2011 Ashland University Football – Week 8
#23 Ashland (5-2/5-1 GLIAC) at Saginaw Valley State (4-2/4-2)
Thursday, Oct. 20, 8 p.m., University Center, Mich.
Harvey Randel Wickes Memorial Stadium,
Hear, Here
This week's Ashland-at-Saginaw Valley State 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.
This is also the CBS Sports Network NCAA Division II game of the week and is a national broadcast. CBS Sports Network (Direct TV Channel 613) will do the game live and is available to over 95 million households across the country. The game will also be shown live on SportsTime Ohio and FoxSports Detroit. It is simulcast live on NCAA.com.
Looking Ahead and Behind
Last Saturday in Ashland, the Eagles came from behind to stun sixth-ranked Wayne State, 20-17. Ashland scored the game's final 17 points. Down at one point, 17-3, the Eagles broke a 17-17 tie on the game's final play when senior kicker Gregg Berkshire (Ashland, Ohio) was on target with a 43-yard field goal. The loss was the first of the season for Wayne State and ended a 10-game winning streak for the Warriors.
AU enters the SVSU game with a four-game winning streak. The Eagles are tied for the lead in the GLIAC South Division. Ashland is ranked 23rd in this week's AFCA poll. This is the first time AU has been ranked in the Top 25 since Sept. 26, 2009, when the Eagles were ranked 15th in the country.
Saginaw Valley State lost last Saturday night at Indianapolis, 29-20. The Greyhounds returned a pair of interceptions for touchdowns in that game. The Cardinals are one of three teams sitting at the top of the GLIAC North Division with a 4-2 record.
The Ashland-Saginaw Valley Series
The Cardinals lead the series with the Eagles, 10-7. Ashland has won three of the last four games, including last season's matchup at Jack Miller Stadium, 30-24. SVSU's last win over AU came in 2009, at Saginaw Valley, 42-14. Ashland's last win at SVSU came in 2007 in the season opener, 32-27.
AU's longest winning streak against the Cardinals is two games. SVSU put together a five-game winning streak against the Eagles from 2000-06. Of the last four games, three have been decided by six points or less and two have been determined by five points or less. AU head coach Lee Owens is 3-2 against Saginaw Valley State.
A recap of the recent games in the series can be found below.
2010 – at Ashland 30, Saginaw Valley State 24 – The Eagles were clinging to a 17-10 lead entering the final 15 minutes. A 14-yard TD pass from quarterback Taylor Housewright (Ashland, Ohio) to H-Back Mike Knueven (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier) with 2:58 left in regulation put the Eagles in front, 27-17. A Berkshire 40-yard field goal with 1:24 left extended that margin to 30-17. Berkshire had three field goals and the Eagles picked off three passes. SVSU running back Ronnie Lark had 115 yards and a TD on 23 carries while AU slot back D.J. McCoy (Cleveland, Ohio/Collinwood) ran for 140 yards on 35 carries.
2009 – at Saginaw Valley State 42, Ashland 14 – SVSU quarterback Charles Dowdell gave the Eagles fits. He ran for 74 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries (6.7 ypc.) and completed 13-of-19 passes for 206 yards and a score. The Cardinals outgained the Eagles, 424-304. The game was tied, 14-14 after one quarter. SVSU scored the game's final 28 points. The Cardinals were 8-of-14 on third down, had the ball for 35:56 and their average starting field position was their own 43-yardline.
2008 – at Ashland 31, Saginaw Valley State 28 – The Eagles had a 24-0 lead at halftime, but ended up holding on for dear life. SVSU scored on a 33-yard pass from Dan Stiefel to Galen Stone with 8:16 left in regulation to bring the Cardinals to within three points at 31-28. The Eagles held onto the ball for the next 4:41 and drove to the SVSU 4 before giving the ball away on a fumble. After that, the AU defense took over, not allowing the Cardinals to advance past their own 18 on their final drive. AU wide receiver Nick Bellanco caught nine passes for 137 yards and two touchdowns. Linebacker Tommy Brenner had 14 tackles (eight solo) and two sacks (18 yards). The victory gave the Eagles a six-game winning streak.
Ashland's Best Against Saginaw Valley State
Gregg Berkshire (Ashland, Ohio) – In his career, Berkshire is 5-of-7 on field goal tries against the Cardinals. Two of those three-pointers have been longer than 40 yards. He is 9-for-9 on extra points against SVSU. A year ago, he punted three times against the Cardinals and averaged 59.3 ypp., with a career-long 68-yarder.
Logan Kerr (Ashland, Ohio) – Kerr, a senior defensive back, had 10 tackles (all solo) and an interception in last year's game. In 2009, he had three tackles (all solo) and a pass breakup against the Cards.
Tyler McFarlin (Ashland, Ohio) A safety, McFarlin has 15 tackles and an interception in the last two games against SVSU.
Matt Stoinoff (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain) – Stoinoff has 17 tackles in three career games against the Cardinals.
About Ashland
Head coach Lee Owens – Owens is in his eighth season as AU's head coach. His record at Ashland is 54-30. His career record on the college level is 94-91. 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.
Eye on the Eagles
Berkshire, AU's senior punter-kicker, had another big week last week. Berkshire kicked the first game-winning field goal of his career last week, connecting from 43 yards out on the final play of the game to send AU past Wayne State, 20-17. That was one of two field goals he had in the game. Berkshire also punted four times and averaged 39.5 ypp., with a long punt of 52 yards. Those numbers earned the senior the GLIAC special teams player of the week. This is the second time this season, and the sixth time in his career, Berkshire has won that award.
Berkshire is the GLIAC leader in field goals (13-of-18/1.86 per game), kick scoring (64 points/9.1 ppg.) and point-after-touchdowns (25-of-25). He is fourth in the conference in overall scoring. Berkshire is Ashland's career leader in field goals (53), extra points (143) and points (302). Berkshire is the GLIAC's career leader in field goals (50). The senior has twice kicked 16 field goals in a season and that's the AU school record. He obviously has a chance to exceed that total this season.
Eric Schwieterman (Norwalk, Ohio/St. Paul), a redshirt freshman defensive back, is this week's GLIAC defensive player of the week. This is the first time in his career he has claimed that award. Schwieterman had six tackles (three solo) and two interceptions (47 return yards) against Wayne State. His last pick came in the game's closing seconds and allowed the Eagles to get Berkshire on the field for the game winner. Schwieterman leads AU in interceptions (four). He is tied for second in the conference in thefts.
AU defensive linemen Jamie Meder (Parma, Ohio/Valley Forge) and Matt Stoinoff (Cincinnati, Ohio/Colerain) are among the league leaders in tackles for loss. Both players have 7.5 tackles for loss. They are tied for sixth in the conference in tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Stoinoff is second on the team in stops (43/20 solo). Another senior defensive lineman, Jeris Pendleton (Chicago, Ill./Joliet Junior College), is fourth on the team in tackles (37/15 solo). Meder is fifth on the team in stops (36/16). Ashland's leading tackler is sophomore linebacker Cody Bloom (Napoleon, Ohio). Bloom has 63 tackles (34 solo) and is tied for fifth in the GLIAC in tackles per game (9.0). Last week he had 13 stops (five solo), which is one shy of his career high.
Another key member of the defense is senior defensive back Tyler Krummel (Akron, Ohio/Hoban). He's third on the team in tackles (43/25) with one interception and a team-high five pass breakups.
Freshman slot back Jordan McCune (Bellville, Ohio/Clear Fork) is fifth in the conference in rushing (682 yards, 4.8 ypc., 97.4 ypg.). McCune is also fifth in scoring (60 points/8.6 ppg.) and fourth in touchdowns. Another freshman slot back, Anthony Taylor (Arlington, Va./Washington-Lee), is second on the team in rushing with 314 yards (5.0 ypc.).
Housewright, a junior, has completed 88-of-152 passes (57.9 percent) for 1,010 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions. Junior wide receiver Anthony Capasso (Columbia Station, Ohio/St. Edward) has a team-leading 28 receptions for 343 yards (12.2 ypc.). He has three touchdown receptions. Capasso is fifth in the GLIAC in kickoff return average (22.4 ypr.). True freshman wide receiver Eric Thompkins (Canton, Ohio/South) has 16 catches for 264 yards (16.5 ypc.).
The Eagles lead the GLIAC in turnover margin (+12/1.71), opponent third down conversion rate (30.6 percent/33-of-108), pass efficiency defense (107.6) and red zone offense (89.7 percent/26-of-29). The Eagles are third in total defense (323.7 ypg.) and rushing defense (126.7 ypg.).
Ashland In the NCAA
Here's where the Eagles rank in this week's NCAA statistics.
Individual
Berkshire – T3rd in Field Goals Per Game – 1.86
16th in Punting – 41.5 ypp.
22nd in Scoring – 64 points/9.14 ppg.
McCune - 24th in Rushing – 97.43 ypg.
T25th in Scoring – 60 points/8.57 ppg.
Team
Fewest Penalties Per Game – 11th – 4.57
Fewest Penalty Yards Per Game – 7th – 37.86 ypg.
Fumbles Lost – T9th - 3
Interceptions Thrown – T2nd - 2
Opponent Third Down Conversions – 25th – 30.56%
Red Zone Offense – 9th – 90% (26-of-29)
Turnovers Lost – T2nd - 5
Turnover Margin – 4th - +1.71
Last Look at Last Week
For three quarters last week, the Eagles found themselves on the losing end of a battle with Wayne State and Mother Nature. Winds that gusted to 40 miles per hour made it difficult to throw the ball and survive on special teams. Wayne State had grabbed an early lead and kept adding to it, entering the fourth quarter the Eagles were behind, 17-3.
But the Eagles got the wind – physically - for the fourth quarter and they also got their second wind. AU scored 17 fourth quarter points to down the Warriors, 20-17. The game ended with Berkshire drilling a 43-yard field goal to break a 17-17 tie. Wayne State entered the game unbeaten and ranked sixth in the country. This is the highest ranked foe the Eagles have beaten since 1997 when they upset fourth-ranked Ferris State in Big Rapids, Mich. 26-7.
In the fourth quarter, Housewright found sophomore wide receiver David Soucie (Wadsworth, Ohio) with a 2-yard scoring pass with 10:58 left in regulation. That was the first touchdown reception of Soucie's career and his fourth catch of the year. That left AU looking at a 17-10 deficit.
With 6:23 left in regulation, Taylor capped a nine-play, 48-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown run. Berkshire's extra point tied the game, 17-17. WSU took the kickoff and held the ball until Schwieterman intercepted a Mickey Mohner pass at the AU 24 with approximately 20 seconds to play. The AU defensive back returned the ball to the AU 44.
AU had the ball and 12 seconds showed on the game clock. The Eagles ran a draw play for Taylor, who ripped off a career-high 30-yard run to the WSU 26. That set the stage for Berkshire's game winning kick.
AU intercepted Mohner twice and defensive back Mike McMillan (Hagerstown, Md./Mendocino College) blocked a 19-yard field goal attempt. The Eagles led in total yards, 244-242.
Owens on Last Week's Game
"It was a really big win. Our guys stood up and made plays at the end. That was the difference. I'm probably more impressed with Wayne State after watching the tape. They are a really good football team."
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
Wayne State Taylor Schwieterman Berkshire
Special Mention for Special Teams
A year ago when Ashland held off Saginaw Valley State, 30-24 at Jack Miller Stadium, the special teams enjoyed one of its best days of the year. Capasso returned a kickoff 82 yards for a touchdown. Berkshire was 3-for-4 on field goal tries and punted three times and averaged 59.3 ypp., with a career-long 68-yarder. Two of his punts landed inside the 20-yardline. Saginaw Valley State's average starting field position was its own 29 yardline.
"Field position was huge," said Owens. "Offensively, they had a pretty good day. Offensively we didn't have a good day. Special teams was a big part of our win that day. They kept us in the game."
The Cardinals outgained the Eagles last year, 400-331. SVSU converted 8-of-17 third down attempts and went 2-for-4 on fourth down. Owens keeps a statistic he calls, "hidden yards," and says the Eagles had one of their best efforts of the season in the Saginaw Valley State game.
The Eagles have returned a kickoff for a touchdown in each of the last two games against Saginaw Valley. In the 2009 game at SVSU, Carlin Isles returned a kickoff 100 yards for a score. That's the longest kickoff return in school history.
Catch Phase
Throughout this season, the Eagles have looked for youngsters to emerge at wide receiver. From week to week the names have changed as AU looks for a dependable wide receiver to establish himself.
Over the last two weeks, Soucie has been involved in more activity than he was earlier in the year. He's now AU's primary punt returner and last week, he snared the first touchdown pass of his career.
"We need to get him the ball more," stated Owens. "David continues to impress us in practice. When he has gotten a chance in a game he's impressed us."
In reality, there's still time for any of the wide receivers to move to the forefront. Owens emphasized again this week that he's hoping someone can go on a tear and become a go-to receiver.
"He's not 18," said Owens, in reference to Soucie and the fact that the Eagles are so young at wide receiver. "We'll give him a shot."
Safety Net
Schwieterman will miss this week's game with a knee injury. The redshirt freshman sustained an injury while returning his second interception last week. Schwieterman was in the midst of a stellar freshman campaign. A year ago, the coaches raved about his ability and there were times when they were tempted to lift his redshirt and play him.
Schwieterman lived up to all the expectations that followed him from his hometown of Norwalk, Ohio. This year he has 34 tackles (21 solo), a team-high four interceptions and an uncharted number of bone-jarring tackles. He brought a physical presence to the secondary and once he established himself, the defensive backfield came together as a cohesive unit.
With Schwieterman on the shelf, the Eagles will turn to senior Ryan Stackhouse (Ashland, Ohio). Owens was quick to point out that the Eagles are fortunate that they don't have to go with a youngster like they have sometimes had to do in the past. Stackhouse is one of Ashland's most accomplished special teams players and he has experience in the secondary.
"Ryan is a veteran, he's good at making plays with the ball in the air," said Owens.
Purple and Gold, Black and Blue
Last week's game was not for the faint of heart and that had nothing to do with the dramatic ending. Owens described this as one of AU's most physical games of the year. McCune is one player who would not disagree with that assessment.
"It's the most physical anybody's been with him," noted Owens. "He took some shots early in the game. We hoped to throw the ball a little bit more."
McCune had 21 carries for 80 yards against Wayne State.
Because this is a short week of practice, the tendency is to wonder how AU and SVSU will bounce back from Saturday's game. The SVSU-Indianapolis game started at 6 p.m., and the Cardinals didn't get back home until the wee hours of the morning.
Owens pointed out two things when asked about this. First, college players are young and have the ability to bounce back in a hurry. Second, at this point in the season just about every team in the country is looking for an extra aspirin tablet.
"The important thing is you stay strong mentally," observed Owens.
Yard Markers and Milestones
- Housewright has moved into third place for career touchdown passes (33) at AU. Second place belongs to Mike Healy (35). Billy Cundiff (79) is AU's career leader.
- Dating back to 2009, AU has an eight-game winning streak in October.
- How balanced is this AU defense? The Eagles have eight players with 30 or more tackles.
- This is AU's fifth night game of the season. AU is 2-2 under the lights this season.
- Last week's crowd of 4,528 is the second largest in the history of Jack Miller Stadium.
- Stoinoff has 26.5 career tackles for loss, which puts him fifth in school history. Fourth place belongs to Bobby Mercer (27.0-146).
- Wayne State's average field position was the WS43. The only team to enjoy a better average field position this year was Bloomsburg (BU44) in the season opener.
- Bloomsburg, AU's opening day opponent, is 7-0 and ranked second in the nation.
The GLIAC Chart
The Eagles are fourth 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 .802
Butler 30 22 7 1 .750
Saginaw Valley State 289 181 110 3 .616
Ashland 209 124 85 0 .593
Hillsdale 293 167 125 1 .572
The Scouting Report
Saginaw Valley State
Head Coach Jim Collins – Collins is in his fourth season at SVSU. He came to the Cardinals after building Capital into one of the top NCAA Division III programs in the nation. At Capital, Collins was 66-51 in 11 years. His last three teams at Capital advanced to the NCAA playoffs. Three times Collins was recognized as the Ohio Athletic Conference coach of the year. Collins has also served as the head coach at the University of Dubuque. As a head coach, Collins is 94-90 in 18 years. At SVSU, Collins is 24-19. In 2009, he led the Cardinals to a 9-3 record and a berth in the NCAA playoffs.
Reading About the Redbirds
SVSU was picked to finish third in this year's GLIAC Coaches' preseason poll…last year's team went 4-7, 4-6 in the conference…Wickes Stadium has a new look since AU's last visit. Since last season the school has made the following upgrades – installation of lights, a new scoreboard and a new synthetic playing surface…the Cards run a spread offense and use a 4-3 defense…SVSU defensive coordinator Todd Stepsis is an AU graduate. He played for the Eagles for four years and his father, Ron Stepsis, coached at AU under Dr. Fred Martinelli and Gary Keller…the Cards lead the GLIAC in pass efficiency (173.6) and in fewest sacks allowed (four). The Cardinals are second in pass offense (279.3 ypg.), third down conversion rate (39-of-77/50.6 percent) and punt return average (9-117/13.0 ypr.).
High-Flying Cardinals
Grant Casserta – No one in the conference averages more tackles per game than the 6-2, 220-pound Casserta. The linebacker has 63 stops (29 solo) and averages 10.5 tpg. He has 3.5 tackles for loss.
Nick Gallina – SVSU's senior wideout has caught 36 passes for 566 yards (15.7 ypc.). Gallina is third in the GLIAC in receiving yards per game (94.3) and fourth in receptions per game (6.0). Last week at Indy, the 5-8, 175-pound Gallina had eight catches for 155 yards and a touchdown.
Jeff Heath – A 6-4, 170-pound defensive back, Heath has 46 tackles (35 solo) and 7.0 tackles for loss (24 yards).
Tim Hogue – Hogue is fourth in the GLIAC in all-purpose yards per game (153.7). He has a team-high 327 yards rushing (5.3 ypc.). At Indianapolis, he gained 82 yards on 14 carries. The 5-8, 185-pound Hogue has averaged 23.5 ypr., on 21 kickoff returns.
Jonathon Jennings – Jennings, the SVSU quarterback, is in the midst of an excellent sophomore season. He's the GLIAC leader in passing yards per game (279.3), pass efficiency (173.6) and total offense (318.0 ypg.). The 6-2, 185-pound quarterback has completed 116-of-171 passes (67.8) for 1,676 yards with 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Last week, Jennings completed 20-of-34 passes for 307 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.
Darius Middlebrooks – A defensive back, Middlebrooks has 46 tackles (25 solo) with two fumble recovers. The 5-11, 200-pound senior had 11 tackles last week.
Brandon Williams – A 6-3, 250-pound senior defensive lineman, Williams has 30 tackles (13 solo) and 6.5 tackles for loss.
Owens on the Cardinals
"We really anticipate going into a hornet's nest. We saw the emotion and frenzy they played with against Ferris State and Northwood. It's a charged atmosphere they've created there and we anticipate the same thing. Their backs are against the wall, they can't lose another.
"He (Jennings) runs really well and he throws it better than he did a year ago. He's really good. You can't seem to get a hit on him. Right now, he's the best player in the league with what he's doing. They're pretty good up front with the offensive line and he makes you miss. He'll pull it down and run. His supporting cast might be a little better than last year. He's got four good receivers. It's given him a chance to put up some good numbers."
Up Next
Next Saturday (Oct. 29, 1 p.m.) the Eagles return home to host Findlay.
AU/FB/ALK
