Defense, Possession Offense Lift No. 20 Eagles Over Findlay On The Road

Ashland University's football team was well aware it was playing a second consecutive payback game to start the 2022 season.
 
After an impressive 31-14 home win over Notre Dame College in Week 1, the Eagles turned in a just-as-stellar 28-3 victory at Findlay on Saturday (Sept. 10) night, earning their first win at Findlay since 2014. The Eagles lost at Donnell Stadium in both 2019 and 2021.
 
No. 20-ranked Ashland is 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, and is 29-17-4 all-time against the Oilers – the most wins and most games (50) against any opponent all-time. The Eagles have won the first two games of a season for the first time since 2016.
 
Findlay, the 2021 Great Midwest champion, is 0-2, 0-2.
 
WHAT HAPPENED

• Following a 55-yard interception return from senior safety Jourdan Swett to end Findlay's first drive, the Eagles cashed in on a five-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Austin Brenner to senior wide receiver Logan Bolin.
• The Oilers came back with a 42-yard field goal from kicker Austin Snyder to make it a 7-3 game, but AU went back on top by a touchdown when senior kicker Storm Elsesser made a 45-yard field goal for a 10-3 advantage at the 9:02 mark of the second quarter.
• Brenner ran for 18 yards for the Eagles' second touchdown with 2:55 to go until halftime, and even with a missed extra point, the lead was 16-3.
• Freshman kicker A.J. Rhodes' first collegiate field goal, a 26-yarder, extended AU's lead to 19-3 with 5:11 to go in the third quarter. Junior tailback Eli Potts went in from 15 yards out to finish off an 81-yard drive and put the Eagles ahead 25-3 early in the fourth quarter, despite a second missed PAT.
• Rhodes connected on a 29-yard field goal with 64 seconds to play to put a cap on the road victory.

 
THE WRAP-UP

• Ashland's defense stood out for a second consecutive week, keeping the Oilers to three points, eight first downs, and 141 total yards.
• Senior defensive tackle Nick Cone had 1½ of the Eagles' three sacks in the victory. AU's seven sacks through two games are the most since 2016 (seven).
• Ashland's offense held the ball for 38:32 and ran 78 plays to Findlay's 46. Brenner was 24-for-32 for 196 yards and a touchdown, and junior tailback Gei'vonni Washington caught seven passes for 63 yards and ran for 25 yards.

 
UP NEXT
Ashland will have an open date in Week 3, then return to the field on Sept. 24 at 2 p.m. at Quincy (1-1).