The Ashland University football team picked up its biggest win of the season on Saturday Oct. 12 against the Findlay Oilers.
The Eagles gained sole possession of first place in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) by outlasting the Findlay Oilers 41-21.
The start to the game on Saturday afternoon was rocky, as halfway through the Oilers opening drive lightning delayed the contest over an hour.
Once play did get back underway, in the pouring rain the Eagles forced a fumble of Oilers quarterback Matthew Rueve inside the redzone. Jeffery Barnett knocked the ball out with Jalon Jackson recovering on the play.
The Eagles ensuing offensive drive was a quick striking score as one play later senior Tony Panunnzio was open down the far sideline, with Trevor Bycznski finding him from 70 yards out. Ashland led 7-0.
Ashland’s defense would stall out the Oilers offense once again, leading to this time a slow and methodical drive. On a 12 play, 87 yard drive Bycznski found tight end Brock Henne for a 5 yard touchdown pass. The Eagles led 14-0.
Early in the second frame, fresh off of his 5 field goal performance last week, kicker AJ Rhodes added three points on a 34-yard kick to give the Eagles a three-score lead.
The connection between senior quarterback and senior receiver was not done as once again Pannunzio was open down the field from far away once again this time from 48 yards. This throw from Bycznski put Ashland up 24-0.
Just before halftime the Oilers found the scoreboard for the first time sustaining a nine play drive capped off by a two yard Jayden Farmer touchdown run. The Eagles still led 24-7 heading into the locker room.
Halfway through the third quarter AJ Rhodes made another kick, from a shorter 21 yards away. Ashland went back up by 20 points.
In the fourth quarter, Olando Kamara found the endzone just a few seconds into the final quarter of play. Ending a 78 yard drive, with a 14 yard touchdown run.
The Oilers would answer with two touchdowns of their own. One on a Makya Matthews 46-yard touchdown catch, and the other on a Justin Roth 34-yard touchdown reception. With 5:35 to go in the ball game Findlay drew back within 13 points, trailing 34-21.
The Eagles offense slammed the door shut down the stretch of the game, on another Orlando Kamara touchdown run with only 1:12 remaining. The Eagles defeated the Oilers by a final score of 41-21.
Ashland moves to 4-2 overall, and 3-0 in the GMAC. The Eagles are now sitting above the Oilers in first place of the standings.
Due up next is a date with Thomas More for the Eagles, kickoff is set for noon on Saturday, Oct. 19 away.
