In a game on Saturday (Oct. 16) afternoon to keep pace with the Great Midwest Athletic Conference pacesetters, Ashland University's football team lost at Tiffin, 27-21.
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The Eagles are 2-4 overall and 1-2 in the Great Midwest, while the Dragons are 5-2, 2-1.
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WHAT HAPPENED
- Both teams traded punts to begin the game, then the Dragons took a short field and converted on a five-yard touchdown run from running back Darius Pinnix to go up 7-0 with 6:47 to go in the opening period.
- Another short field following an interception helped Tiffin to a 13-0 lead late in the first when quarterback Nick Watson found wide receiver Anthony Lowe for a seven-yard score.
- Ashland's offense began to heat up at the end of the first and into the second, and the Eagles cut the deficit to 13-7 when freshman quarterback Trent Maddox found senior fullback Austin Williams for a three-yard touchdown.
- The Dragons regained their two-score advantage at 20-7 with 8:46 left until halftime when Watson and Lowe hooked up for a 39-yard scoring strike.
- Starting the second half, the Eagles raced 77 yards in just four plays, and cut their deficit to 20-14 when sophomore tailback Gei'vonni Washington scored on an 11-yard run.
- Tiffin quickly countered on its first drive of the third quarter, marching 75 yards in 10 plays and ending with a Pinnix touchdown run of two yards – making the Dragon advantage 27-14 with 9:35 to go in the third.
- With 4:25 left in regulation, Maddox found sophomore wide receiver Jake McLoughlin for a 29-yard touchdown pass which brought AU closer at 27-21. Tiffin's second missed field goal of the contest gave the Eagles one more shot, at their own 21-yard line and with 2:09 to play. Ashland got to its own 46, but a fourth-down attempt was unsuccessful.
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NOTES
- Washington ran for 103 yards and a score on 19 carries, while McLoughlin caught four passes for 104 yards and a TD.
- Maddox, making his first collegiate start, was 18-for-32 for 209 yards, two touchdowns and an interception passing, and added 35 yards on four totes on the ground.
- Junior linebacker Michael Ayers followed up his big game last week against Ohio Dominican with 17 total tackles (10 solo), 2½ tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery against the Dragons.
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UP NEXT
Ashland will play host to its 97
th Homecoming game on Oct. 23 at 1 p.m. at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field vs. Lake Erie (4-3, 1-2).
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