LINK – ASHLAND UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL PAGE
LINK - WNCO-AM 1340 HIGHLIGHTS (DAVE WILSON AND DON GRAHAM)
Ashland University's football team recorded its fourth win in the last five games on Saturday (Oct. 26) afternoon at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field, earning a 21-0 lead en route to a 21-12 victory over Michigan Tech.
The Eagles are 5-3 overall and 4-2 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, while the Huskies are 4-3, 2-3.
Ashland's winning formula of late, minus having to rally from a second-half deficit, remained the same – strong running game (259 yards), and a bend-but-don't break defense (no points allowed until the 2:22 mark of the third quarter).
"Good start out of the gate," said Ashland head coach Lee Owens. "We put some points on the board in the first half. That was important. And I thought we did a good job of taking care of the ball (no turnovers) in inclement conditions. The defense played really well.
"That loss in Detroit took a lot out of me. It was hard getting back today, and I was a little concerned, so the way these guys came back and played in the first half against a good Tech team, it's pretty impressive."
THE MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
- The game remained scoreless until the second quarter, when Ashland sophomore quarterback Austin Brenner bootlegged around right end for a six-yard touchdown run, and a 7-0 Eagle lead with 12:48 to go until halftime.
- Brenner then connected with junior wide receiver Logan Bolin for a 25-yard scoring strike down the hashmarks with 4:43 left until the half to give Ashland a 14-0 advantage.
- Ashland's defense came to the fore late in the first half, stopping the Huskies on a fourth-and-1 quarterback sneak at the Eagle 27 to keep Michigan Tech off the scoreboard.
- The Eagles upped their lead to 21-0 at the 6:52 mark of the third quarter when freshman tailback Gei'vonni Washington scampered 36 yards for a touchdown, breaking tackles along the way.
- Michigan Tech got on the board with 2:22 to go in the third quarter when running back Jared Smith ran 16 yards to paydirt, but the missed extra point left the score at 21-6.
- The Huskies then continued to cut into their deficit with 7:48 left in regulation, when backup quarterback Steele Fortress scrambled for an eight-yard touchdown run. The two-point pass failed, but Michigan Tech had 12 straight points, and trailed 21-12.
- Ashland's "D" clinched the victory with a fourth-and-10 stop at the Tech 41-yard line with 3:29 to go in the game.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Washington became the first Eagle rusher since Anthony Taylor (six games in 2014) to have at least five straight 100-yard rushing efforts. On Saturday, Washington ended with 174 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries, and added a 40-yard reception. In the last five contests, Washington has compiled 723 yards and nine touchdowns on the ground on 145 carries (5.0 ypc.).
- Brenner was 10-of-17 for 152 yards and a TD through the air, and added 86 yards and a score on 12 carries.
- Defensively, senior inside linebacker Clay Shreve totaled 12 total tackles and a half-tackle for loss, and senior safety Cedric Frierson recorded 11 total stops, a pass breakup and three quarterback hurries.
- Ashland has defeated Tech three years in a row at home, and in the last five meetings with the Huskies at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field.
UP NEXT
Back to Michigan for another road game on Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. at Saginaw Valley State (4-4, 2-3).
AU
FB/DS
