Notre Dame (3-7/2-7 GLIAC) at #5 Ashland (10-0/9-0)
Saturday, Nov. 10, 1 p.m., Senior Day
Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field at Dwight Schar Athletic Complex
Sights and Sounds
This Saturday's Notre Dame-at-Ashland game will be broadcast 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 wncoam.com. The campus radio station, WRDL-FM (88.9), will also air the game live. SportsTime Ohio will be showing the game on a tape-delay basis. Ted Klopp and Ken Dworznik will be in the STO broadcast booth. The game will air on STO on Sunday (Nov. 11) at 5 a.m., and on Tuesday (Nov. 13) at noon.
Looking Ahead and Behind
The Eagles have clinched the first GLIAC football championship in school history. With a win on Saturday, these 2012 Eagles will become the first Ashland football team to finish the regular season unbeaten since the 1972 Eagles were 11-0. Three teams in school history have ended the year without a loss. In addition to the 1972 team, the 1954 team was 7-0 and the 1967 team was 8-0-1.
This year's team is just the second in school history to have 10 or more wins. Again, the only other team to do that was the 1972 team.
AU is ranked fifth in the nation in the AFCA Top 25 poll. This is the second consecutive week the Eagles have held that spot. That's the highest ranking for the Eagles since they became an NCAA Division II institution. In 1972, the Eagles were ranked fourth in the final Associated Press Small College Football poll. In the UPI rankings, the Eagles were seventh. In this week's d2football.com national poll the Eagles are ranked eighth.
Ashland is ranked second in the NCAA Division II Super 4 Regional rankings. If the Eagles finish the season ranked first or second in the region, they will receive a first-round bye and will open the postseason at home on Nov. 24. The Eagles have advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs four times in school history – 1986, 1997, 2007 and 2008.
GLIAC commissioner Dell Robinson is scheduled to be in town for Saturday's game. He will present the GLIAC championship trophy to the Eagles at the conclusion of the game.
The Notre Dame College Falcons are making their first visit to Ashland. The Falcons come to town riding a two-game winning streak. Last week, NDC came from behind to stun Walsh, 31-28. The Falcons scored the winning touchdown with six seconds to play in regulation.
Ashland-Notre Dame
This is the first meeting between the Eagles and Falcons. This is Notre Dame's first and last season in the GLIAC. The institution has announced that it will be cutting ties with the conference after this season.
Ashland Head Coach Lee Owens
Lee Owens is in his ninth season as AU's head coach. He was named to that position in December, 2003. He is the 14th head coach in AU football history.
- Owens is 65-33 at Ashland. He is second in career wins, trailing only Dr. Fred Martinelli (217). Owens is second in career winning percentage (.664) at AU. The only coach he trails is Bob Brownson (.672/1954-57). Martinelli is third (.641/1959-63).
- Owens has guided the Eagles to the NCAA playoffs twice (2007, 2008). He is the only football coach in school history to do that and he is the lone Ashland football coach to win a postseason game (27-16 over Minnesota State, 2008).
- Under Owens, the Eagles have won eight or more games in a season five times and have won nine or more games three times (10-0/2012, 9-2/2005, 9-4/2008). He went 5-6 in his first season at Ashland (2004). In the two seasons before he arrived the Eagles won a total of four games.
- Since Owens became the head coach 10 players have been recognized as All-Americans. Last year, defensive lineman Jeris Pendleton was taken in the seventh round of the NFL draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He's the first AU player to be drafted since 1972.
- Before arriving at AU, Owens spent nine years as the head coach at the University of Akron. His career record as a college head coach is 105-94. He also served as an assistant coach under John Cooper at Ohio State (1992-95).
- As a high school head coach in Ohio, Owens had an 89-32-2 mark in 11 seasons. His 1985 Galion team won a state title with a 14-0 record. Owens was also the head coach at Massillon Washington (1988-92), Lancaster (1987), Galion (1983-87) and Crestview (1981-82).
- Owens is a 1977 Bluffton College graduate and he earned his master's degree at AU in 1981.
Last Look at Last Week
Ashland shot out to a 21-0 lead after one quarter last week and cruised home for a 49-21 win over Tiffin at Frost-Kalnow Stadium in Tiffin. The win was AU's fifth straight over the Dragons.
Senior quarterback Taylor Housewright (Ashland, Ohio) completed 19-of-27 passes for 253 yards and four touchdowns. Housewright has thrown a quartet of TD passes in a game four times this season. In this game, his scoring passes measured 8, 2, 33 and 21 yards. Ashland's leading receiver was sophomore wideout Eric Thompkins (Canton, Ohio/South), who had six receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown. Senior wide receiver Anthony Capasso (Columbia Station, Ohio/St. Edward) had four catches for 95 yards and a score and sophomore wide receiver Dan Piko (Oak Lawn, Ill./Marist Academy) caught four passes for 69 yards.
On the ground, sophomore tailback Jordan McCune (Bellville, Ohio/Clearfork) gained 88 yards on 11 carries with a touchdown and sophomore tailback Anthony Taylor (Arlington, Va./Washington-Lee) rushed for 61 yards on 21 trips. He also scored a touchdown.
The Eagles outgained the Dragons, 440-295. Junior linebacker Cody Bloom (Napoleon, Ohio) had a career-high 17 tackles (seven solo). Bloom also had a sack (24 yards), a forced fumble and a pass breakup. Senior defensive back Mike McMillan (Hagerstown, Md./Mendocino College) had nine tackles (eight solo) and one tackle for loss (one yard). Sophomore defensive back Chris Harvey (Columbus, Ohio/Walnut Ridge) was in on eight tackles (five solo) with two tackles for loss (10 yards).
For the second time this season the Eagles scored on an on-sides kick. Against the Dragons, junior wide receiver David Soucie (Sagamore Hills, Ohio/Brecksville) picked up the kick and ran 46 yards for a score. In week three at Ferris State, Piko brought back an on-sides kick 43 yards for a touchdown.
NCAA Numbers
Listed below are Ashland's Top 25 rankings in this week's NCAA statistics.
Individual
Category Player Rank Number
Pass Efficiency Housewright 5 172.75
Team
Category Rank Number
Sacks Allowed T5th 0.60
Scoring Defense 6 15.0 ppg.
Pass Efficiency 6 169.57
Total Offense 8 484.20 ypg.
Total Defense 12 289.60 ypg.
Scoring Offense 16 39.7 ppg.
Rushing Defense 17 104.3 ypg.
Pass Defense 25 185.3 ypg.
GLIAC Numbers
The Eagles lead the GLIAC in six major statistical categories – total offense, rushing defense, pass efficiency defense (114.97), total defense, scoring defense and pass efficiency.
Housewright leads the GLIAC in touchdown passes (27) and is second in passing yards per game (271.3) and pass efficiency (172.75).
Capasso is third in the conference in receptions (54) and fourth in receiving yards per game (81.9).
Redshirt freshman kicker Cameron Casey (Rochester, Mich./Adams) is tied for third in the GLIAC in kick scoring with 63 points. Casey is 7-for-7 on field goal tries.
McCune is fifth in the loop in rushing touchdowns (12) and eighth in scoring (78 points/7.8 ppg.).
Taylor is fifth in the GLIAC in rushing yards (965) and sixth in rushing yards per game (96.5). He needs 35 yards to reach 1,000 yards rushing for the first time in his career.
Bloom is sixth in the league in tackles (99).
Regional Rankings
This week's NCAA Division II Super Region 4 rankings are listed below.
Rank Team Record
1 Colorado State-Pueblo 10-0
2 ASHLAND 10-0
3 Chadron State 8-2
4 Midwestern State 8-1
5 Indianapolis 8-2
6 West Texas A&M 8-2
7 Missouri S&T 9-1
8 Grand Valley State 8-2
9 New Mexico Highlands 7-3
10 Saginaw Valley State 7-3
Senior Salute
AU will honor the 17 seniors on this year's team in a pre-game ceremony on Saturday.
This year's senior class includes Mikel Berry (Upper Arlington, Ohio/Penn State), Capasso, Justin Chappell (Cleveland, Ohio/University School), Derek Conti (Vermilion, Ohio/Lorain Southview), DeAndre Davis (Clinton Twp., Mich./Chippewa Valley), Donnie Dottei (Toledo, Ohio/Whitmer), Francois Hagenimana (Centerville, Ohio), Housewright, Tyler Houska (Wadsworth, Ohio/Medina Highland), Jeremy Johnson (Springfield, Ohio/Buffalo), Jacob Lerman (Cincinnati, Ohio/Moeller), Jake Mason (Valley City, Ohio/Padua), Tyler McFarlin (Ashland, Ohio), McMillan, Cory Reisner (Medina, Ohio/Buckeye), Matt Skubik (Plymouth, Mich./Plymouth-Canton) and Justen White-Reid (Akron, Ohio/Copley).
Housewright Update
Housewright saw his string of consecutive passes without an interception end last week at Tiffin. He owns the NCAA Division II record for consecutive passes without a pick – 377.
Housewright is second at AU in career touchdown passes, career yards passing, career completions and career pass attempts. As of this week, Housewright's career completion percentage (65.4) is first, just ahead of Cundiff (64.5).
Housewright has set personal highs this year for completions, pass attempts, yards and touchdown passes. This year, Housewright has completed 205-of-301 passes for 2,713 yards and 27 touchdowns.
As Ashland's starting quarterback, Housewright is 24-8 (75.0 percent). In his career, he's directed the Eagles to victories over three teams ranked in the nation's Top 20. Two of those teams were ranked in the Top 10. Housewright has been nominated for the 2012 Harlon Hill Trophy.
Housewright's career numbers can be found below.
Games Completions Attempts Percent Yards TD Int
37 543 830 65.4 6,901 66 13
Common Denominators
If the Eagles win this week and complete the regular season undefeated, it will be the fourth regular season in school history without a loss. AU completed the regular season without a loss in 1954, 1967 and 1997. Earlier this year, AU defeated Ferris State and Indianapolis. AU also played FSU in 1967 and 1997. The Eagles met Indianapolis in 1954 and 1997.
Powerful Powell
This week the Eagles will get their first look at NDC running back Pedro Powell. The 5-10, 210-pound junior has rushed for a GLIAC-high 1,425 yards. Powell leads the conference in rushing yards per game (142.5) and he's averaging 5.2 ypc. He has 11 rushing touchdowns.
Those aren't the only impressive numbers Powell has produced. He's rushed for over 100 yards in four of his last five games. He gouged a 9-2 Mercyhurst team for 243 yards and he ran over and through Grand Valley State for 240 yards. He terrorized Findlay to the tune of 162 yards.
Three backs have rushed for 100 or more yards against the Eagles this season. Klay Fiechter of Indianapolis had 103 yards on 17 carries, Lake Erie's Anthony Bilal gained 103 yards on 15 attempts and Ohio Dominican rookie Brandon Schoen rushed for 109 yards on 22 carries. Schoen is the last back to break the 100-yard barrier against the Eagles. That was on Oct. 6.
AU is first in the GLIAC in rush defense (104.3 ypg.) and 17th in the country in stopping the run.
Owens says that Powell reminds him of AU's McCune.
"He's got power and really quick feet like Jordan," said Owens. "He's the same size, has the same frame. He's really similar."
Owens believes that stopping Powell comes down, in large part, to being able to handle physical play between the tackles. A year ago, the Eagles figured they would win that battle most of the time due to the presence of Jeris Pendleton. They've come out on top most of this season thanks to Berry, who's had the best season of his career at nose tackle. Berry has 19 tackles (12 solo). That may not seem like much, but nose tackles can't be judged solely on tackles.
"He's drawing blocks, they aren't single-blocking him," noted Owens. "If they can do that you're in trouble."
Owens admits that stopping Powell is a major challenge. Everything on offense figures to start with him. He insists the Eagles can't afford to let Powell pick up yards like he did against Mercyhurst or Findlay.
"We've passed the test every time," said Owens. "This is the next challenge. We can't let him do that to us."
A Slow Boil?
Owens said he had a "lukewarm," feeling about last week's game. The AU head coach wasn't happy with the play of the secondary and thought the Eagles could have played better in the trenches. Tiffin quarterback Dan Pitts completed 29-of-43 passes for 322 yards. AU did pile up five sacks.
"I don't think we took another step forward as a football team," said Owens. "I'm not sure we got better."
It says something about the standard the Eagles have that they are lamenting the way they played and they won by 28 points. But the Eagles would like to have one more quality performance to build on heading into the postseason.
Full Bloom
Bloom led the Eagles in tackles last season with 109 (53 solo). He's the first AU player to reach the century mark in tackles since safety-linebacker Tom Brenner in 2008 (126). Brenner and Bloom are the only AU players to post 100 tackles in the last seven seasons. The last player to notch consecutive 100-tackle seasons was linebacker-safety Devin Conwell (118/2004, 121/2003).
Listed below are the last five AU players to put together consecutive seasons of 100+ tackles. Tim Houseman was the last player to have three consecutive years of 100+ tackles.
Bloom needs one tackle to reach 100 for the season.
Player Position Tackles/Years
Devin Conwell Linebacker 2004-118, 2003-121
Brock Swonguer Linebacker 2001-106, 2000-102
Chad DiFranco Def. Back 1996-121, 1995-134
Tim Houseman Linebacker 1993-125, 1992-143, 1991-104
Ron Greer Linebacker 1991-135, 1990-138.5
More Bloom
Bloom's numbers are similar to last season, but he's not the same player he was a year ago.
Bloom has always been exceptional stopping the run. His challenge has been playing the pass. Owens recalled last year's game at Lake Erie when the Storm threw 23 passes, many of the mid-range variety. Owens said that the Storm was picking on Bloom with those underneath passes. That doesn't happen much anymore.
"He's a run stopper first and getting better at the other parts of the game," praised Owens. "We don't substitute him. We can't afford to take him off the field."
Because of his determination to get better against the pass, keeping Bloom on the field for very snap isn't a liability.
"Cody has a level of intensity you want out of a linebacker," Owens said. "He has that fire in his eye. He only knows one speed. He's in great condition and he has the ability to play fast on every snap."
Gridiron Club Players of the Week
After every game the Eagles win this season, the AU Gridiron Club honors a player of the game for offense, defense and special teams. This year's recipients can be found below.
Game Offense Defense Special Teams
Indianapolis Housewright Gamble Capasso
Wayne State Thompkins Meder Housewright
Ferris State Housewright Houska Casey
No. Michigan Housewright Harrison McFarlin
Lake Erie McCune Bloom Hagenimana
ODU Vermillion Harvey No Recipient
Walsh Renner McFarlin Dottei
Malone Taylor Gamble No Recipient
Findlay Triplett Lerman/Houska Winters
Tiffin McCune Combs Soucie
Yard Markers and Milestones
- AU's all-time record at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field is 15-4 (.790).
- The Eagles are 5-0 at home this season. The last time AU was undefeated at home was in 2007 (4-0).
- AU is yielding 11.2 ppg., at home this season.
- Doug Geiser is the only assistant coach on the Ashland staff who has been with Owens all nine years the head coach has been at AU.
- Capasso has 54 catches this season. This marks the sixth time under Owens a receiver has had 50 or more catches. This is the second time Capasso has reached that level – he had a career-high 53 catches in 2011.
- For the first time in school history, AU has scored 30 or more points in eight consecutive games.
- The Eagles have outscored the opposition, 215-62 in the first half this season.
The Scouting Report – Notre Dame Falcons
Head Coach – Adam Howard (10-22/3rd Season)
Last Year's Record – 5-6
Noteworthy
The Falcons enter this week's game with a two-game winning streak. NDC downed Walsh last week, 31-28 and the week before that, dominated Malone, 36-19…in last week's win, NDC had 122 yards of total offense in the first half and 320 in the second half. The Falcons went ahead to stay on a 38-yard pass play – quarterback Ray Russ hitting wide receiver Colton Wallace with the go-ahead TD pass…NDC is running 77.6 plays per game…over the last six games, the opposition has converted only 28 percent on third down…last week's victory was the 10th in school history and it denied Walsh coach Jim Dennison his 200th career win…the Falcons are 3-17 when they are minus in turnover margin…head coach Adam Howard is a 1997 Wilmington graduate. Before taking over at NDC, he was the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Baldwin-Wallace…the Falcons start six seniors, three on each side of the line of scrimmage.
Watch List
Russ is fourth in the GLIAC in touchdown passes (23) and fifth in passing yards per game (238.4). Last week the 6-0, 185-pound sophomore completed 26-of-43 passes for 286 yards and three touchdowns…Wallace, a 6-1, 189-pound sophomore, has 48 receptions this year for 595 yards (12.4 ypc.) with 14 TD receptions. He had six receptions for 82 yards last Saturday…Mikhail Morgan, a 6-3, 200-pound redshirt sophomore wide receiver, has 51 catches for 582 yards (11.4 ypc.) and two scores…linebacker Michael Lanigan, a 6-2, 205-pound junior, had 15 tackles last week, five in the fourth quarter…NDC's leading tackler is strong safety Mo May. The 6-0, 190-pound junior has 74 tackles (25 solo) and two interceptions…safety Bo Grunder has 71 tackles (29 solo). Grunder is a 5-10, 180-pound junior…safety Josh Remark, a 6-0, 185-pound senior, has 67 tackles (23 solo), five tackles for loss (25 yards) and an interception.
Up Next
The NCAA playoff field will be announced on Sunday (Nov. 11). AU hopes to get a first-round bye and play at home on Saturday, Nov. 24.
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