Every week, the Ashland University football team films its games so the coaches can break down film.
That might not be necessary this week. After losing at Northern Michigan, 23-19 Saturday (Sept. 25), the AU players and coaches will have a 12-hour bus road to review the game in their minds.
Take that lengthy ride and the way this game transpired and the coaching staff might just have a breakdown without breaking down film. This might cause a different form of road rage.
The Eagles (1-3/0-3 GLIAC) lost for the third consecutive week. This is the first time AU has started 0-3 in the conference since 2002. It is the first time the Eagles did not score an offensive touchdown since losing to Findlay, 7-0 in 2006.
Ashland reached season highs in penalties (nine) and penalty yards (75). As sad as all of those numbers are, the Eagles led Northern Michigan (3-1/3-0), 19-16 with seven minutes left in regulation. Then the Wildcats embarked on a 12-play, 75 yard-drive that culminated in a 5-yard scoring run by Jared Buss with 1:40 remaining in regulation. Rockne Belmonte's PAT gave the 'Cats that final four-point margin.
On their last possession, the Eagles picked up one first down. On a third-and-12 play from the AU 30-yardline, quarterback Taylor Housewright (Ashland, Ohio) found slot back D.J. McCoy (Cleveland, Ohio/Collinwood) for an 11-yard completion. On fourth-and-one from the AU41, McCoy was stopped for no gain. That was one of the few times all afternoon he was stonewalled. The junior rushed for 137 yards on 28 carries. That's the fourth 100-yard game of his career and his first since Oct. 3, 2009, when he gouged Wayne State for 170 yards on 38 carries.
The Eagles received 13 points from junior Gregg Berkshire (Ashland, Ohio). Berkshire was four-for-five on field goal tries, hitting from 44, 40, 50 and 20 yards. He was perfect on his only extra point of the afternoon. This is the second time in his career Berkshire has had four field goals in a game, he also managed that a year ago at home against Indianapolis. The 50-yarder is the longest of Berkshire's career. Berkshire's previous long was established last week, a 48-yarder against Hillsdale.
Ashland's only touchdown came on a 20-yard fumble recovery by safety Quinton Scott (Fort Wayne, Ind./Indiana State). In addition to the fumble recovery, Scott had six tackles (five solo), a sack (four yards) and an interception.
Once again, the Eagles struggled on their opponent's side of the field. As comforting as it is to see a kicker be as consistent as Berkshire, it would mean more if some of those drives resulted in touchdowns. The Eagles did not have a turnover in this game, which is a large improvement of the last two weeks (five interceptions, six turnovers), but with better efficiency on offense, this is a game they could have won.
AU led, 3-0 with 9:25 left in the first quarter on a 44-yard field goal by Berkshire. That lead swelled to 6-0 on a 40-yarder by Berkshire with 9:06 left in the half. The 'Cats wiped out that deficit on two plays, both by elusive quarterback Carter Kopach. For most of the first half, the AU defense was outstanding. Kopach found enough daylight to make two big plays and he didn't misfire. He had two touchdown runs – of 41 and 52 yards. That 52-yard jaunt is the longest rushing play AU has permitted this season.
Kopach's first score came with 7:04 left in the first half. His second came with 4:12 left on the first-half clock. Kopach rushed for 109 yards on 25 carries and completed 7-of-15 passes for 79 yards. The Eagles sacked him five times.
The Eagles closed to within 14-9 on Berkshire's 50-yard field goal with 7:18 to play in the third quarter. NMU responded with a safety, tackling wide receiver Joe Horn (Waynesfield, Ohio/Waynesfield-Goshen) in the end zone on a running play with 2:13 left in the third quarter. The play lost eight yards. At that point, the 'Cats were in front, 16-9.
Scott's touchdown came with 1:16 left in the quarter when Kopach was sacked by defensive lineman Jeris Pendleton (Chicago, Ill./Joliet Junior College) for an 18-yard loss. Scott recovered the ball and rambled into the end zone for the first touchdown of his Ashland career. The interception was this third since arriving at AU in 2009.
The Eagles took their final lead, 19-16 on an 11-play, 61-yard drive that ended with Berkshire's final field goal, this one from 20 yards with seven minutes left in regulation. McCoy carried six times on that possession and gained 48 yards. AU had first-and-goal at the NMU 10-yard line and got to the 3 on third down. The 'Cats stuffed Ethan Webb (Battle Creek, Mich./Pennfield) for no gain on a running play and that made the call for Berkshire necessary.
NMU responded with that long drive that ended with the Buss touchdown. AU had too little time and too much field to negotiate in mounting a comeback.
Housewright was 12-of-20 passing for 103 yards. For the second straight week, Horn was held to one catch, this time for seven yards. As for the AU defense, those five sacks amounted to 38 yards in lost real estate for NMU.
The Eagles are back home next Saturday (Oct. 2, 1 p.m.), hosting Northwood.
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