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While Ashland University's football team's first-team defense has yet to allow a rushing touchdown in 2017, the Eagle pass defense has come to the fore, as well, for the top unit in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference in terms of points allowed.
AU's four interceptions against Michigan Tech doubled the team's season total, and was one more than the Eagles had in the entire 2016 campaign. It was the first time Ashland picked off four passes in a game since Nov. 7, 2015 at home against those same Huskies.
The following is a look at Ashland's pass defense each season during the tenure of defensive coordinator Tim Rose:
|
SEASON |
CMP. % |
TD |
INT |
PASS RATING |
|
2017 (7 games) |
50.5 |
6 |
8 |
102.2 |
|
2016 |
57.7 |
11 |
3 |
130.2 |
|
2015 |
55.5 |
19 |
18 |
121.2 |
|
2014 |
56.5 |
14 |
8 |
124.6 |
|
2013 |
61.5 |
15 |
14 |
134.0 |
|
2012 |
56.6 |
15 |
13 |
116.4 |
|
2011 |
57.4 |
19 |
15 |
118.3 |
|
2010 |
55.2 |
11 |
19 |
106.2 |
|
2009 |
56.6 |
13 |
11 |
120.8 |
Simenc On The Verge Of Eagle History
With his next extra point, senior kicker Aidan Simenc will become Ashland's all-time leader. Both Simenc and Gregg Berkshire are tied with 155 made extra points.
Simenc, who leads the Eagles so far in 2017 with 58 points and leads the GLIAC in kicking points, has moved into fourth place on Ashland's all-time list with 260 career points. He trails only Berkshire (323), Anthony Taylor (270) and Vance Settlemire (266) on the Eagle rolls.
With 35 career field goals, Simenc also ranked fifth on Ashland's all-time list in that category.
Spreading The Ball Around In The Passing Game
It has been said numerous times that a quarterback's favorite receiver is the open one.
Ashland's receivers have found themselves open often so far in 2017, and the distribution has been fairly even. After wide receiver Daniel Piko caught 64 passes in 2014 (36.6 percent of team's completions), and tight end Adam Shaheen grabbed 70 passes in 2015 (28.3 percent) and 57 passes in 2016 (26.0 percent), there have been more players getting involved more often in the Eagle passing attack this fall.
Junior wide receiver Kamaron Green (29 catches, 22.0 percent) and senior wide receiver Matthew Wilcox (27 catches, 20.5 percent) are leading the team, but junior tailback Andrew Vaughn (18 catches, 13.6 percent), redshirt freshman wide receiver Logan Bolin (18 catches, 13.6 percent) and redshirt freshman tight end Michael Schweitzer (16 catches, 12.1 percent) all are near the top of Ashland's catches column.
Ashland's Active Division II Career Leaders
Entering Week 8, the following Eagles are among NCAA Division II's top 10 active career leaders:
- Senior quarterback Travis Tarnowski is first in passing yards (10,006) and touchdown passes (100).
- Tarnowski is second in total offense yards (10,282).
- Simenc is tied for second in field-goal percentage (85.4).
- Simenc is fifth in extra points made (155).
- Tarnowski is ninth in passing efficiency (156.57) and completion percentage (62.2).
- Simenc is ninth in points (260).
- Simenc is 10th in field goals made (35).
Meder, Shaheen Heading Toward Week 7 Of 2017 Season
Former Ashland University All-Americans Jamie Meder and Adam Shaheen will play in Week 7 of the 2017 National Football League season on Sunday (Oct. 22) for the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears, respectively.
Meder, a defensive tackle, and the Browns will play at home on Sunday at 1 p.m. against the Tennessee Titans. Shaheen, a tight end, and the Bears will play host to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday at 1 p.m.
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