The Ashland University Football team fell to the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Crimson Hawks in the opening game of the season for the second year in a row, 19-10.

The Eagles were plagued in the first half by mistakes, highlighted in the first half by a snap over the head of punter Jaden Cook to set up the IUP offense at the Eagles 11-yard line. Just one play later Adam Houser ran the ball into the endzone to put the Crimson Hawks up 7-0.

“We made too many mistakes to win the game against a good football team, against an experienced football team,” said Head Coach Doug Geiser. 

In the second quarter, the Eagle defense would remain stout near the red zone to limit more Crimson Hawk damage to only two made field goals by Crimson Hawks kicker, Nick Andrasi. This left the score sitting at 13-0 entering the halftime break. 

“Defense played their tails off, they hung in there,” said Geiser. 

After the locker room adjustments, the Eagles would strike quickly in the second half, with a 94-yard touchdown drive ending in a 35-yard strike for Eagle quarterback Trevor Bycznski to Jent Joseph. 

After the hot start to the second half, the Eagles were stagnant on the offensive side of the ball, leaving the Crimson Hawks to respond with a touchdown pass of their own at the end of the 3rd quarter at 15 yards out from Karst Hunter to Maurice Massey.

The Eagles’ mistakes continued in the second half on a dropped touchdown pass by Akil Martin. 

“We didn’t make the play at the end, we dropped a touchdown and you’ve gotta be able to get points,” said Geiser. 

The fourth quarter saw no scoring by either side with the Crimson Hawks using their running game to keep the ball away from the Eagles. Ashland was stopped at the three-yard line as time expired to seal the door shut for the Crimson Hawk to win.

Ashland will look to get in the win column for the first time this season against the Ferris State Bulldogs on September 14th on the road at 6 p.m.