Sights and Sounds
- This week's game will be broadcast live on WNCO-AM 1340, with David Wilson handling the play-by-play and Don Graham providing the commentary. The game can be heard at WNCOAM.com, and also can be accessed on the scoreboard page on the home page of the AU athletics web site, GoAshlandEagles.com.
- A live stream of the game can be found on the scoreboard page on the home page of the AU athletics Web site, as well. The broadcast also will be replayed on SportsTime Ohio on Oct. 9 at 8 p.m.
- AU head coach Lee Owens will do a weekly appearance on WRDL's "Early Bird's Word," every Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.
No. 17-Ranked Ashland Looks For Rebound On Homecoming
Ashland University, ranked No. 17 in the latest American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Top 25 poll, is back at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field on Saturday afternoon for the annual Homecoming game against Northwood.
The Eagles are 4-1 overall and 3-1 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference following a 35-32 road loss in Week 5 to Tiffin, while the Timberwolves are 1-4, 1-4 after their first win of 2016, 44-14, at home against Lake Erie.
ASHLAND OFFENSE
VS. NORTHWOOD DEFENSE
The Eagles' junior passing combination of quarterback Travis Tarnowski and tight end Adam Shaheen has been prolific through the first five games of 2016. Tarnowski has completed 60.7 percent of his passes for 1,578 yards, 14 touchdowns and two interceptions. He leads the GLIAC in passing yards and touchdowns.
Shaheen leads all NCAA tight ends at all levels in both receptions (35) and receiving yards (592), and is tied for the overall NCAA tight end lead in receiving touchdowns with seven.
Northwood's leading tackler by a wide margin is senior linebacker Michael Fisher, who has 52 total stops, one sack, two tackles for loss and an interception through five contests. Junior defensive lineman Charles Williams has a team-high three sacks, while senior defensive backs Mitch Robinson and Ayrn Curtis each share the team lead with two interceptions.
The Eagles are first in the GLIAC in total offense (527.8 ypg.) and second in scoring offense (38.0 ppg.). The Timberwolves are second in the conference in total defense (321.6 ypg.) and seventh in scoring defense (23.6 ppg.).
ASHLAND DEFENSE
VS. NORTHWOOD OFFENSE
Ashland senior inside linebacker Brandon Gency has been on a tear of late, and has racked up 40 total tackles, two sacks, six tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, a fumble-recovery touchdown and an interception this fall.
The Eagles' sack leader is junior defensive end Austin Utter, who has four to go with 28 total tackles, five tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
Northwood's "Woodbone" offense has seven players who have rushed for at least 100 yards so far in 2016, led by redshirt freshman running back Abdul Levy's 251. Redshirt freshman quarterback Joe Garbarino has rushed for 181 yards and five touchdowns, while throwing for 483 yards and three more scores.
The Timberwolves' passing deep threat is senior wide receiver Theron Wilson, who is averaging 26.7 yards on 11 catches, three of which have gone for touchdowns.
"It's hard to simulate in practice," Owens said of Northwood's option offense. "It usually takes a little time in the game to catch up with the speed of their execution.
"It really presents some challenges."
Ashland is second in the GLIAC in scoring defense (18.8 ppg.) and seventh in total defense (376.4 ypg.), while Northwood ranks eighth in total offense (397.4 ypg.) and 10th in scoring offense (22.2 ppg.).
SPECIAL TEAMS
For Ashland, junior kicker Aidan Simenc is 5-of-6 on field goals and 20-of-21 on extra points, while senior punter Austin Bruns is averaging 42.3 yards on 16 punts.
Timberwolves senior kicker Keegan Haggarty is 4-for-6 on field goals and 9-for-9 on extra points. Junior running back Andre Carter is averaging 25.2 yards on five kickoff returns.
Leaders Of The Pack
The 2016 Ashland University captains are senior tailback Vance Settlemire, Gency, Tarnowski and senior stud Adam Wallace - three seniors and a junior.
Tarnowski and Gency were captains in 2015, as well.
Eagles In Unfamiliar Rebounding Territory
Ashland is in the unfamiliar position of having to play immediately following a defeat.
The Eagles' lone loss in 2015 was the final game of the season. In 2014, the finale also was a loss.
Ashland has to go back to Sept. 27, 2014 to find a game it played immediately after a loss. The good news is that was a 45-23 win at Findlay.
"We've just got to stay focused on Northwood right now," said Owens. "We have to be directed toward that game. For the most part, that's what I sense we have going on with our coaches and players.
"We're still in the race. We may not be in the driver's seat anymore, but we're still obviously in the race. Every game's obviously that much more important. I don't think there's anyone on this team that panics or lost any confidence or questions anything we're doing. It's just the nature of this game."
Breaking Down Ashland As A Ranked Team
Since 2006, the Eagles are 31-15 (.674) as an AFCA Top 25 team. Since the start of the 2014 campaign, Ashland is 16-3 (.842) when playing as a ranked team.
This will be the first time Ashland will play Northwood as a nationally-ranked team.
Shaheen As Unique As Any Player Eagle Fans Have Seen
Seeing a tight end who is 6-foot-6 and 277 pounds isn't unusual.
Seeing a tight end who is 6-foot-6 and 277 pounds, and catches and runs the way Shaheen does, is rare.
Looking at the NCAA rankings for tight ends at all levels validates the start Shaheen has gotten off to in 2016:
TIGHT END CATCHES, ALL OF NCAA
|
NAME, SCHOOL |
LEVEL |
REC. |
|
Adam Shaheen, Ashland |
II |
35 |
|
Eric Saubert, Drake |
FCS |
33 |
|
Del'Vaughn Dennis, Lock Haven |
II |
32 |
|
Cody Bain, Coast Guard |
III |
30 |
|
Evan Engram, Mississippi |
FBS |
30 |
TIGHT END RECEIVING YARDS, ALL OF NCAA
|
NAME, SCHOOL |
LEVEL |
YDS. |
|
Adam Shaheen, Ashland |
II |
592 |
|
Kenny Johnston, Florida Tech |
II |
482 |
|
Evan Engram, Mississippi |
FBS |
479 |
|
Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State |
FCS |
453 |
|
Eric Saubert, Drake |
FCS |
428 |
|
Garrett Weaver, Mt. St. Joseph |
III |
425 |
TIGHT END TOUCHDOWN CATCHES, ALL OF NCAA
|
NAME, SCHOOL |
LEVEL |
TD |
|
Adam Shaheen, Ashland |
II |
7 |
|
Dallas Goedert, South Dakota State |
FCS |
7 |
|
Garrett Weaver, Mt. St. Joseph |
III |
6 |
|
Michael Roberts, Toledo |
FBS |
5 |
|
Trent Vasey, Western New England |
III |
5 |
In the last two games, Shaheen has caught 17 passes for 317 yards and four touchdowns.
"He's playing really good, there's no question about that," said Owens. "He creates real issues for opposing defenses. We're seeing different looks, different ways that they're trying to bastardize their defense to take him away from us. We have to kind of adjust to that as the game goes along."
Going back to the last 10 games, he has 71 receptions for 976 yards and 13 scores.
The Eagles' Oh So Sweet Home
The 2016 season is the eighth for the Eagles at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field, and to say they enjoy playing on Broad Street is an understatement.
Ashland is 34-8 (.810) at home since 2009, and has won 14 straight regular-season contests at "The Jack."
|
SEASON |
W-L |
|
SEASON |
W-L |
|
2009 |
3-2 |
|
2013 |
3-2 |
|
2010 |
5-1 |
|
2014 |
5-0 |
|
2011 |
4-1 |
|
2015 |
5-1 |
|
2012 |
6-1 |
|
2016 |
3-0 |
The Eagles enter their Homecoming contest riding a 14-game GLIAC regular-season home winning streak, best in the conference.
The GLIAC teams with current winning streaks within the conference at home in the regular season include:
|
SCHOOL |
STREAK |
|
SCHOOL |
STREAK |
|
Ashland |
14 |
|
Northern Michigan |
2 |
|
Grand Valley State |
7 |
|
Tiffin |
2 |
|
Wayne State |
6 |
|
Northwood |
1 |
|
Hillsdale |
4 |
|
|
|
"We just like playing at home," Owens said. "We've played pretty well here over the years. I think we play with a little more confidence here, which is the case of any team in America. You're home, you sleep in your own beds and get up and play at your own place.
"Obviously, we're glad to be home. Glad to see all the alums come back and enjoy the day."
Gency Making Plays All Over The Field
Gency ranks in a tie for second in the GLIAC with six tackles for loss, five of those coming in the last three games. He also is tied for second in the league with two forced fumbles, all coming in the last three weeks.
Also in the last three contests, Gency has racked up 33 total tackles, two sacks, a fumble recovery for a touchdown and an interception.
Losing The Battle Of The Hidden Yards
Ashland has had the misfortune of running into some impressive punters in the first five weeks of the season. Opposing punters are averaging 44.4 yards per boot against the Eagles, and 12 of 23 punts against AU have landed inside the 20-yard line.
The average starting field position following an opponent's punt for Ashland so far in 2016 is the Eagle 19.7-yard line.
"We worked really hard on that last week. Their (Tiffin's) punter had the wind all four times, and really hit some great punts into the wind," said Owens. "Sometimes, it's just how the game unfolds. There's some huge punts with great hang time and good distance.
"It has been a concern of ours."
Despite the unfortunate field position during the first five games of 2016, Ashland has delivered on eight scoring drives of at least 80 yards.
NCAA Division II Rankings Through Week 5
INDIVIDUAL CAREER - ACTIVE
Tarnowski - total offense yards per play - 2nd (7.54)
Settlemire - yards per carry - T-2nd (6.6)
Simenc - field-goal percentage - T-2nd (88.5)
Tarnowski - passing yards per game - 4th (264.1)
Tarnowski - completion percentage - 8th (60.6)
Tarnowski - passing efficiency - 9th (147.0)
INDIVIDUAL - 2016
Shaheen - receiving touchdowns - T-6th (7)
TEAM - 2016
Fewest tackles for loss allowed - 1st (10)
Third-down conversion percentage - 3rd (59.7)
Fewest penalties per game - T-6th (4.00)
Total offense - 10th (527.8 ypg.)
GLIAC Rankings Through Week 5
INDIVIDUAL
Tarnowski - passing yards - 1st (1,578)
Tarnowski - passing touchdowns - 1st (14)
Shaheen - receiving yards - 2nd (592)
Shaheen - receiving touchdowns - 2nd (7)
Shaheen - receptions - 3rd (35)
Sims - yards per carry - 3rd (7.1)
Utter - sacks - T-3rd (4)
Gency - tackles for loss - T-3rd (6)
Gency and Utter - forced fumbles - T-2nd (2)
TEAM
Total offense - 1st (527.8 ypg.)
Scoring offense - 2nd (38.0 ppg.)
Scoring defense - 2nd (18.8 ppg.)
2016 Competitiveness Chart
The following is a look at the Eagles' 2016 "competitiveness chart" - the measure of how long a team leads, is tied and trails in a game:
|
DATE |
OPPONENT |
TIME AHEAD |
TIME TIED |
TIME BEHIND |
|
9/1 |
MERCYHURST |
53:31 |
6:29 |
0:00 |
|
9/10 |
WAYNE STATE |
27:12 |
3:36 |
29:12 |
|
9/17 |
FINDLAY |
33:05 |
13:50 |
13:05 |
|
9/24 |
at Ferris State |
17:39 |
3:04 |
39:17 |
|
10/1 |
at Tiffin |
0:00 |
4:48 |
55:12 |
Ashland has trailed each of its last four opponents after the first 15 minutes of play.
"It's really more important how we end, how we finish," Owens said. "Traditionally, as we move into the second and third quarter, we figure out what they are trying to do to us on defense, we adjust to what they're doing offensively and we start playing well."
AU
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