The Ashland University Eagles football team defended their home turf on Saturday, Sept. 28, defeating the reigning Great Midwest Athletic Conference champion Tiffin Dragons, 21-12.
The Eagles were aggressive from the opening whistle that included a fake punt on their opening drive by Jaden Cook running for a first down, and a double reverse pass. When quarterback Trevor Bycznski got the football back on that trick play he found a wideopen Jamari Croom from 47 yards out to give Ashland a 7-0 lead with 5:58 left in the first quarter.
“I woke up this morning and I was thinking of that exact play,” said Eagles Head Coach Doug Geiser.
The name of the game in the first half for Tiffin was special teams mishaps, failing to convert on a missed field goal try, and a botched hold for another kicking attempt. However, Dragons kicker Ben Rudolph added three points in the first four seconds of the second quarter for the Dragons to put them on the board, 7-3.
Ashland’s offense struck back quickly around 4 minutes later still in the second quarter, with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Trevor Bycznski to senior Tony Panunnzio. This extended the Eagles lead into the halftime break on top by 11 points.
“We gotta keep picking on their safeties, they want to get involved in the game. We hit over top when they wanted to suck down,” said Geiser at halftime.
Early in the third quarter it was then a flip of the script with a special teams mistake by the Eagles, a blocked punt inside their own 10 yard line. The ball rolled through the back of the left endzone for a safety.
After the safety the Dragons maintained control of the football and went right down the field aided by Eagle penalties. The drive finished with a 30 yard scamper by running back Ronald Blackman to draw the Dragons within two points, 14-12.
The Eagles were held off the scoreboard in the 3rd quarter, but in the middle of the fourth quarter, the Bycznski to Croom connection was found again with a 65 yard touchdown pass, increasing the Eagles lead to two scores. No other points were scored for the remainder of the contest, with the Eagles winning 21-12.
“The only shot we had I challenged them to stick together as a team, together we had a chance. They stuck together and showed great spirit as a team,” said Geiser.
Ashland improves to 2-2 overall and is 2-0 in G-MAC play.
“The first six games of our schedule are the toughest six games, it is all populated by teams who have been in the playoffs recently,” said Geiser.
The Eagles will continue the march through this early season gauntlet next week at home against the Ohio Dominican Panthers for homecoming weekend. Kick off from Jack Miller Stadium is set for 1:00 p.m.
