After a slow start to the season, Ashland University’s football team pulled a complete 180 and improved their standings to 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference.

For their next competition, the Eagles will travel to Michigan for the third time in the last four weeks to face off against the Wayne State Warriors (3-3 overall, 2-1 GLAIC).

The Eagles are piggybacking off of a three-game win streak; one of them being over top-ranked Grand Valley State University and last week’s victory over Davenport during Homecoming weekend.

Again, the Eagles were triumphant thanks to an explosive second half after being down in the first.

“I think we’ve been wearing them down some,” head coach Lee Owens said. “Our line is made of some pretty big and physical guys, and as the game progresses it’s a fatigue factor. They wear down a defense and just pushing them off line line for so many plays.”

After the line does it’s work, the revamped Eagle offense kicks in, with the help of the newly formed dynamic between quarterback Austin Brenner, wide-receiver Logan Bolin, and tailback Gei’Vonni Washington.

Washington’s up 428 yards and six scores on 88 attempts (6.3 ypc.) over the past three weeks has done much to aid the team’s renewed importance in the run game.

Owens believes Wayne State will also place an emphasis on rushing this Saturday.

Two weeks ago in a victory over Northern Michigan, the Warriors’ Deiontae Nicholas rushed for a career-high 162 yards on a career-best of 19 attempts. Nicholas ranks 31st in all-time rushing yards (1,142) and only 61st in rushing attempts (135) for a per rush average of 8.46.

The Eagle defense has allowed just one rushing TD in three weeks and will have to hold back the Warriors who have won 25 of their last 32 games when rushing for over 200 yards.

“In most cases I’d say they’ll come out throwing, but I’ve coached with Paul [Wayne State head coach] and our offensive philosophies are similar. He’s got good tailbacks and I don’t think he’s the kind of guy that’ll concede the run game,” Owens said.

The Eagles will look to continue their win streak come Saturday as they are hosted by the Wayne State Warriors.

Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. at the Tom Adams Field in Detroit, Mich. Live coverage can be heard on 88.9 WRDL.