Ashland faced off against the Hillsdale Chargers (1-1) and lost 40-34 in a three overtime thriller at Hillsdale on Saturday. The Eagles are now 1-2 overall, 1-1 in the GLIAC. Hillsdale was coming off a huge win over Grand Valley State and welcoming in the Eagles for another hard fought game.

The Eagles played their best offensive half of football of the season, jumping out to a 10-7 lead going into halftime. Defensive lineman Jamie Meder had a monster first half with six tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.

The Eagles’ defensive line handled the Chargers up front all night, but quarterback Anthony Misfud was able to scramble around and pass for over 300 yards and two touchdowns.

“We couldn’t contain their quarterback, especially on the bootlegs and misdirection plays,” head coach Lee Owens said. “We had no problem stopping plays up the middle, but when the quarterback got outside of the pocket, he made a lot of plays.”

Hillsdale came back to take a 27-17 lead in the fourth quarter after three touchdown runs by Chargers tailback Joe Glendening. The Eagles scored twice in a span of five minutes, with a 20-yard field goal from Gregg Berkshire and a 20-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Taylor Housewright to wide receiver Anthony Capasso, tying the game at 27.

Hillsdale charged right back down the field and set up a last-second field goal from 34 yards to win the game. Kicker Colin McGreevy missed, sending the game into overtime. McGreevy had a rough game, missing three field goals and an extra point for the Chargers

Both teams missed field goals in the first overtime, Berkshire from 49 yards and McGreevy from 34. In the second overtime, Hillsdale’s Joe Glendening ran in from seven yards to take the lead. Ashland answered when Housewright dove into the end zone from three yards, sending the game to a third overtime.

In the third overtime, Berkshire missed a 26-yard field goal and the Chargers capitalized by scoring on a 5-yard touchdown pass to win the game 40-34.

The Eagles have plenty to look forward to as they face Northern Michigan (3-0) 7 p.m. this Saturday at Fred Martinelli Field. Owens says that starting defensive back Logan Kerr (who suffered a concussion against Indianapolis) will be back this week to help the struggling secondary that has given up close to 700 yards passing in the past two weeks.

The defense will have to be at their best against a very potent and dangerous Northern Michigan offense.

“We have to be more aggressive in getting pressure on the quarterback, and we have to be better at getting pressure with a four man front.” Owens said. “[NMU has] nine veteran starters returning this year with a quarterback who can run and throw, and he makes them go.”

Starting off the season 0-2 on the road is not what he had in mind but he still has high hopes for this team.

“I’m not worried,” he said. “There have been some great teams that have started off at 1-2, and have turned around their season.”

The Eagles started the season 1-3 last season and went on a seven game win streak to finish 8-3.

Ashland has more good news as tailback D.J. McCoy will return to practice this week to prepare for a minimal role in this week’s game.

Owens said that he plans on putting him in during certain plays for pass protection and to better the passing game out of the backfield. Since McCoy’s injury it has been up to freshman tailbacks Jordan McCune, who has been huge at the goal line, and Anthony Taylor, who has plenty of potential to break a huge run at any time. Owens likes his three-headed attack at running back and believes they will help this young offense that he plans to open up more as the season progresses.

The Eagles have three first-year starters on the offensive line and they will have to block a defensive scheme they have yet to see this year. The three down lineman and four linebacker set will be tough on this young group, but they have proven to be strong and willing to never give up.

This week Housewright and company will look to put some points on the board early and for the defense to get more pressure on the quarterback.