The Ashland University football team won its first game of the season on the road against the Hillsdale College Chargers, 24-21, on Saturday, Sept. 21.
The Travelling Trophy will stay with the Eagles for another year.
In the first quarter, the Eagles stalled on their opening drive, but once they got the ball back for a second chance, they cashed in on the scoreboard.
A 63-yard connection between quarterback Trevor Bycznski and wide receiver Dru Johnson set up a 17-yard tailback Olando Kamara rushing touchdown—Kamara’s first collegiate touchdown.
This play gave the Eagles a 7-0 lead with 9:39 left in the first quarter.
The Eagles defense and linebacker Jack Talkington would put Ashland ahead by two scores intercepting Chargers quarterback Colin McKernan and returning the ball 71 yards for a touchdown with 5:50 left in the first frame.
The Chargers’ defense would answer with a touchdown with one of their own on the next Eagles offensive drive.
Quarterback Trevor Bycznski threw a pick returned by the Chargers’ Carson Ingram back for six points. The Chargers failed to add an extra point leaving the score at 14-6.
Neither side could capitalize offensively before halftime.
The Eagles would get a defensive stop to open the second half and strike offensively afterward. Ty’aris Stevenson’s one-yard rushing touchdown capped off a nine-play, 77-yard drive. The Eagles then led 21-6.
The Eagles had not scored on the ground in the season’s first two games.
The Chargers’ struggling passing game was heard late in the third quarter, with a long touchdown pass from McKernan to Connor Pratt from 40 yards out, cutting the Eagles’ lead down to eight points, 21-13.
After back-and-forth possessions by both teams, the Eagles were looking to continue draining the clock out with six and a half minutes to go when Bycznski threw his second interception of the game.
The Chargers returned the ball inside the Eagles’ 20-yard line. Two plays later, McKernan found a wide-open Zach Tetler out of the backfield to bring the game within a conversion try of being tied. The Chargers were successful and knotted the game up at 21-21 with 5:29 to play.
The Eagles’ response drive marched down the field but could not penetrate the red zone. AJ Rhodes split the uprights from 30 yards out with just 1:46 left to go, as the Eagles led 24-21.
Hillsdale’s last-gasp effort to tie or take the lead ended at the Eagles 47-yard line. With under a minute left to go, Hillsdale had a new set of downs and decided to spike the ball on first down instead of spending their last time out or running a play quickly. Just three plays later, Ashland’s defense made the stop on a pivotal 4th and 10 play to seal the win.
Final stats
Trevor Bycznski: 14-25 passing, 2 interceptions, 187 yards
Olando Kamara: 19 carries, 93 yards, 1 touchdown
Dru Johnson: 4 receptions, 124 yards
The Eagles’ record improved to 1-2, and they picked up their first Great Midwest Athletic Conference win. Ashland will meet Tiffin on Saturday, Sept. 28, at 1 p.m.
