Indy Defense Serves as Foundation in 17-12 Win Over AU

            INDIANAPOLIS – Just beyond Key Stadium, the home of the University of Indianapolis football team, there is a construction site.  By December, an indoor facility for the track and field team will be completed on that ground.  By April, a softball field will be finished that’s just a couple of first downs away from the end zone of Key Stadium.

            Those projects are still under construction and so are the football teams from Ashland and Indianapolis, which met on Saturday night (Sept. 11) in the GLIAC opener for both teams.  Both teams could have used some hard hats that were stored in the trailers next door.

            The two teams pounded away at each other in a physical contest that finally went in favor of Indianapolis, 17-12.  This will be the final game between the two schools in Indianapolis where both are GLIAC members.  After next year, the Greyhounds (2-0/1-0) will depart the GLIAC for the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

            As picturesque as Key Stadium was on a perfect fall evening Saturday, the Eagles (1-1/0-1) won’t be sorry to say good-bye to this facility.  Ashland has lost five of its last seven games in Indianapolis.   Most of those games have been bone-rattling affairs like this one.

            On offense, the Eagles were like a novice carpenter pulling every tool out of a utility belt to see what might work.  Two of AU’s first three possessions ended with interceptions by sophomore quarterback Taylor Housewright (Ashland, Ohio).  The first interception allowed Indy to set up shop at the Ashland 36, but the Eagle defense snuffed out that drive.

            The second pick came with AU deep in the Indianapolis red zone.  Housewright tried to force a ball into the end zone and his pass was intercepted by Alex Byrnes in the end zone.  Housewright finished 24-of-37 for 239 yards with three interceptions.

            “We have a young quarterback and there will be days like these,” said AU head coach Lee Owens.  “We made mistakes that hurt us.  They made fewer mistakes than we did.”

            Housewright did hurt the ‘Hounds with his feet, rushing for a team-high 71 yards. That speaks well of Housewright’s grit and mobility, but it points out that the AU running game needs some help.  After Housewright, no back had more than 35 yards.  This also reveals, in part, what the Greyhounds’ defensive blueprint looked like. They would drop deep, give up the short pass and then congregate at the ballcarrier.  That plan was spearheaded by three human hammers, safety Craig Ray (18 tackles/13 solo) and linebackers Max Davis (15/5) and Mike Dum (10/3).

            “We have to be able to hand the ball to the tailback and gain some yards,” admitted Owens.

 AU’s main game-breaker, wide receiver Joe Horn (Waynesfield, Ohio/Waynesfield-Goshen), was held to four catches for 59 yards. He had one catch in the second half.

            Ashland led, 3-0 at halftime thanks to a 36-yard field goal by Gregg Berkshire (Ashland, Ohio) with two seconds left before the intermission.  While the Ashland offense struggled, there was nothing wrong with the defense, which allowed five yards rushing over the first two quarters.

After halftime, the Greyhounds conceded that the running game was middling at best and leaned heavily on a short passing game.  The Greyhounds took a 7-3 lead on their first second-half possession when quarterback Rob Doyle found Mar’Quone Edmonds with a 40-yard scoring pass.  Aaron Puntarelli added the extra point.

            Ashland cut the margin to 7-6 with 5:58 remaining in the third quarter when Berkshire nailed a 33-yard field goal.  That capped a 14-play, 72-yard drive that consumed 6:17.  Berkshire is 3-for-4 on field goal tries this season.

            Indy answered that three-pointer with a 12-play, 62-yard march that ended with a 27-yard Puntarelli field goal.  That came with 50 seconds to play in the third quarter.  Indianapolis had a 10-6 lead entering the fourth quarter. 

            Housewright’s third interception came early in the final quarter. Thanks to a booming punt by Tayran Fakes (seven punts, 41.7 ypc., two inside the 20), Ashland had to begin a drive inside its own 1-yardline.  Housewright was intercepted by linebacker Tyler Peterman on a second-and-seven play at the AU 6-yardline and the ‘Hounds took over on the AU 2.

            “Taylor is such a fighter and he never wants to give up on a play,” said Owens.  “Sometimes you have to do that.”

            The Eagles held on the first three downs.  On third down cornerback Logan Kerr (Ashland, OH) made an exceptional play, batting down a pass intended for Edmonds in the corner of the end zone.  On a fourth-and-two play, the Greyhounds scored on a run up the middle by backup quarterback Paul Corsaro.  The extra point game Indianapolis a 17-6 edge.

            The Eagles pulled to within 17-12 on a 1-yard run by Ethan Webb (Battle Creek, MI/Penfield) with 4:59 left in regulation.  AU went for two, but Housewright was sacked, leaving the Eagles five points shy.

            After that score, AU held on defense and after a punt, took over at its own 24.  That resulted in a four-and-out series.  On third-and-three, slot back Antonio Pickens (Mansfield, Ohio/Lexington) was turned back for no gain. On fourth-and-three, Housewright found H-Back Mike Knueven (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier) with a two-yard pass and Indy took over on downs.  AU had one last possession, but was out of timeouts and could not get past midfield.

            On the bright side, for the second straight week, the Eagles played very well defensively.  Ashland outgained the Greyhounds, 378-242.  Indianapolis had 11 rushing yards and averaged 0.3 ypc.  The Eagles sacked quarterback Rob Doyle three times.

            “We played our hearts out,” stated senior linebacker Carmon Wolfe (Tonawanda, N.Y./Erie C.C.).  “We still had mistakes, we gave up that one touchdown over the top. We’re still making mistakes, we still have to get better.”

            Wolfe is a harsh critic. It’s been a long time since AU put together consecutive defensive games like this, especially against the rush.

            “It’s our defensive line,” answered Wolfe, when asked where the Eagles have improved the most on defense.  “It’s really hard for teams to run the ball.  Those guys up front, Jeris (Pendleton), they’ve made a difference.  Julian (Goodwine) and I are very thankful to be behind those big guys up front.”

            The Eagles return home next Saturday (Sept. 18, 7 p.m.) to play Hillsdale.  The Chargers are ranked 11^th in the country.

                                                                 AU

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