2011 Ashland University Football – Week 7
Wayne State (6-0/5-0 GLIAC) at Ashland (4-2/4-1 GLIAC)
Saturday, Oct. 15, 2 p.m.
Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field at Dwight Schar Athletic Complex
Hear, Here
This week's Wayne State-at-Ashland game can be heard live on WNCO-AM (1340) with Matt Brubaker handling the play-by-play and Don Graham providing the commentary. The game can be heard at www.wncoam.com. The campus radio station, WRDL-FM (88.9), will also air the game live with Marcus Walsh handling the play-by-play.
Looking Ahead and Behind
The Eagles face one of their most challenging games of the season this week. AU, Wayne State and Hillsdale are locked in a battle for the GLIAC South Division title and berths in the NCAA playoffs.
Ashland has a three-game winning streak. A week ago, the Eagles won at Tiffin, 70-13. Ashland is listed among, "Others Receiving Votes,' in this week's AFCA Top 25 poll.
Wayne State is the only GLIAC team that is still without a loss. The Warriors are ranked sixth in the country and have the nation's longest winning streak at 10 games. WSU played at home last week and downed Lake Erie, 45-24.
For both teams, this is the start of a difficult middle-of-the-season run. After this Saturday's game, AU will play on Thursday night (Oct. 20, 8 p.m.) at 4-1 Saginaw Valley State. Wayne State goes to Hillsdale next Saturday. HC is 4-2 overall and 4-1 in league action.
It is homecoming this week at Ashland.
The Ashland-Wayne State Series
Ashland possesses a 20-6 lead in the all-time series with WSU. The teams first met in 1975. The Eagles won last year's game in Detroit, 40-35. AU has won three of the last four meetings. This is Wayne State's first trip to Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field at the Dwight Schar Athletic Complex. The Warriors last played in Ashland in 2008. Wayne State's last victory in Ashland came in 2003 by a 29-19 score.
This series has seen some incredible numbers. In the 2007 game the Eagles won, 63-42 and set a school record for total offense in a game – 721 yards. The teams combined for 1,256 yards of total offense (WSU had 535 yards). That's also a school record for most combined total yards in a game.
The 2005 game saw AU tailback Jason Schwalm set school, single-game records for yards rushing (292) and rushing attempts (45). That game was played in the wind, rain and mud and AU prevailed, 27-3.
Former AU quarterback Billy Cundiff had one of the most prolific games of his career in the 2007 matchup with WSU when he completed 16-of-23 passes for 379 yards and five touchdowns. That's one of two times in his career he threw five touchdown passes in a game. His TD passes went for 16, 50, 65, 44 and 25 yards.
In the 2002 game at WSU, Ashland kicker Austin Wellock set a school, single-game record with six field goals. That also tied the NCAA Division II record for field goals in a game. Ashland held on to win, 25-20.
In 1990, AU's Mark Ambos averaged 50.3 ypp., against the Warriors. That's the best single-game mark in school history.
The Eagles have put together seven- and six-game winning streaks against WSU. Wayne State has never won consecutive games against the Eagles.
A look at the recent games between the schools can be found below.
2010 – Ashland 40, at Wayne State 35 – Quarterback Taylor Housewright (Ashland, Ohio) completed 21-of-30 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns. AU trailed, 28-27 entering the fourth quarter. The Eagles went ahead to stay, 33-28 when Housewright found wide receiver Christian Livingston with a 51-yard scoring pass with 10:05 left in regulation. Slot back D.J. McCoy (Cleveland, Ohio/Collinwood) rushed for 120 yards on 35 carries. WSU quarterback Mickey Mohner completed 30-of-45 passes for 355 yards and five touchdowns. Wide receiver Troy Burrell had 12 catches for 187 yards and three touchdowns.
2009 – at Wayne State 47, Ashland 40 – The Warriors, ranked 22nd in the nation, scored the winning touchdown with 30 seconds left in regulation when tailback Joique Bell took a pass and ran 45 yards to the end zone. That was Bell's sixth touchdown of the day, he also had five rushing touchdowns. Bell ended the day with 272 yards on 32 carries. McCoy had 170 yards on 38 carries with a touchdown and Cundiff completed 27-of-36 passes for 331 yards and four touchdowns. Horn caught five passes for 127 yards and two scores. AU had a 33-20 halftime lead.
2008 – at Ashland 41, Wayne State 14 – WSU couldn't find a way to control Cundiff, who completed 23-of-30 passes for 338 yards and four scores. Wide receiver Johnny Long hauled in seven passes for 165 yards and two touchdowns. Slot back Dawon Harvey also had a big day with 146 yards rushing on 29 carries. AU led in total yardage, 566-396. Ashland was in front, 20-7 at halftime and had a 34-14 advantage with 8:31 remaining in regulation. This was AU's fourth consecutive win in what would grow into a six-game winning streak.
Ashland's Best Against Wayne State
Julian Goodwine (Dayton, Ohio/Thurgood Marshall) – In his last two games against the Warriors the senior linebacker has 11 tackles and a fumble recovery.
Logan Kerr (Ashland, Ohio) – Kerr, a senior defensive back, has been in on seven tackles in the last two games against the Warriors. In last year's game, he had an interception which he returned 32 yards.
D.J. McCoy (Cleveland, Ohio/Collinwood) – McCoy has been at his best against the Warriors. In three career games against WSU, McCoy has rushed for 314 yards on 77 carries (4.1 ypc.) with three touchdowns. He has two of his career 11, 100-yard games against WSU.
Matt Stoinoff (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain) – Stoinoff has 19 tackles in three career outings against WSU. He has two sacks against the Warriors.
About Ashland
Head coach Lee Owens – Owens is in his eighth season as AU's head coach. His record at Ashland is 53-30. His career record on the college level is 93-91. Before taking over the AU program, Owens spent nine years as the head coach at the University of Akron. Owens has guided the Eagles to a pair of NCAA playoffs appearances (2007, 2008). Owens is the only coach to lead AU to the postseason twice and he's the only coach in school history to win a postseason game (27-16 over Minnesota State, 2008). Owens has won eight or more games in a season at Ashland four times.
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. He 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 there was 33-11-1 and his 1985 team won the state title with a 6-0 triumph over Youngstown Cardinal Mooney in the state championship game. Owens has never held a coaching job outside of Ohio.
Owens is 5-2 in his career against Wayne State.
Eye on the Eagles
Gregg Berkshire (Ashland, Ohio), AU's senior punter-kicker, leads the GLIAC in kick scoring (56 points/9.3 ppg.), field goals (11-of-16/1.8 field goals per game) and extra points (23-of-23, 1.000). He is second in punting (41.7 ypp.) and is fifth in overall scoring. Berkshire is AU's career leader in field goals (51), extra points (141) and points (294). Berkshire is the GLIAC career leader in field goals. Berkshire has 48 field goals in conference play and that breaks the record of 47, established by Saginaw Valley State's Eric Houle (2000-03).
Freshman Jordan McCune (Bellville, Ohio/Clear Fork) anchors the ground game. McCune had 71 yards rushing last week at Tiffin and scored three touchdowns, two rushing and one on a 54-yard pass reception. McCune is fourth in the GLIAC in rushing (602 yards, 5.0 ypc., 100.3 ypg.) and he's fourth in the conference in scoring (60 points/10.0 ppg.). Junior Justen White-Reid (Akron, Ohio/Copley) rushed for a career-high 119 yards on 13 carries last week (9.2 ypc.) with two touchdowns. AU's second-leading rusher behind is another true freshman, Anthony Taylor (Arlington, Va./Washington-Lee). Taylor has rushed for 274 yards on 58 carries (4.7).
Housewright, a junior, has completed 79-of-136 passes (58.1 percent) for 932 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions. Last week at Tiffin, Housewright completed 9-of-13 passes for 258 yards and three touchdowns. Housewright had TD passes of 59, 23 and 54 yards.
Junior wide receiver Anthony Capasso (Columbia Station, Ohio/St. Edward) has a team-leading 24 receptions for 312 yards (13.0 ypc.). He has three touchdown receptions. At Tiffin, Capasso caught four passes for 123 yards with a touchdown. Capasso is fifth in the GLIAC in kickoff return average (22.4 ypr.). True freshman wide receiver Eric Thompkins (Canton, Ohio/South) has 15 catches for 259 yards (17.3 ypc.). He's tied for second on the team in receptions with senior H-Back Mike Knueven (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier).
Sophomore linebacker Cody Bloom (Napoleon, Ohio) is eighth in the conference in tackles (50/29 solo). Bloom is averaging 8.3 tpg. Senior defensive lineman Matt Stoinoff (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain) is second on the club in tackles (40/19 solo) and has a team-high 6.5 tackles for loss. Stoinoff is tied for sixth in the conference in tackles for loss. Last week at Tiffin, Stoinoff intercepted the second pass of his career. Stoinoff returned the steal 25 yards for a touchdown. That was the first TD of his career.
Sophomore defensive lineman Jamie Meder (Parma, Ohio/Valley Forge) is fourth on the team in tackles (32/14 solo) and is tied for third in the league in tackles for loss (7.5/1.25). Senior defensive back Tyler Krummel (Akron, Ohio/Hoban) is third on the team in tackles (35/21 solo). Junior defensive back Donnie Dottei (Toledo, Ohio/Whitmer) had two interceptions last week and has a team-high three picks this season. Dottei is tied for third in the GLIAC in interceptions.
As a team, AU leads the GLIAC in turnover margin (+11/1.83), pass efficiency defense (110.9) and opponent third down conversion rate (26.9). The Eagles are second in the league in interceptions (eight) and red zone offense (88.5 percent). Ashland is third in the GLIAC in scoring (35.7 ppg.) and rush defense (124.0 ypg.)
Ashland In the NCAA
Here's where the Eagles rank in this week's NCAA statistics.
Individual
Berkshire – T4th in Field Goals – 1.83
13th in Punting – 41.7 ypp.
23rd in Scoring – 56 points/9.33 ppg.
McCune - T15th in Scoring – 60 points/10.0 ppg.
25th in Rushing – 100.3 ypg.
Team
Fewest Penalties Per Game – 8th – 4.17
Fewest Penalty Yards Per Game – 9th – 35.0
Opponent Third Down Conversions – 11th – 26.88% (25-of-93)
Red Zone Offense – T14th – 88%
Scoring – 24th – 35.67 ppg.
Turnovers Lost – 2nd – 4
Turnover Margin – 5th – 1.83
Last Look at Last Week
Tiffin is a far piece from Indianapolis, but the way the Eagles began last week's game against the Dragons at Frost-Kalnow Stadium, it was like someone on the coaching staff called out, "Gentlemen, start your engines."
The game was just one minute and nine seconds old when Stoinoff intercepted a James Capello pass and sprinted 25 yards to the end zone for the first touchdown of his career. Before the first quarter was over the Eagles led, 21-0. It was 42-0 at halftime and 49-0 a minute into the second half. Ashland went on to win, 70-13. That's the second highest point total in school history and the fourth largest margin of victory in AU history. The victory was AU's third straight.
The Eagles have never lost to Tiffin. This win upped AU's all-time record against the Dragons to 4-0. Ashland led in total yardage, 590-341. On the ground, the Eagles enjoyed a 293-25 advantage. Ashland averaged 6.1 yards per carry. The Eagles intercepted three passes, recovered a Tiffin fumble and collected a pair of sacks. Tiffin was 3-of-15 on third down.
McCune scored on touchdown runs of 1 and 2 yards. He also caught a 54-yard touchdown pass from Housewright. That is McCune's longest catch of the season. Against Tiffin, AU had receptions of 59, 54 and 42 yards and runs of 69, 29 and 26 yards.
Owens on Last Week's Game
"We did the things we needed to do. With our passing game, that was good. Scoring early, that was good. We played a lot of players. From a morale standpoint, it was a great game."
Gridiron Club Players of the Week
Each week, the Ashland University Gridiron Club presents players of the week for offense, defense and special teams. This week's recipients can be found below.
Game Offense Defense Special Teams
Bloomsburg McCune Pendleton Berkshire
Indianapolis Housewright Pendleton Berkshire
Hillsdale Capasso Meder Soucie
NMU Vermillion Stoinoff Stackhouse
Northwood Knueven Meder Dottei
Tiffin Housewright Dottei Stackhouse
Point of Many Returns
Last week's 70-point explosion at Tiffin ranks as AU's second highest scoring game ever. Listed below are the top games, point-wise in school history.
Year Opponent Result
2010 Lake Erie W, 87-17
2011 at Tiffin W, 70-13
2007 Wayne State W, 63-42
2007 Gannon W, 62-7
Stun and Run
When sophomore Phil Galaska (Strongsville, Ohio) was lost for the season due to injury during preseason camp, there was a fear that the linebacking corps would stutter and stammer like Barney Fife. Instead, the Eagles have seen several young players make breakthroughs and the future now appears bright at the position.
Bloom is a sophomore and Domi-on Combs (East. St. Louis, Ill.) is a true freshman. That duo has hit everything that moves and has rarely been out of position.
"Cody's a really tough guy, which you have to be to be a linebacker and play for Coach Rose," said Owens. "He runs very well for a big player. He's the prototypical college linebacker. He's what you look for at that position. Last year he played mostly special teams. Coming into the season we had a pretty good feel for him. He hasn't let us down. His work ethic during the season is off the charts."
The coaching staff did not have that same kind of feel for Combs.
"The real surprise is Domi-on Combs," raved Owens. "He's just played with such explosiveness. He makes plays all over the place."
Combs, who has earned plaudits for his ability to make plays in space, is tied for fifth on the team in tackles (29/13 solo). Bloom leads the team in total tackles (50) and in solo stops (29).
Runaway Rookie
McCune's running style is straightforward. There is little finesse when he takes the football and heads up field.
Owens talks about the prized rookie in a similar fashion.
"He's played as well as any freshman running back I've ever coached at any level," said Owens.
The latest part of McCune's game to catch the attention of the coaching staff came last Saturday at Tiffin when he took a screen pass and left Tiffin defenders flatter than Kansas on the way to a 54-yard touchdown. Owens points out that each week, a different facet of McCune's game emerges.
"He's growing as a back every week," said the AU head coach. "We thought in camp he was the real deal. He and Taylor both. There were a couple of runs he made at the goal line at Bloomsburg where we said, 'Boy, we haven't had anyone do that here in a long time."
At that point, the coaching staff's major concern was whether McCune could withstand the punishment of a college season. Every Saturday, McCune has provided an answer to that query.
"We haven't sensed it in any way he's let up or regressed in any of his practice habits or game performance," Owens said. "He continues to grow."
No Silent Treatment
Owens and WSU head coach Paul Winters will not engage in a war of words this week. There will be no trash talking. But the two won't avoid each other either.
Winters was an offensive assistant for Owens at Akron. The two are close friends and as of Tuesday afternoon, they had talked twice. The two aren't sharing game strategy, but there will be no cold shoulders extended this week. Don't, however, be misled into thinking either coach will take it easy on the other.
"There's tremendous respect, without a doubt," offered Owens. "He wants to beat us in the worst way and we want to beat him in the worst way. There will be no mercy."
In the Zone
Before they can get in the end zone, Owens believes his team needs to get into another zone. That means getting mentally primed for one of the biggest games of the season.
"What's exciting, as a coach and a player, you hope to be in this situation," explained Owens. "Our guys have taken it serious from the Sunday meeting on. You can tell there's a different level or attention to detail. It's different. It's different and that's good. That's how it's supposed to be when you're on a championship course. As a coach, when you see that, you can step back and let it go."
Owens said there's little need for motivational speeches this week. Instead, he'll try to make sure his team isn't too high or too tight.
Yard Markers and Milestones
- Housewright has moved into a tie for third place with Dave Biondo for career touchdown passes (32). Second place belongs to Mike Healy (35). Cundiff (79) is AU's career leader.
- Dating back to 2009, AU has a seven-game winning streak in October.
- McCoy has led AU in rushing each of the last two seasons. The last player to lead the club in rushing for three consecutive seasons was J.R. McCoy from 2000-02.
- McCune currently leads the Eagles in rushing yardage. The last freshman to lead AU in rushing was Paul Bockmore, with 624 yards in 1999.
- Over the last two weeks, the opposition is 4-of-29 on third down.
- Dating back to last season, AU has scored 30 or more points in 11 of its last 13 games.
- AU's opening-game opponent, Bloomsburg, is ranked third in this week's AFCA poll with a 6-0 record. Saginaw Valley State and Hillsdale are listed among, "Others Receiving Votes."
The GLIAC Chart
The Eagles are third in all-time winning percentage in GLIAC play. Entering the 2011 season 21 schools have played GLIAC football. These records date back to 1973 and include conference games only. Listed below are the top five schools by winning percentage.
School Games W L T Pct.
Grand Valley State 291 232 56 3 .797
Butler 30 22 7 1 .750
Ashland 209 124 85 0 .593
Saginaw Valley State 289 169 117 3 .585
Hillsdale 293 167 125 1 .570
The Scouting Report
Wayne State
Head Coach Paul Winters – Winters is in his eighth season at WSU. This is the only head coaching job he has ever held. Winters is 42-39 at WSU and is tied for first in career victories at the school. Winters has been named the GLIAC coach of the year twice (2006, 2008). A year ago, Wayne State was 9-2 and narrowly missed making the NCAA playoffs. Winters was on the Akron coaching staff when Owens was the head coach of the Zips. The WSU boss has also served as an assistant coach at Toledo and Wisconsin.
Watching Wayne State
WSU was picked to finish first in the South Division in this year's GLIAC coaches' preseason poll…the 2011 senior class is one victory shy of equaling the 1974-77 class (30 wins) as the all-time winningest class in Wayne State history…WSU shares the nation's longest winning streak (10 games) with Colorado State-Pueblo and Washburn…last year's team set a school record for victories (nine) and GLIAC wins (eight)…the Warriors return nine starters on offense and eight on defense from last season.
Warriors on the Warpath
Troy Burrell – A 5-10, 182-pound redshirt senior wide receiver, Burrell has caught 36 passes for 859 yards (23.9 ypc.) and eight scores. In last week's game against Lake Erie, Burrell caught eight passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns. Burrell is the GLIAC leader in receiving yards per game (143.2) and he's third in receptions per game (6.0). Burrell is seventh in the league in all-purpose yards per game (144.8).
Toney Davis – Davis has a team-leading 545 yards rushing (5.2 ypc.) with six touchdowns. He is a 5-10, 212-pound redshirt sophomore.
Aaron Cornett – Cornett, a 6-0, 189-pound cornerback, has 31 tackles (22 solo) and 6.0 tackles for loss (31 yards). He is a redshirt junior.
Nores Fradi – Fradi, a 6-1, 222-pound redshirt freshman linebacker, is tied for first in the conference in sacks (6.0) and is tied for third in tackles for loss (7.5).
Jeremy Jones – Through the first part of this season, few playmakers on defense have performed like Jones. He leads the GLIAC in interceptions (five) and has a team-high 44 tackles (32 solo). Jones, a 5-10, 189-pound senior free safety, has 4.0 tackles for loss (17 yards) and 1.5 sacks (seven yards).
Mickey Mohner – The WSU quarterback has completed 79-of-132 passes (59.8 percent) for 1,477 yards with 15 touchdown passes and two interceptions. He's first in the conference in pass efficiency (188.3) and third in passing yards per game (246.2). The 6-3, 217-pound redshirt junior is seventh in total offense per game (246.0). Last week against Lake Erie, Mohner threw for a school-record 439 yards and tied the school record for TD passes in a game (five). Mohner has had five TD passes in a game twice. The other time came against AU last season.
Josh Renel – Renel teams with Davis to give WSU a two-pronged running attack. The 5-9, 191-pound senior running back has rushed for 543 yards (5.8 ypc.) with six touchdowns. Renel had 128 yards on 21 carries last week.
Ed Viverette – A 6-0, 224-pound redshirt sophomore who lines up at linebacker, Viverette is second in the conference in tackles for loss (8.0) and tied for fourth in sacks (4.0). Viverette has 31 tackles (20 solo).
Owens on the Warriors
"Their offense is explosive. They run as well to the ball as any team we've played since I've been here. They are for real. They have a chance to win them all. It's a big challenge.
"Their secondary is really skilled and tremendously athletic. It's an All-American safety. They're making picks, but they're getting a lot of pressure up front. Their linebackers are tipping balls. They create a lot of havoc. It's been a tough film to look at."
Up Next
Ashland has a quick turnaround for its next game. On Thursday (Oct. 20, 8 p.m.) the Eagles play at Saginaw Valley State.
AU/FB/ALK
