The Ashland Eagles football team picked up a big overtime victory Oct. 25 on the road against the Tiffin Dragons 30-27.
In this game, Ashland received key performances from a lot of different players. It started off with the Eagles scoring on their first possession for the fourth consecutive game. In just 4:14, the Eagles scored on a one-yard touchdown run by sophomore tailback Willtrell Hartson, which completed a seven-play, 66-yard drive.
On the defensive end, redshirt freshman safety Chaz Cole collected the Eagles’ sixth blocked kick of the season to prevent Tiffin from getting on the scoreboard. After the stop, Ashland needed just one play to add to their point total. The Eagles scored another touchdown off a 44-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Cameron Blair to senior wide receiver Jent Joseph, making it a 14-0 score just 6:35 in.
Tiffin’s first score came late in the first quarter, with Ben Rudolph converting a 33-yard field goal. The Eagles carried that 14-3 lead into the second period.
In the second stanza, the two teams nearly went scoreless, until the Dragons scored a touchdown from wide receiver Jaedyn McKinstry. It was a 14-10 lead for Ashland with 2:19 remaining in the first half.
2:19 was plenty of time for the Eagles to cover, as redshirt freshman kicker Manaki Watanabe nailed a 44-yard field goal with 32 seconds left. Ashland took this 17-10 lead into halftime.
Tiffin started the second half with a game-tying touchdown off a 37-yard scoring pass from Alex Johnson to running back Ronald Blackman. But following a fumble by Ashland, they got another stop by blocking a 42-yard field goal attempt, courtesy of Michael Shimek.
Beginning the next drive at their own 30, Ashland took the lead back (24-17) off a one-yard touchdown run by Blair. Tiffin answered with a 28-yard field goal from Rudolph to make it 24-20 with 8:48 to go in the fourth quarter.
After another stop by the Dragons, they took their first lead of the game with 4:55 to play when Johnson connected with wide receiver Ethan Holbrook for a touchdown. The Tiffin lead stood at 27-24, with the Eagles looking to come from behind for the win in regulation.
Ashland was unable to do so, but they did tie things up at 27, thanks to a clutch 30-yard field goal by Watanabe.
In overtime, the Eagles got a second chance to score after a Tiffin penalty, and Watanabe made his third field goal of the game, this one from 27 yards away. Ashland held on to this 30-27 advantage, after a big time interception from senior safety Marquise Scott.
The win at Tiffin is Ashland’s sixth in a row, which keeps them deadlocked in a tie for first place in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (7-1, 6-0). Tiffin falls to 5-3 through eight games, with a 4-2 league record.
Ashland heads home for three straight games to finish their regular season, starting Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. against the Walsh Cavaliers. This game will serve as the Eagles’ Youth Day, as well as Morgan’s Message Game.
For more on the Eagles football team, you can visit goashlandeagles.com.
