Ashland (3-3/2-3 GLIAC) at Wayne State (5-1/4-1)
Saturday, Oct. 16, 12 p.m.
Wayne State Stadium/Adams Field
Hear, Here
The Ashland-at-Wayne State game will be broadcast live on WNCO-AM (1340) with Ken Carman on the play-by-play and Don Graham providing the commentary.
Looking Ahead and Behind
The Eagles, winners of their last two games, take to the road for a game at Wayne State. Over the last two weeks, Ashland has outscored the opposition, 86-17. Last week, the Eagles blanked Tiffin, 49-0. That is AU's first shutout since 2005 and the Eagles' largest margin of victory since a 55-point victory over Gannon in 2007 (62-7). Ashland is 0-2 on the road this season (losses at Indianapolis and Northern Michigan).
Wayne State is off to a 5-1 start for the second consecutive year. The Warriors bring a three-game winning streak into this Saturday's contest. Last week, WSU won at Lake Erie, 28-16. Wayne State is listed among "Others Receiving Votes," in this week's AFCA Top 25 poll.
Who's Behind Those Facemasks?
Detroit is not that far from the border with Canada. Like a stop at the border, the football teams from Ashland and Wayne State may be asked to provide identification when they show up at Wayne State Stadium. These teams may be wearing the same uniforms as last season, but will have an entirely different look when they engage each other on Saturday.
In 2007 when Ashland and Wayne State played each other, the teams combined for 105 points and an AU school record of 1,256 yards of combined total offense. A year ago the teams combined for 87 points. The winning team in this series has scored at least 41 points for three consecutive years.
So what gives this season? Both AU head coach Lee Owens and Wayne State coach Paul Winters have had to remake their teams. This year, both teams have put the emphasis on defense.
At Wayne State, Winters was faced with having to find a way to replace the firepower provided by former running back Joique Bell. Running backs like Bell don't come along very often. Offensively, the Warriors share the responsibility for gaining yards on the ground between several players. Instead of relying on a dominating tailback, they've turned to a dominating defense. That gives a good illustration of Winters' resourcefulness.
WSU is first in the GLIAC in pass efficiency defense (94.5 rating) and red zone defense (54.5 percent). The Warriors are tied for first in interceptions (11) and are third in sacks (15-113 yards). WSU is fourth in rush defense (133.7 ypc.) and total defense (309.7 ypg.) and fifth in scoring defense (28.7 ppg.). Thanks in large part to an opportunistic defense, Wayne State is tied for second in the conference in turnover margin (+10).
Owens has faced a problem much like the one at Wayne State. Since last year, he has had to replace record-setting quarterback Billy Cundiff. Cundiff is the most productive quarterback in school history. The days of throwing the ball all over the field and not worrying about time of possession are over. This year, the Eagles play the field position game and turn to their defense to get the game's momentum.
That has worked well through the season's first six games. AU is second in the GLIAC in scoring defense (16.3 ppg.), total defense (294.7 ypg.) and sacks (17). Ashland is third in pass efficiency defense (113.3 ypg.). The Eagles rank in the nation's Top 20 in three defensive categories - pass defense (tied for 11th), scoring defense (16th) and pass efficiency defense (19th).
"They've played well on defense," Owens said. "We've played well on defense. It will be interesting. Both Paul and I would rather have a good defensive team. It's tough to outscore people all the time. Championship teams are built around defense. You would rather have both, a good offensive and defensive team. Paul and I have both said, across the board, he may be better than he was last year except for one position and we may be better across the board except for one position. Their tailbacks are running really well and our quarterback has played really well. But it's not like Bell and Cundiff."
Sound Bites From Ashland
Owens on Wayne State
"It's another team with a good secondary. We've had problems with the two teams with a talented secondary. We look it as one of two teams ahead of us in the South. We really have to win this football game.
"The job Paul's done is amazing. They're legit, a good football team."
Saga of the Series
Ashland leads the all-time series with the Warriors, 19-6. The teams have split the last four games. AU's last victory in Detroit was in 2004, by a 28-21 margin. The Eagles have lost on their last two visits to WSU (2006, 2009). Ashland's last win over Wayne State came in Ashland in 2008, 41-14. This series began in 1975.
2009 – Wayne State 47, at Wayne State 40 – WSU, ranked 22nd in the country, used a record-setting performance by Bell to hold off the Eagles. Bell rushed for 272 yards and five touchdowns on 32 carries. That's the most rushing yards and rushing touchdowns the Eagles have ever allowed. Bell scored a sixth touchdown on a 45-yard pass play. That came with 30 seconds left in regulation and broke a 40-40 tie.
2008 – at Ashland 41, Wayne State 14 – The Eagles scored the game's first 20 points and led, 20-7 at halftime and 27-7 early in the fourth quarter. Cundiff completed 23-of-30 passes for 338 yards and four touchdowns. Wide receiver Johnny Long caught seven passes for 165 yards and two scores (61, 27 yards) and running back Dawon Harvey gained 146 yards on 29 carries. The Eagles were seven-for-14 on third down and one-for-one on fourth down.
Series Notes
- The Eagles have been able to move the ball recently against WSU. Last year, Ashland had 513 yards of total offense. The Eagles had 566 yards in 2008 and a school-record 721 yards in 2007. The 2007 game established the school single-game record for total offense for both teams (1,256 yards, WSU had 535).
- In this series, AU has had winning streaks of seven (1988-93) and six (1995-00) games. WSU has never won consecutive games against the Eagles.
- In the last three games against Wayne State, Ashland has averaged 48.0 ppg.
- AU's Austin Wellock kicked six field goals at WSU in 2002. That's a school record and is tied for the NCAA Division II single-game record.
- The Eagles posted consecutive shutout wins over Wayne State in 1992 and 1993, winning 14-0 (1992) and 12-0 (1993). In the four-game span from 1996-99, the Warriors scored a total of 34 points (8.5 ppg.).
- Jason Schwalm established school single-game records for rushing yards (292) and carries (45) in 2005 when AU defeated the Warriors, 27-3.
Ashland's Best Against Wayne State
Joe Horn (Waynesfield, Ohio/Waynesfield-Goshen) – A year ago in Detroit, Horn caught five passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Horn had touchdown receptions of 37 and 59 yards.
Christian Livingston (Newark, Ohio) – In two games against Wayne State, the senior wide receiver has caught 13 passes for 119 yards (9.2 ypc.) and a touchdown.
D.J. McCoy (Cleveland, Ohio/Collinwood) – McCoy rushed for 170 yards on 38 carries a year ago against WSU. In two games against the Warriors, he's gained 192 yards on 42 carries (4.6 ypc.).
Matt Stoinoff (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain) – The defensive lineman has 15 tackles in two appearances against Wayne State. In last year's game he had two sacks for nine yards.
About Ashland
Head Coach Lee Owens – Owens is in his seventh season as AU's head coach. His record at AU is 44-28 and his career record is 84-89. Owens has guided the Eagles to pair of NCAA playoffs appearances (2007, 2008). Before taking over the program at AU, Owens spent nine years as the head coach at the University of Akron. Owens also served a stint (1993-1995) as an assistant coach at Ohio State.
Before coaching on the college level, Owens was a successful high school coach in Ohio. His record on the prep level in 11 seasons is 89-32-2. Owens coached four years at storied Massillon Washington High School where he went 35-13. He won a state championship in 1985 while coaching at Galion (14-0). His record at Galion was 33-11-1 and his Galion team won the state title with a 6-0 victory over Youngstown Cardinal Mooney. Owens has never held a coaching job outside of Ohio. Owens is 4-2 against Wayne State.
Recapping Last Week
The Eagles won their second consecutive game last Saturday, overwhelming Tiffin, 49-0. The victory came at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field at the Dwight Schar Athletic Complex where the Eagles are 2-2 this season. Ashland led, 21-0 with 10:24 left to play in the first quarter and 28-0 after one quarter. At halftime the Eagles were in front, 42-0.
The Eagles established season highs for points and total offense (524). That is AU's first 500-yard game since last year at Wayne State (513).
Junior slot back D.J. McCoy (Cleveland, Ohio/Collinwood) rushed for at least 131 yards for the third consecutive week. McCoy ran through the Dragons for 144 yards and three touchdowns on 15 carries (9.6 ypc.). Over the last three games, McCoy has rushed for 412 yards on 71 carries (5.8 ypc.). His total last week included a career-long 69-yard run that resulted in a touchdown.
Horn was a handful for the Dragons, too. The senior wide receiver caught three passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns. His touchdown receptions measured 33 and 35 yards.
Sophomore quarterback Taylor Housewright (Ashland, Ohio) was eight-for-10 passing for 209 yards and two scores. Ashland had eight different players carry the ball, six different players catch at least one pass and four players line up at quarterback.
Defensively, the Eagles picked off a pair of passes, recovered a fumble and collected four sacks. Two of those sacks were posted by senior defensive lineman Dirk Dickerhoof (Massillon, Ohio/Washington). The interceptions went to junior cornerback Logan Kerr (Ashland, Ohio) and senior safety Quinton Scott (Fort Wayne Ind./Indiana State). Scott and Kerr share the team lead in picks (two).
Players to Watch
McCoy has six 100-yard rushing games in his career. This is the first time in his career he's had three straight 100-yard performances. McCoy is fifth in the GLIAC in rushing yards per game (97.8).
Housewright, like McCoy, has been on a roll the last several weeks. The sophomore signal caller is second in the GLIAC in passing yards per game (213.0) and pass efficiency (154.5 rating) and fourth in total offense (247.7 ypg.). Over the last two games, Housewright had completed 28-of-34 passes (82.4 percent) for 493 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. Housewright is currently 18th in the country in pass efficiency.
Horn and Livingston share the team lead in receptions. Both players have caught 19 passes. Horn averages 21.2 ypc., with three touchdowns and Livingston averages 18.5 ypc., with one touchdown. Junior H-Back Mike Knueven (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier) has caught 17 passes (10.1 ypc.) and visited the end zone three times.
The Ashland offensive line has played very well lately. The Eagles are fifth in the GLIAC in sacks allowed (eight). Senior guard Justin Magruder (Westerville, Ohio/Westerville South) is playing his best football of the season according to line coach Doug Geiser. Senior center Matt Knez (Lexington, Ohio/Millersville) has also graded out well each week and earned plaudits from Geiser over the last week.
Junior Gregg Berkshire (Ashland, Ohio) is one of the top specialists in the nation. Berkshire is the GLIAC leader in kick scoring (44 points/7.3 ppg.), field goals (nine-of-13/1.50 per game), field goal percentage (69.2) and punting (43.2 ypp.). The AU kicker is tied for 11th in the country in field goals per game (1.50). Berkshire has punted 20 times. Eight times he's dropped a kick inside the 20 and he has six punts of 50 yards or more.
Senior linebacker Carmon Wolfe (Tonawanda, N.Y./Erie. C.C.) continues to roam all over the gridiron. He's Ashland's leading tackler with 54 stops (24 solo). Wolfe averages 9.0 tackles per game (tied for seventh in the GLIAC). AU's other starting linebacker, junior Julian Goodwine (Dayton, Ohio/Thurgood Marshall), is second on the team in tackles (48/24 solo). Goodwine is tied for 16th in the league in tackles per game (8.0). Senior safety Tarell Lewis (Redford, Mich./Bowling Green) is tied for third on the team in tackles (32/20 solo). Sophomore safety Tyler McFarlin (Ashland, Ohio) also has 32 stops (16 solo). Kerr has 30 tackles (22 solo) and is the GLIAC leader in pass breakups (10). He is tied for eighth in Division II in pass breakups.
Stoinoff (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain) is the club leader in tackles for loss (7.0-35) and is tied with freshman defensive lineman Jamie Meder (Parma, Ohio/Valley Forge) for the team lead in sacks (three).
Nest Eggs
- Berkshire has field goals this year of 50 and 48 yards. The 50-yarder is his career long. In his career, Berkshire is seven-of-nine (77.8 percent) from 40-49 yards.
- Under Owens, the Eagles have scored 40 or more points 20 times (72 games).
- The Eagles are 5-4 all-time at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field at the Dwight Schar Athletic Complex.
- AU has not had a player with more than four interceptions in a season since Toure Carter had nine thefts in 2003.
- The Eagles have six players with at least two sacks.
- Knueven has three touchdown receptions. The last time an Ashland tight end/H-Back had more than three TD receptions in a season was in 1998 when Omari Parks caught five touchdown passes.
- Horn has caught at least one pass in the last 29 games he has played.
- Berkshire has 33 career field goals. That puts him fourth on the school's career list. Third place belongs to Bryan Seward (39).
- Ashland is tied for second in the nation in fewest fumbles lost. AU has lost one fumble and is tied with three teams for second. Central Oklahoma is the national leader with no lost fumbles. AU lost seven fumbles last season and had 10 lost fumbles in 2008.
- Of Ashland's first seven opponents, five have been in the nation's Top 25 or listed in "Among Others Receiving Votes." That list includes Bloomsburg, Indianapolis, Hillsdale, Northern Michigan and Wayne State. In this week's poll, Hillsdale is ranked eighth and Bloomsburg is 20th.
The Trophy Case
Each week, the AU Gridiron Club names an offensive, defensive and special teams player of the week. This year's list of honorees appears below.
Game Offense Defense Special Teams
Bloomsburg T. Housewright Logan Kerr Gregg Berkshire
Indianapolis Matt Knez Jamie Meder Gregg Berkshire
Hillsdale D.J. McCoy Matt Stoinoff Tyler McFarlin
No. Michigan D.J. McCoy Quinton Scott Gregg Berkshire
Northwood Joe Horn Carmon Wolfe Alan Dunson
Tiffin D.J. McCoy Logan Kerr Donnie Dottei
About Wayne State
Head Coach Paul Winters – Winters is in his seventh season at the WSU head coach. He is a two-time GLIAC coach of the year (2006, 2008). His career record at the school is 32-38. Winters was never a head coach on the college level before taking the job at Wayne State. He had extensive experience as an assistant before arriving in Detroit. Winters was on the Akron staff when Owens was the head coach. He was also an assistant coach at Wisconsin and Toledo. Winters is seventh in career rushing yards at Akron. He is a member of the school's hall of fame. Last year, Winters guided the Warriors to a 6-5 record, 5-5 in the GLIAC.
Players to Watch – Senior cornerback Stan Thornton is an experienced leader in the secondary. The 5-10, 169-pound defensive back is the GLIAC leader in interceptions (four) and is eighth in kickoff return average (21.0 ypr.). Defensive end Daunte Akra, a 6-2, 227-pound senior, has four sacks. He's tied for fourth in the GLIAC in sacks. Strong safety Jeremy Jones, a 5-10, 190-pound redshirt junior, has 34 tackles (17 solo), 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and two interceptions. Jones had 11 tackles (seven solo), four tackles for loss and a fumble recovery last Saturday night at Lake Erie.
Linebacker Zach Easterly, a 6-2, 217-pound redshirt junior, has 33 tackles (20 solo) and three tackles for loss. WSU's leading tackler is linebacker Nick Thomas. The 6-2, 237-pound junior has 41 tackles (24 solo). Thomas didn't play last week at Lake Erie due to injury.
Wayne State's quarterback is 6-2, 221-pound redshirt sophomore Mickey Mohner. He's completed 75-of-132 passes (56.8 percent) for 942 yards with six touchdowns and six interceptions. Mohner threw for a season-high 215 yards last week with two touchdown passes. Mohner has four touchdown passes in the last two weeks. Wide receiver Troy Burrell, a 5-10, 186-pound redshirt junior, has caught a team-high 25 passes for 399 yards (16.0 ypc.). Donald Brown, a 6-1, 187-pound redshirt junior wideout, has 14 receptions and is averaging 11.1 ypc.
The ground attack centers around Josh Renel and Toney Davis. Renel has rushed for 622 yards on 110 carries (5.7 ypc.) and Toney Davis has 454 yards on 108 carries (4.3 ypc.). Renel is a 5-8, 187-pound junior and Davis is a 5-10, 205-pound redshirt freshman.
Renel is a game breaker on special teams. He's averaging 16.0 ypr., on seven punt returns and 26.6 ypr., on eight kickoff returns. The WSU kicker is Stefan Terleckyj. He's been perfect on extra points (22-of-22) and is four-for-six on field goal tries. His longest field goal measures 33 yards.
The Rundown on the Warriors
- WSU was predicted to finish eighth in this year's GLIAC coaches' preseason poll.
- Like every other GLIAC team, the Eagles will be relieved that they won't face Bell this season. The former WSU tailback is one of the most productive backs in NCAA Division II history. He's with the Philadelphia Eagles.
- WSU won at Lake Erie last week despite being outgained, 498-315. Lake Erie lost four fumbles, threw an interception and was penalized 12 times for 121 yards.
- The Warriors' lone loss came at Michigan Tech, 24-7 on Sept. 18.
- Wayne State is tied for second in the GLIAC in turnover margin (+10/+1.67).
- The Warriors are fourth in the conference in rushing offense (204.0 ypg.) and fourth in both punt return average (12.4 ypr.) and kickoff return average (23.5 ypr.).
The Catchall on the Catchers
Since Owens arrived at AU, the Eagles have had a star-studded cast of wide receivers. That group includes Mike Hull, Dalorean "Skip" White, David Ziegelhofer, Brandon Gilmore, Johnny Long, Nick Bellanco, Christian Livingston and Horn.
Horn enters this week second in career receptions (140) at AU. A two-time second team All-GLIAC selection, he's second in career receiving yards (2,205) and career touchdown receptions (19). Hull is the career leader in catches (183). Chris Harkness is the school's leader in career receiving yards (2,327) and touchdown receptions (23). Horn needs 123 yards to pass Harkness in career receiving yards.
Ziegelhofer is third in career receptions (135), Bellanco is fifth (123) and Gilmore is eighth (107). White and Long, both transfers, did not play long enough to get on that list, but they were big-play artists. Of this group, only Long (2008) was a first team all-conference selection.
"Skip really had that quickness," said Owens. "We could run reverses with him, throw the ball long. We didn't do that (throw long) as much then. Skip could get behind defenses, we just couldn't get him the ball. Gilmore was as talented a guy as we've had on the perimeter. Nick, like Joe, could really stretch the zone. Johnny was just the complete player. Ziegelhofer was a great guy underneath.
"Mike Hull, we didn't do the things that Mike was best at," admitted Owens. "We didn't run a lot of quick routes that Mike was excellent with. He had as sure a pair of hands as anyone. I don't think I ever saw Mike drop a ball."
In 2008, Long, Bellanco and Horn were together catching passes from Cundiff. Both Bellanco and Horn had over 1,000 receiving yards and Long had 900 receiving yards. Long had 11 touchdown receptions that year, which is a school single-season record. He absolutely terrorized defenses, a number of opposing coaches talked about the problems in controlling him.
In short, it would be hard to go wrong with anyone in this group. Of the Top 10 in career receptions at Ashland, five played under Owens.
Dotting the "I" in Special Teams
Sophomore defensive back Donnie Dottie (Toledo, Ohio/Whitmer) recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff last week to set up Ashland's first score. He ended the game with a team-high seven tackles. All through this season, Dottei has been a special player on special teams. For much of this year, he's toiled in anonymity. His fumble recovery on that opening kickoff against Tiffin brought him some much-deserved recognition.
"He's leading the team in productivity points on special teams," reported Owens. "There's quite a race there, Donnie, Dunson (Alan), Berkshire and Stackhouse (Ryan).
Dottei is a constant presence on the specialty units. He plays on all four kick teams and seems to make a key play every game.
"He's been first or second every week," said Owens of Dottei's rank on the weekly grading chart. "On our kickoff team, he's one of our leading tacklers. He's the quarterback on the punt block team."
Owens points out that Dottei and Stackhouse, both safeties, get 25 to 30 extra snaps by playing on special teams. That keeps them sharp and as their number suggests, adds a sharp edge to the AU special teams.
Detroit Potholes
The Michigan Department of Transportation shouldn't take offense to this, but when the Eagles have headed to Detroit, the road has been filled with potholes.
Ashland has lost on its last two trips to the city. On several occasions during the Owens tenure, the Eagles have battled cold whipping winds and rain. Now, in addition to the elements, teams have to go up against a Wayne State team that's solid in every facet of the game.
"It takes a real level of maturity to go up there and win," Owens said.
This AU team is 0-2 on the road. The coaching staff is anxious to see how this team will react to playing a winning team, on the road, in a tough venue. The thought is that maybe this team is more prepared for this challenge after its first two road encounters in 2010.
"What we didn't do at Indianapolis and Northern Michigan is finish," stated Owens. "We didn't play with poise at the end. If we get into a 60-minute game on the road can we win the last play?"
AU had a 10-6 lead going into the fourth quarter at Indianapolis and lost, 17-12. At Northern Michigan, the Eagles were in front, 19-16, before surrendering a touchdown with 1:40 left in regulation to lose, 23-19.
"We had chances in both games and didn't," said Owens of the Eagles' finishing ability earlier this season. "I don't see this team (Wayne State) as a whole lot different than the other two teams. I'd like to think we've grown up."
Workhorses
McCoy has rushed for 131 yards or more in three consecutive games. That's impressive, but it still puts him behind three other durable backs who played at AU over the last several seasons. That would be Jason Schwalm in 2005, Antwan Hart in 2004 and Dawon Harvey in 2007. Look at their best three-game stretches from those seasons.
In 2004, Hart had seven consecutive 100-yard games. Schwalm never had more than three consecutive 100-yard games in 2005.
Schwalm – 2005
Date Opp. Carries Yards Ypc
Oct. 22 Wayne State 45 292 6.5
Oct. 29 Findlay 37 182 4.9
Nov. 5 Indianapolis 37 209 5.6
TOT 119 683 5.7
Hart – 2004
Date Opp. Carries Yards Ypc
Oct. 23 Wayne State 34 178 5.2
Oct. 30 Findlay 34 158 4.6
Nov. 6 Indianapolis 35 208 5.9
TOT 103 544 5.3
Harvey – 2007
Date Opp. Carries Yards Ypc
Oct. 27 Findlay 12 124 10.3
Nov. 3 Wayne State 13 198 15.2
Nov. 10 Gannon 13 143 11.0
TOT 38 465 12.2
McCoy – 2010
Date Opp. Carries Yards Ypc
Sept. 25 No. Michigan 28 137 4.9
Oct. 2 Northwood 28 131 4.7
Oct. 9 Tiffin 15 144 9.6
TOT 71 412 5.8
On Deck
Ashland returns home next Saturday (Oct. 23, 1 p.m.) for a GLIAC game against Saginaw Valley State.
AU
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