Eagle Football Sits At No. 20 In AFCA Poll Prior To Regular-Season Finale

With one regular-season game remaining in the 2025 season, Ashland University's football team sits at No. 20 in the latest American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Division II Coaches Poll, released on Monday (Nov. 10) afternoon.
 
The Eagles are 8-2 overall and 7-1 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, and will conclude the regular year on Saturday (Nov. 15) at 1 p.m. on Senior Day vs. Lake Erie (2-8, 2-6). The game also will be the reunion for the 1985 Ashland College football team.
 
As a team, Ashland leads NCAA Division II with 40 sacks, is second in blocked kicks with eight, is third in both rushing defense at 68.3 ypg. allowed and total defense with 242.9 ypg. allowed, is fifth in scoring defense with 14.9 ppg. allowed, and is tied for ninth in both blocked punts (three) and first downs allowed (147).
 
Individually, redshirt freshman kicker Manaki Watanabe continues to pace D-II in field goal percentage (93.8, 15-for-16) and is tied for second in total field goals (15). Senior defensive end Michael Shimek is tied for the most sacks in D-II with 14½, and both Shimek and sophomore defensive end Darrius Atley are tied for eighth with two blocked kicks each.
 
2025 ASHLAND UNIVERSITY FOOTBALL AFCA COACHES POLL RANKINGS: No. T-24 (preseason), No. 23 (Sept. 2), No. 20 (Sept. 8), No. T-24 (Oct. 6), No. 22 (Oct. 13), No. 20 (Oct. 20), No. 17 (Oct. 27), No. 15 (Nov. 3), No. 20 (Nov. 10).