The Ashland University football team was flying high heading into its matchup against the Michigan Tech Huskies.

Literally. 

The Eagles, who flew to Houghton on the upper peninsula of Michigan, saw their six game winning streak snapped and playoff hopes destroyed as the 20^th ranked Huskies downed the 22^nd ranked Eagles 28-12.  

The stakes were high for both teams. Win and they are most likely in the NCAA tournament field. Lose and their playoff hopes are eliminated. Tech improved to 8-1 on the season, while Ashland dropped to 8-2. 

AU got off to a flying start. Redshirt freshman quarterback Travis Tarnowski hooked up with senior wide receiver Dan Piko for a 33-yard gain to set Ashland up inside the Michigan Tech 10 yard line. 

Two plays later, Tarnowski connected with Piko from seven yards out for the Ashland touchdown. Behind Tarnowski’s 16^th touchdown pass of the season, AU took a 6-0 lead after Aiden Simenc extra point try was blocked, with 2:34 left to go in the first quarter. 

After the Michigan Tech defense forced Ashland to go three and out on their next possession, the Huskies offense took over with great field position on the Ashland 39 yard line.

Zach Keels capped the Tech six play drive, plunging into the end zone from one yard out and tying the score at six. Garret Meads put Michigan Tech in front with the extra point, and the Huskies never gave the lead back.

After an Ashland punt, the Huskies added to their advantage. Senior quarterback Tyler Scarlett orchestrated an 11-play, 74-yard drive for the Huskies that Keels finished with his second one-yard touchdown run. Michigan Tech took a 14-6 lead. 

On the final play before the half, AU appeared to have shifted the momentum of the game only to come up a yard short. A Tarnowski Hail Mary pass, bounced off the hands of a Tech defender and into the hands of Dan Piko. Piko caught the ball on the two yard and lunged forward but was met at the goal line by Jeremy Mims and ruled down inches short of the goal line. AU went into the halftime break, trailing 14-6.

Ashland did not go away quietly. Tarnowski led AU on an eight play, 66-yard drive down the field that senior tailback Anthony Taylor put an exclamation point on with a one-yard touchdown run. Taylor’s 45^th career total touchdown, an AU record, pulled Ashland to within two after a Tarnowski pass fell to the ground incomplete on the two-point conversion.

Michigan Tech delivered an immediate response on the next drive, marching 70 yards on ten plays for Charlie Leffingwell four-yard touchdown run. Leffingwell’s eighth touchdown of the season padded the Michigan Tech lead to 21-12.

After the teams traded punts, the Ashland defense dug into to start the fourth quarter. Facing a fourth and goal on the two-yard line, the AU defense stood tall, stonewalling the quarterback sneak by Scarlett and giving new hope to the entire team.

The Ashland offense could not do anything with the momentum, going three and out and setting Michigan Tech up deep in Ashland territory once again. 

The Huskies took advantage, as Scarlett found Ian Weinke for the 17-yard touchdown connection, increasing the Tech advantage to 28-12 with 13 minutes left in the game.

Ashland could not close the gap, as the trip to Upper Peninsula proved to be too much for the Eagles. Michigan Tech moved to 8-1 behind the 28-12 victory.

Seniors Taylor and Piko went out in style in the final game of their prolific Ashland careers. 

Piko caught eight passes for 130 yards and a touchdown. The 5^th year wide receiver from Oak Lawn, Illinois finishes his AU career with 156 catches and 2,128 yards receiving. Both marks are third best all-time in the program.

Taylor from Arlington, Virginia, ends his Ashland career with nearly every major school rushing record. Taylor is AU’s all time leading rusher with 4,456 yards and AU’s all-time career total touchdown leader with 45. His 1,691 yards last season is the single season rushing record and his 311-yard performance against Lake Erie in 2013 is the best in school history.

The 2014 Ashland University football team has several accomplishments to be proud of. Following a disappointing 5-5 campaign in 2013, AU improved to 8-2 in 2014. The Eagles went on a six game winning streak in the middle of the season, which was capped off with Ashland’s first win at Grand Valley State in over 20 years. 

AU football looks to reload for next season. While the team graduates Taylor, Piko, Bloom, Chris Harvey, Donzale Ashley, and Chase Hoobler among other key players, the team has plenty of talent returning. Key returners include quarterback Travis Tarnowski, running back Vance Settlemire, safety Kyle Tomko and linebacker Brandon Gency.

Ashland will continue to build a solid program under head coach Lee Owens, and look to use the success of 2014 as a springboard for the 2015 season.