With each win, Ashland University's football team is getting closer and closer to reaching uncharted – and nearly uncharted – territory.
The Eagles, 8-0 overall and 8-0 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, already have won their second GLIAC South Division championship. They also still have a shot at what would be their second overall GLIAC title.
Ashland has made five NCAA Division II postseason appearances – 1986, 1997, 2007, 2008 and 2012. The program has played host to two playoff games – one in 2008 at Community Stadium and one in 2012 at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field.
The first set of regional football rankings for Division II will be released on Tuesday (Oct. 27).
Finally, this is the third time in program history the Eagles have started a season with at least eight consecutive victories. The other two campaigns are two of the most memorable in the near century of AU football:
|
SEASON |
WINS TO BEGIN |
RESULT |
|
2015 |
At least 8 |
????? |
|
2012 |
11 |
11-1 record, GLIAC title, NCAA postseason |
|
1972 |
11 |
11-0 record |
Eagles Getting Comfortable On The Road
In 2012, Ashland went 5-0 on the road. In 2015, the Eagles have gone 5-0 on the road.
In 2012, AU's average score on the road was 43-19. In 2015, its average score on the road was 41-22.
In 2012, the Eagles finished the regular season undefeated and hosted an NCAA Division II playoff game. In 2015, …
Still Taking The Long Way Home
As their undefeated season continues, the Eagles' offense continues to pile up long scoring drives. Ashland is up to 32 scoring drives of at least 60 yards in eight games:
|
DATE |
OPPONENT |
60+-YD. SCORING DRIVES |
|
10/24 |
at Northern Michigan |
4 (90, 75, 73, 67) |
|
10/17 |
HILLSDALE |
7 (79, 75, 69, 65, 64, 64, 62) |
|
10/10 |
at Saginaw Valley State |
4 (75, 67, 66, 65) |
|
10/3 |
at Malone |
3 (85, 74, 65) |
|
9/26 |
FINDLAY |
5 (92, 75, 72, 61, 61) |
|
9/19 |
OHIO DOMINICAN |
3 (94, 80, 71) |
|
9/12 |
at Walsh |
2 (82, 75) |
|
9/3 |
at Lake Erie |
4 (87, 74, 65, 65) |
Gency The Playmaker
Junior inside linebacker Brandon Gency leads Ashland in total tackles (66) and solo tackles (40) in 2015. In the last five games, he has recorded 47 total stops (28 solo), 1½ sacks and five tackles for loss.
In his last 16 games, Gency has racked up 121 total tackles (75 solo), four sacks and 12½ tackles for loss.
Eagle Nuggets
Saturday's (Oct. 24) 41-40 win at Northern Michigan was Ashland's second win in the final seconds of regulation or later of the season (31-24 overtime win at Walsh in Week 2)…Six Eagles (sophomore tight end Adam Shaheen, junior wide receiver Jamie Hence, junior tailback Vance Settlemire, sophomore wide receivers Stewart Turner and Terrance Burt and redshirt freshman wide receiver Matthew Wilcox) have caught 15 or more passes this season, and all six have more than 246 receiving yards in 2015.
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