There still is a half of a regular-season schedule left to play, but the 5-0 start by Ashland University's football team – if history is a guide – may lead to a very memorable 2015 season.
The No. 13-ranked Eagles have won each of their first five games, all in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, so far this season. A look at the seasons when AU has won at least its first five games shows the winning usually continued into the second half:
SEASON |
WINS TO BEGIN |
RESULT |
2015 |
At least 5 |
????? |
2012 |
11 |
11-1 record, GLIAC title, NCAA postseason |
1991 |
7 |
9-2 record |
1972 |
11 |
11-0 record |
1968 |
6 |
8-2 record |
1967 |
5 |
8-0-1 record |
1954 |
7 |
7-0 record, Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference title |
Comparing Recent Rushing Trifectas
Junior tailback Vance Settlemire missed the Eagles' Week 2 game at Walsh due to injury. He hasn't missed much since.
In the last three games at home against Ohio Dominican and Findlay and at Malone, Settlemire has had 152, 210 and 150 rushing yards, respectively. Cumulatively, his last three games total 83 carries, 512 yards, a 6.2-yard average and five touchdowns.
Settlemire's last three games compare favorably to a three-game run put together by all-time leading rusher Anthony Taylor just two years ago:
NAME |
TIME FRAME |
ATT. |
YARDS |
AVG. |
TD |
Taylor |
Oct. 5-19, 2013 |
105 |
676 |
6.4 |
6 |
Settlemire |
Sept. 19-Oct. 3, 2015 |
83 |
512 |
6.2 |
5 |
Settlemire leads the GLIAC in rushing yards per game (139.3) and all-purpose yards per contest (167.3), and is tied for first in carries (89).
Irby Leads Eagle Pass Thieves
After showing flashes of what could be to come as a freshman, mostly on special teams, sophomore cornerback Dale Irby quickly is becoming one of the top defensive backs in the GLIAC.
Irby recorded two interceptions in Ashland's 42-17 win on Saturday (Oct. 3) at Malone, and has all three of his 2015 picks - which are tied for the conference lead - in the last two games. Irby became the first Eagle to have multiple interceptions in a game since former safety Eric Schwieterman in the 2013 season finale.
AU has eight interceptions this season, the same amount it had in all of 2014. Irby's three thefts in a season are the most for a single Eagle defender since Schwieterman's four in 2013.
Eagle Nuggets
Ashland is one of 17 undefeated teams in Division II…Sophomore quarterback Travis Tarnowski is ninth all-time at Ashland with 3,429 passing yards and seventh with 29 touchdown passes…The Eagles are 8-3 in their last 11 road games.
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