The motto for this past weekend’s Ashland University home football game was #blackout, coinciding with the team debut of new home black uniforms.

For the visiting Malone Pioneer football team, their hopes of winning the game were blacked out after the Eagles first three drives.

Behind a fast start and a dominating performance AU downed visiting Malone 43-12 at Jack Miller Stadium. 

Ashland improved to 4-1 on the 2014 campaign, while the Pioneers dropped to 0-5.

The Eagles scored on each of their first three drives opening up a 21-0 gap that Malone never was able to trim on the night. 

Ashland opened up the scoring just three minutes into the contest. 

After the AU defense forced a quick three and out for Malone, the Eagle offense made fast work of the Pioneer defense. 

On their second offensive play, senior All-GLIAC running back Anthony Taylor broke off a 58-yard touchdown to put Ashland up 7-0 early in the first. 

AU continued to increase their lead when junior tailback Jordan McCune capped an 11-play 74-yard drive with a touchdown plunge from two yards out. 

McCune’s fifth touchdown of the season doubled the Eagles’ lead to 14-0.

AU continued its prolific running attack on their third drive of the game. 

This time it was redshirt freshman Quarterback Travis Tarnowski calling his own number as he plowed into the end zone for Ashland’s third rushing touchdown by a third different Eagle before the halftime break. 

Malone cut into their deficit when Kyle Nutter dove from the one-yard line and in to the end zone. 

Nutter’s second touchdown of the season made the halftime score 21-6.

Following a fourth down stop by the AU defense, Tarnowski got Ashland into scoring position with twenty-three-yard rush that put AU in the red zone. 

Two plays later Jordan McCune burrowed his way into the end zone for his second touchdown of the game. 

The former first team all-Ohio selection at Clear Fork High School finished the day with 64 yards and two touchdowns. 

Before the third quarter was over Anthony Taylor added to his Ashland record in career total touchdowns. 

The senior earned his second touchdown of the game, a ten-yard effort to pad the Ashland lead to 35-6. 

Taylor finished the day with 160 yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns. 

Taylor, who was playing in front of his high school coach from Virginia, closed in on the Ashland all-time rushing lead. 

Following Taylor’s second consecutive 100 plus yard performance, he trails two-time All-American Keith Weaver by just 82 yards. 

Vance Settlemire became the fourth different AU player to score a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter, when he raced in from 12 yards out.

Settlemire’s fifth touchdown of the season increased the Ashland advantage to 42-6. 

Settlemire finished the game with 86 yards rushing and a score.

On a night where four different Eagles scored a rushing touchdown and the Ashland offense moved the ball for 382 rushing yards head coach Lee Owens was quick to give credit to the offensive line.

“From tackle to tackle, we’re playing pretty good,” Owens said. “We controlled the line of scrimmage tonight. I literally think I could have just handed the ball to a tailback every time tonight and never had to throw it at all.”

“I told them after the game we were going to find five of the oldest game balls we can find and give them all one. Give them a little love.”

Travis Tarnowski continued his solid freshman season going 13 for 21 for 136 yards. 

He teamed up with senior Dan Piko seven times for 76 yards. 

Defensively for AU, the Eagles forced three turnovers and shut down the Malone option attack for the majority of the night. 

Junior safety Kyle Tomko and senior cornerback Donzale Ashley each recorded an interception while Nebraska transfer Max Pirman recovered a fumble. 

For Anthony Taylor it’s something out of a Hollywood script. The senior will have a chance to become Ashland’s all time leading rusher in his final homecoming game when AU hosts Saginaw Valley State on Oct. 11th. 

 “I try not to think about it too much,” Taylor said, “just trying to get the win. People always talk about it.”

But he added, “It’s in the back of my mind.”