The Ashland University football team has never won a game against Indiana University of Pennsylvania. That all has a chance to change on Thursday night.
In now a second season for Head Coach Doug Geiser, the Eagles will look to build on their 9-3 campaign from a season ago that closed with a victory in America’s Crossroads Bowl.
The Eagles will start the year with the same opponent they faced off the top a season ago, the IUP Crimson Hawks. Last year the game resulted in a 24-17 loss for the Eagles, giving up the game winning touchdown to IUP in the late stages of the fourth quarter.
“We gotta finish the game. We were tied with under a minute and a half left against IUP, and after a miscommunication in the secondary we gave up a touchdown,” said Head Coach Doug Geiser.
“We have enough returners that hopefully they’ve taken the message to heart throughout the offseason,” he continued.
Finishing the game will be an important factor in the Eagles matchup vs. IUP, because the four losses the Eagles have had to the Crimson Hawks were by a combined 20 points.
In the weeks leading up to the opening game, focusing on doing what the Eagles can do best internally has been the main focus of the coaching staff surrounding Geiser.
“Let’s focus on ourselves, let’s make sure we are assignment sound and do our job, but most importantly let’s finish the game and try to come out with the win in week one,” said Safeties Coach Dominick Orsini.
“We are obsessing about us and our execution,” added Geiser.
The Eagles defense will be tasked with trying to slow down Crimson Hawks returning quarterback, Karst Hunter, for the second straight year. In last year’s opening game Hunter threw for 261 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. On the ground his legs picked up 57 positive rushing yards as well.
“Everything IUP does on offense is predicated through their quarterback. He can run and throw the ball. Last year I thought he really hurt us on third downs, extending plays and scrambling,” said Geiser.
Meanwhile, on the Eagles offensive side of the ball, they get younger at almost every position except for quarterback. Trevor Bycznski returns for his senior season, in his second year starting. In the last meeting with the Crimson Hawks, Bycznski threw 15-29 passing, 101 yards, and one interception.
“It was his first real playing time in a couple of years last year [vs. IUP]. There’s a learning curve with Trevor playing in the game, there’s a learning curve with the staff calling plays for him,” said Geiser.
“You improve on it through the experience you have through the rest of the season, through spring and through camp, and feel confident he can play at a higher level,” he added.
The Eagles will start the 2024 season vs the Crimson Hawks on Thursday from Jack Miller Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
You can also catch the game on Ashland University’s student-run radio station, 88.9 WRDL, with pregame coverage beginning at 6:45 p.m
