The 2024 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) NCAA Division II Coaches Preseason Poll was released on Monday (Aug. 12) afternoon, and Ashland University's football team is among those receiving votes to open the new season.
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With an eight-game winning streak to finish 2023, the Eagles ended last season at 9-3 overall and 8-1 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. The win streak is the program's longest since 2017 (11 games), and it will be the second-longest in NCAA Division II when the 2024 season begins – behind only 2023 national champion and preseason No. 1 Harding (19 in a row).
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The Eagles, led by second-year head coach
Doug Geiser, bring back five offensive starters, six defensive starters, and the starting kicker and punter from last season. Ashland returns all six of its second-team all-conference performers from a season ago – junior center
Ethan Enders, junior left tackle
Nick Walker, senior cornerback
Devin Prude, junior defensive end
Michael Shimek, senior safety
Riely Weiss and junior kicker
A.J. Rhodes.
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Ashland's 2024 season will begin on Sept. 5 at 7 p.m. at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field against No. RV Indiana, Pa.. Tickets for all 2024 home games are on sale:
- Reserved seats HERE
- Season tickets HERE
- Single-game tickets – available starting Thursday (Aug. 15) at 10 a.m. HERE
- Parking passes HERE
On Thursday (Aug. 8), it was announced that the Eagles were chosen to finish as the runner-up in the Great Midwest in 2024. Three Great Midwest teams – Tiffin, Ashland and Findlay – received votes in Monday's AFCA poll.
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2024 ASHLAND UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL AFCA POLL RANKINGS: No. RV (preseason).
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