The Ashland University Football team remained winless this season after getting dominated by the No. 7 Ferris State Bulldogs, 43-3, on Saturday night
The Eagles found themselves trailing on the scoreboard a mere 13 seconds into the game, as the Bulldogs Taariik Brett returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown. Trevor Bycznski would then lead a response drive to be stalled out near midfield allowing Ferris State a quick chance to get a two-score lead.
It would not take long, as just three minutes later in only eight plays, the Bulldogs cashed in again. Quarterback Trinidad Chambliss used his legs from one yard out to extend the lead to 14-0.
“Second week in a row special teams let us down early in the game, too many missed tackles, too many missed blocks,” said Head Coach Doug Geiser.
The Eagles would counter with their best drive of the first half going right down the field into the red zone, but would be held by a stout Bulldogs defense. Kicker AJ Rhodes then split the uprights for the Eagles, getting their only points of the first half from 30 yards out with four and a half minutes to go in the first quarter.
The second frame is one the Eagles want to forget as the Bulldogs lead ballooned to 36-3. Ferris State would get a pair of rushing touchdowns by quarterback Trinidad Chambliss, and running back Kannon Katzer. The No.7 team in the nation flexed their muscles by dropping Patrick Blubaugh for a four-yard loss, in his own endzone, adding two points for a safety to the scoreboard. The only passing touchdown of the first half was from 12 yards out to Bulldogs wide receiver Jeremiah Lee.
“There’s been a lot of teachable moments for the young guys, saying hey this is where we wanna be, now you see the relevance of the training,” said Geiser.
The Bulldogs picked up in the same place they left off in the second half, intercepting Eagles quarterback Trevor Bycznski on Ashland’s opening drive. The Bulldogs offense would take a 40-point lead just six plays later with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Chambliss to Tyrese Hunt-Thompson.
Ferris State would use the last 26 minutes of the game to just drain the clock out on the Eagles, with reserves seeing time for both sides. Senior quarterback Trevor Bycznski finished the game throwing 9 for 24, for 109 yards and 2 interceptions. The backfield between Ty’aris Stevenson, Orlando Kamara, and Patrick Blubaugh struggled for the second week in a row rushing for just 32 yards combined in the contest.
“We are a long way from where we need to be to have a competent run game at this point,” said Geiser.
In the 43-3 win, Ferris State outgained Ashland by 400 yards with the Eagles failing to find the endzone.
The Eagles are still searching for their first victory of the year and will take on the Hillsdale College Chargers next week in the Traveling Trophy game and begin Great Midwest Athletic Conference play. Kickoff is set for Saturday, Sept. 21 at 1 p.m. from Hillsdale, Mich.
