The Ashland University football team remained undefeated in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play on homecoming weekend, Saturday, Oct. 6, with a 26-6 win over the Ohio Dominican University Panthers.
The Eagles came off a victory over the reigning G-MAC champs and defended Jack Miller Stadium with a whistle-to-whistle performance.
“I thought the players did a tremendous job. I told them to stand on the shoulders of those who came before you, and feel their presence. I thought we played the best half of football we have played all year in all three phases,” Head Football Coach Doug Geiser said.
Ashland struggled to finish drives in the red zone but got five field goals from kicker AJ Rhodes.
Rhodes’ first boot that went through the uprights put the Eagles 3-0 in the first quarter.
Early in the second quarter, the Rhodes would add another 43-yard field goal to take the lead by six points. After that scoring drive, the Panthers would have a special teams miscue with a snap going over the head of punter AJ Young through the back of the end zone for a safety.
Just three minutes later after the Eagles had an 8-0 lead Rhodes struck again from 29 yards out.
Then it was a second safety on a blocked punt that got the Eagles in the scoring column for two more points to lead 13-0.
“Keep putting in the work and it will pay off,” Geiser said.
To close the first half the Eagles added another field goal, and scored their only touchdown of the game with 39 seconds left in the first half. Trevor Bycznski found Dru Johnson from 12 yards out creating a 23-0 lead going into halftime.
The second half was one where the Eagles just closed the door slowly on the Panthers, dominating time of possession. Ashland’s only points in the second half was a field goal with 8 minutes remaining in the third quarter, Eagles leading 26-0.
The Panthers only points came in the early moments of the fourth quarter on a touchdown run by Panthers quarterback Drew Gallehue.
In the 26-6 win, the Eagles moved to 3-2 overall.
“Continue to correct mistakes, come up with ways to attack the opponent, and then go out and execute,” said Geiser after the victory.
The Eagles will face the conference-leading Findlay Oilers next Saturday, Oct. 12 on the road. Kick-off is set for noon.
