In college football, every game is a big game. Saturday’s matchup between the Ashland University Eagles and Wayne State Warriors carried additional implications.

The No. 5 Warriors came to Ashland last year with a similar ranking last year—No. 6—and lost to the Eagles, 20-17. This year, the Eagles shut out the Warriors 7-0.

It was the first home shutout since the Eagles stomped Tiffin in 2010, 49-0.

The Eagles’ defense was stifling, limiting Wayne State to only 168 yards and 10 first downs. The Warriors could never get anything going on offense.

The Eagles got on the board with a touchdown on a shovel pass from senior quarterback Taylor Housewright to sophomore running back Jordan McCune in the first quarter. It came after a key interception by junior defensive back Brian Gamble at the WSU 7-yard line.

In Ashland’s 37-14 victory over Indianapolis Aug. 30, Gamble tipped a pass that was intercepted by junior linebacker Cody Bloom. Bloom led the Eagles with 16 tackles against Wayne State.

AU sophomore defensive back Eric Schweiterman came up with another interception on WSU’s second drive, this time off a long pass in the center of the field. Warriors quarterback Mickey Mohner was 10-19 for 86 yards and the two interceptions.

“We kept pushing the pocket and the [WSU] quarterback seemed to be getting a little nervous,” said AU defensive tackle Jamie Meder.

The Eagles were unable to capitalize on the turnover, though, missing a 34-yard field goal.

WSU picked up a takeaway of their own when the Warriors picked up a Gamble fumble on the AU 37-yard line late in the second quarter; however, they failed to capitalize when kicker Stefan Terleaky missed a 44-yard field goal as the first half wound to a close.

Through the first half, Wayne State never had the ball long enough to make anything happen, nor were they ever within scoring range.

The Warriors came back appearing strong after halftime, pinning AU at its own 1-yard line off a punt. The Eagles could not advance the ball through three downs, and the Warriors got the ball back at the AU 35-yard line.

WSU moved down the short field quick on a 20-yard pass to Michael Johnson, bringing the Warriors inside the red zone. But the Eagle defense stepped up once again, forcing WSU to attempt another field goal from 20 yards, which was missed.

The Eagles finally put together a lengthy drive late in the fourth quarter to eat up minutes, and it looked like they might push through to take a two-possession lead. Without a strong breakthrough on the drive, though, the Eagles stalled short of the Warrior 30-yard line before turning the ball over on downs for the second time.

Wayne State got the ball back for one final drive, but was unable to advance the ball.

Throughout the game, there were glimpses that the defenses might start opening up. Ten-to-20-yard passes down the middle were not uncommon, but every long pass to the outside was incomplete. Neither the Eagles nor the Warriors could put together a sustained scoring drive.

“You can say what you want about our defense, but they had a great defense as well,” said AU head coach Lee Owens. “Great tackling, great coverage…it was just a great defensive football game.”

Both defenses effectively broke up all offensive rhythms. Every play in the red zone was shorter than five yards and there was no breakthrough, even inside the 20-yard line.

That first quarter Gamble interception proved to be the difference in the game. While both teams flirted in the red zone all game long, neither could put any more points on the board.

The missed field goals for WSU were an area of opportunity for the Warriors.

“If you can’t make a field goal from the 2-yard line, you can’t win football games,” said Wayne State coach Paul Winters. ”You don’t have to score touchdowns when you make field goals…but you’ve got to make them.”

In the end, the Eagles hung onto the ball long enough every drive to eliminate any kind of momentum that Wayne State worked toward.

The win bumped Ashland from unranked to No. 22 in the Sept. 10 American Football Coaches Association Division II Coaches’ Poll. The Eagles are off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2005.

Wayne State fell to No. 19 with a record of 0-1.

This week Ashland takes to the road to play Ferris State, who is also 2-0. Following that game, Ashland will travel to Northern Michigan Sept. 22.