophomore defensive end Chris Meyer for a loss of three yards.

Meyer had two sacks, as did junior defensive end Matt Baughman. Sophomore linebacker Luke Busson had the most attention-grabbing figures – two sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, an interception and a team-high nine total tackles (five solo).

“We studied them more, a lot more, than anyone else,” Busson said. “On Friday we came out and did some extra work, the linebackers and defensive backs. We did a lot to prepare for this game, we couldn’t have an upset.”

That stop early in the second half turned out to be the last gasp for the Greyhounds.

“We knew it was coming,” said Busson of the fourth down call that had Gillin rolling out. “The coaches got us prepared.”

Who knew a season like this was coming out of Ashland? AU’s two losses have come by a total of seven points. Grand Valley State is undefeated, ranked first in the country, and as of Saturday afternoon, its closest game came at Ashland (14-10).

“It’s a great turnaround for the program,” said safety Devin Conwell. “It’s going in the right direction. This is a really a great turnaround.”

“I look at those 2-9 seasons and I learned a lot from them,” admitted Dickson, thinking back to his first two seasons. “I grew a lot, you learn how to stick things out. That brought us Coach Owens and a great coaching staff. Those seasons were a blessing.”

And this season has been a hit – solid gold.