INDIANA, Pa. – In a second-round NCAA Division II postseason game on Saturday (Nov. 26) at Frank Cignetti Field at George P. Miller Stadium, the No. 12-ranked Ashland University football team ran out of time and lost to No. 15 Indiana, Pa., 19-13.
"I told the guys afterwards, it's a special group for me for sure," said Ashland head coach
Lee Owens. "We all did what we could do, and fought until the end and expected to win."
The Eagles' season ends at 10-2, and with a Great Midwest Athletic Conference championship and the program's eighth D-II playoff appearance. The Crimson Hawks advance at 10-1.
"I love these guys," said senior quarterback
Austin Brenner. "We made a lot of sacrifices to come back. We were blessed to have the successful season that we had."
"I'd do it all over again if I could," said senior linebacker
Michael Ayers. "A lot of teams would love to have the season we had."
WHAT HAPPENED
- The Crimson Hawks took their first drive of the game and took a 6-0 lead on a six-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Mak Sexton to wide receiver Hilton Ridley. IUP's extra point, however, was blocked by sophomore defensive tackle Collin Strong, keeping the early score at 6-0.
- Ashland countered on the following possession, as senior wide receiver Garrett Turnbaugh, completely covered in the end zone, came down with a 38-yard touchdown pass from a scrambling Brenner for a 7-6 lead at the 4:33 mark of the opening quarter.
- To open the second quarter, IUP re-took the lead at 12-7 on a 1-yard scoring fade from Sexton to wide receiver Duane Brown, but once again, the convert was missed. After a tipped interception by the Crimson Hawks on the next drive, Ayers returned the favor to thwart a potential IUP score.
- For the second consecutive drive, the Eagles picked off Sexton, this time by sophomore cornerback Devin Prude, setting AU up at the IUP 42. Neither turnover resulted in Ashland points, but the Eagle defense continued to keep it a one-score game, as Ayers' fourth-down pass breakup with 60 seconds left in the first half gave the ball back to the offense.
- In that final minute, senior wide receiver Logan Bolin caught his 184th career pass, making him the Ashland program's all-time leading receiver. The Eagles couldn't get into scoring range to end the half, however, and went into the locker room down by five points.
- IUP had a 216-103 total yards advantage at the break, and Ashland was plus-1 in turnovers in the game's first 30 minutes.
- Ashland's defense got a three-and-out to start the second half, then the Eagle offense went to work. Brenner-to-Bolin worked on a 21-yard pass on fourth-and-14 for a key first down to the IUP 11, but the Crimson Hawks stopped AU on a fourth-and-1 from the two-yard line.
- IUP and Ashland then exchanged punts, but the Eagle punt was blocked, and Crimson Hawk linebacker Connor Kelly brought it back 25 yards for a score. IUP led 19-7 with 3:52 to go in the third.
- Moving with more urgency early in the fourth quarter and starting from its own 13, Ashland's offense started to mesh. The up-tempo worked, as junior tailback Gei'vonni Washington went around right end for a nine-yard TD run. The 87-yard drive took just 2:29, and despite the missed extra point, the Eagles were within six points at 19-13 with 8:06 left in regulation.
- IUP took the ball, needing to grind out yards and the clock, and moved it to the Ashland 26. The Crimson Hawks gave it back to the Eagles with just 37 seconds left. Ashland failed to convert on the last play of the game from its 37.
THE WRAP-UP
- Defensively, senior linebacker Michael Ayers showed one more time why he is one of the best in the country, finishing with 11 total tackles (six solo), two tackles for loss, an interception and a pass breakup.
- Brenner was 18-of-30 for 183 yards, a TD and a pick, and added 39 yards rushing. Turnbaugh grabbed seven passes for 88 yards and a score, and Bolin caught five for 53 yards.
