ASHLAND, Ohio — Ashland University’s offense and special teams couldn’t stay out of their own way, but Brandon Gency and the defense rode to the rescue.
The Eagles overcame two first-half fumbles and a blocked punt and rallied for a 35-3 win over Findlay on Saturday at rain-swept Jack Miller Stadium.
For the second week in a row, AU’s offense stumbled out of the blocks. In last week’s come-from-behind win over Wayne State, the Eagles turned the ball over three times in the first half.
“We couldn’t have had a worse start on offense. That’s two weeks in a row,” AU coach Lee Owens said. “We need to get that fixed. It’s a real concern.
“Offensively we’ve turned the ball over too often in the first half the last two weeks.”
Findlay (1-2) controlled the first quarter and took a 3-0 lead on Tyler Bugeja’s 20 yard field goal with 1:10 remaining in the period. The abbreviated four-play drive started at the AU 11 yard line after Austin Bruns’ punt was blocked.
On first down, Findlay’s Daouda Sylla rushed 9 yards to the Ashland two. After that, AU’s defense stiffened. Sylla was thrown for a loss on second down and on third-and-goal, quarterback Rhys Gervais’ pass for Luke Stuffel fell incomplete. Gency, AU’s talented senior linebacker, pressured Gervais and forced an early throw.
“We’re always ready to handle the chaos,” Gency said. “It’s always important to back up our offense if their not clicking. We know that we’ve got to put something together, whether it’s a (forced) turnover or a three-and-out.
“Whatever we’ve got to do to help the offense out, that’s what we’re going to do.”
Back to Life: Trailing 3-0 late in the second quarter, the offense came to life behind All-America tight end Adam Shaheen. The 6-foot-6 redshirt junior hauled in a 5-yard touchdown pass from Travis Tarnowski with 3:05 remaining in the half for a 7-3 AU lead. Shaheen added a 16 yarder with 42 seconds to play before halftime, shrugging off an overmatched defender with a stiff arm near the goal line.
“Travis threw me on the slant and I saw the guy coming,” Shaheen said. “I had time to lower my shoulder a little bit, then I saw the end zone and just lunged out.”
Shaheen finished with seven catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns. Kamaron Green added seven catches for 49 yards as Tarnowski completed 25 of 41 passes for 289 yards and three scores. Keishaun Sims rushed for 109 yards on 17 carries, the second straight 100-yard game for the true freshman and Ohio’s reigning Mr. Football.
Showdown Looming: The fifth-ranked Eagles (3-0) hit the road for the first time next week, visiting Ferris State. The Bulldogs (3-0) were ranked sixth in this week’s American Football Coaches Association Division II poll.
“They are a fast, explosive team,” Gency said. “We’re ready for them. I know their ready for us. It’s going to be one heck of a game.”
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