The score was 32-31 in favor of the Eagles who had just scored and taken the lead for the first time in the second half.

It was the marquee regular season game for the Eagles, and the Ferris State Bulldogs were marching down the field. Senior linebacker, Brandon Gency, got a good push and broke through the offensive line.

Gency wrapped up the quarterback and went straight for the ball. He stripped the ball and he was off to the races. Gency danced into the end zone with a 39-yard fumble recovery that sealed the deal for the Eagles as they won 39-31.

Brandon Gency went to Streetsboro high school where he was a standout three-sport athlete for the Rockets. He played baseball and basketball, but his passion was always football.

Gency lettered four times in both basketball and football and in his senior season he was named first team All-Ohio football.

During his junior and senior year, Gency racked up 181 tackles as well as over 600 yards of offense as quarterback for the Rockets.

For many high school athletes it is an ultimate dream to play at a division I university, and Gency was the same way, but he realized what Ashland University had to offer.

“Going through high school I had some offers from other schools. In my mind I thought it was a big deal to go DI,” Gency said. “I had some division I and division II offers and I just felt like the culture here at Ashland was so much stronger than these other schools.”

The highly touted linebacker chose to follow in his brother’s footsteps and attend the DII sports powerhouse.

In his first year on campus, Gency started to make an immediate impact on the field. He split time at defensive end playing in nine games and making 11 tackles.

The summer coming into his sophomore season, Gency made is transition back to his home at inside linebacker. It was in that season that Gency gave the coaching staff a small glimpse of the talent that he possessed. The linebacker racked up an impressive 62 tackles in just his second season of college football.

 After the season, Gency was named as one of the captains of the football team for his junior season.

“He’s to the defense like Travis [Tarnowski] is to the offense,” head coach Lee Owens said. “They are so highly respected and they aren’t just good players or good people off the field, but they represent the team so well. When your best players are good people that makes for a great example for the younger players on the team.”

Gency’s leadership ability and desire to lead was something that was engrained in his head long before he set foot on the campus of AU.

“The leadership qualities that I have come from a household where my father was a very firm believer in Jesus Christ,” Gency said. “He’s grounded me from day one in the Bible and made sure that my roots are deeper than just football.”

 Gency explained that leadership has always been second nature to him and that will continue to lead by example.

“I’ve always been taught lead by example, not your voice,” Gency said as he discussed his motto in football. “The good players got to tell everybody how good they are, but the great players let other people tell them how good they are.”

After his junior season where he racked up an astounding 103 tackles, Gency started getting recognition not only within the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, but also nationally. Gency has been garnering attention from NFL scouts as he has continued to impress not only on-the-field, but off-the-field as well.

“I’ve talked to numerous NFL scouts,” Gency said, “it is a real possibility, but I’m not going to let my head get big, because it’s meaningless until that day comes.”

That day is getting closer as Gency is over half way through the regular season of his senior year. He was named as one of the captains for his second year in a row.

Gency has continued to shine in his senior year as he continues to make big time plays when they are needed more. He hopes that this year will be one for the Eagles to remember for the rest of their lives as they move towards their ultimate goal of winning a national championship.

“We are here for the journey,” Gency said. “We’re here for every rep at practice, every day leading up to the game, every meeting, every hour of film work, that’s what we are here for.”

The defensive captain said that for him and this team it is all about the journey and not about the destination.

Gency has been enjoying the journey so far this season as he is leading the team in multiple defensive categories.

Gency was recognized as the GLIAC defensive player of the week in week four after recording 15 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery for a touchdown.

“I’m not going to talk about how good I am,” Gency said. “I’m not going to tell people about that, I’m just going to show them on the field.”

Gency leads the team in tackles with 40 through the first 5 games of the year. He has played more snaps than anyone else on the team as Owens wants his best players and leaders on the field all the time.

“That’s why we don’t take those guys off the field,” Owens said. “it’d be completely different without them.”