Ashland University sophomore quarterback Travis Tarnowski hasn't completed two full college seasons, but the comparisons between him and other standout Eagle quarterbacks of recent vintage are becoming unavoidable.
Tarnowski has started 20 games for the Eagles (10-0 overall, 10-0 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, ranked No. 3 in Division II). When stacking those 20 starts up with the first 20 made by both Billy Cundiff and Taylor Housewright, his numbers are more than comparable:
THROUGH FIRST 20 STARTS AT ASHLAND
|
NAME |
RECORD |
ATT. |
CMP. |
CMP.% |
YARDS |
TD |
INT |
|
Travis Tarnowski |
18-2 |
623 |
380 |
61.0 |
5,012 |
43 |
13 |
|
Taylor Housewright |
14-6 |
452 |
290 |
64.2 |
3,647 |
34 |
12 |
|
Billy Cundiff |
14-6 |
498 |
319 |
64.1 |
5,002 |
39 |
10 |
When asked to quantify the leap Tarnowski, the 2014 GLIAC Freshman of the Year, has made from Year 1 to Year 2, Ashland head coach Lee Owens said, "He's better. He was a really good player last year, but he's a better player this year. He's not satisfied with where he's at."
Eagle Offensive Line Getting Job Done Quietly
In the 2015 Purple & Gold Spring Game, Ashland lost sophomore center Dominic Giunta for the season due to an injury. The Eagles' offensive line, however, hasn't missed a beat and hasn't changed starters all season.
Senior left guard Jonathan Cipa and junior right guard Zachary Douglass are the leaders – Douglass grading out at 91 percent and getting 78 knockdowns in 10 games, and Cipa grading out at 82 percent and recording 59 knockdowns. Sophomore Matt Murphy has moved into the center spot, and the two new, young tackles – sophomore Damon Stewart on the left and redshirt freshman John Conner on the right – have more than held their own.
"John Conner is a candidate for Freshman of the Year in the league," Owens said. "To go in and start every game at tackle on one of the top offenses in the country is pretty impressive. He's playing at an all-conference level. Damon is new. He gets better every week. He's a big, physical left tackle with good feet."
Opportunistic AU "D" Making Big Plays
Ashland's defense is leading the GLIAC in interceptions with 15, which is the Eagles' highest total since grabbing 15 in the 2011 season.
Nine different Eagles have at least one interception in 2015 – six by cornerbacks, four by safeties, three by whips, one by an inside linebacker and one by a defensive end.
"They're really athletic," Owens said of the secondary. "I know it's the most athletic back end I've coached in the 12 years I've been here. You look at our secondary, there's not a whole lot of difference in the way our secondary looks and a MAC secondary looks.
"They pass the 'eye test.' They run well and they're athletic."
Gridiron Club Honorees For Week 10
Each week in 2015, Ashland University's Gridiron Club has honored Eagle players with a game ball and offensive, defensive and special teams player of the week designations.
For the Week 10 win at home against Michigan Tech, the game ball went to all Eagle seniors, while the group honors went to Tarnowski (offense), junior inside linebacker Brandon Gency (defense) and sophomore cornerback/return specialist Dale Irby (special teams).
AU
FB/DS