The Ashland University football team’s offense had trouble getting anything going early on for the second straight week at home.

Thankfully for the Eagles, the defense came ready to play like it has all year.

AU’s defense limited Findlay to 262 yards of total offense, helping the Eagles stay undefeated and earn a 35-3 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference victory at Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli Field on Saturday.

“Defensively, we go into every game trying to get a shutout, so it’s not so much surprising, but it is definitely something to tip your hat off to,” linebacker Brandon Gency said about holding Findlay to three points.

Ashland’s defense stuffed Findlay for a 1-yard loss on a fourth-and-1 run from the Eagles 24 on the Oilers’ opening drive of the game.

Andrew Vaughn then fumbled at the Eagles 43, quickly putting the Ashland (3-0, 2-0 GLIAC) defense back on the field. The defense held for a second time and forced a punt.

Findlay (1-2, 1-2 GLIAC) blocked Austin Bruns’ punt on Ashland’s next possession and took over at the AU 11-yard line. The defense did its job again, this time limiting the Oilers to only a field goal.

“We held in there pretty good,” AU coach Lee Owens said of his defense. “It wasn’t like they were going down the field and scoring touchdowns. We turned the ball over twice and had a punt blocked, and they only had three points.”

“We are always ready to handle the chaos,” added Gency, who had eight tackles to lead the defense. “We know that it’s always important to back up our offense if they are not clicking. We know that we have to put something together . . . We can’t give them a touchdown. That’s our mindset. Whatever we have to do to help the offense out, that’s what we are going to do.”

Gency added two tackles for loss, forced a fumble, broke up a pass and had a quarterback hurry. Fellow LB Zach Olszewski contributed eight tackles (1 for loss).

Ashland’s offense began finding its groove midway through the second quarter when QB Travis Tarnowski hooked up with tight end Adam Shaheen for touchdowns of 5 and 16 yards, respectively. Shaheen had 90 yards receiving on seven catches, while Tarnowski finished 25 for 41 for 289 yards and three touchdowns.

“Travis just threw me on the slant, and I saw the guy coming and I had time to lower my shoulder a little bit, and then I saw the end zone and I just lunged out,” Shaheen said about his second touchdown.

“It’s unfair,” Owens laughingly said about the mismatch Shaheen presents to smaller defenders. “There’s no question you have players for plays when you have to get the ball. When it is one of those critical situations, I think everybody in the stadium knows where I am throwing the ball with the big tight end.”

True freshman Keishaun Sims ran for 109 yards on 17 carries, crossing the century mark for the second game in a row.

“Having a Keishaun Sims is a big deal,” Owens said. “He’s a special back.  Still young, but he had 17 carries tonight against a pretty good defense, and it is good for him to have that kind of experience.”

Ashland heads to Big Rapids, Mich., next Saturday to take on No. 6-ranked Ferris State at 3:30 p.m.