ASHLAND, Ohio — There have been a couple of unexpected roadblocks along the way, but Ashland University coach Lee Owens couldn’t ask for anything more.
The Eagles are playing a meaningful game in mid-November.
No. 20 AU will visit Ohio Dominican at noon Saturday in the regular season finale. An Ashland win would secure a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference South Division championship and possibly a berth in the NCAA Division II playoffs.
Ashland (8-2, 6-2) was ranked ninth in this week’s Super Region 4 rankings. The top seven teams in each of the four regions qualify for the 28-team Division II playoffs, which begin Nov. 19.
“You want to get to that last game and you’re playing for a championship and an opportunity to be in the postseason,” Owens said. “That’s what it’s all about.”
The Panthers (7-3, 7-3) lost three of their first five but have won five straight and are coming off an impressive 28-17 victory over Wayne State.
“They were 2-3 at one point, trying to find their way,” Owens said. “That’s really a credit to the job (first-year ODU coach Kelly Cummings) has been able to do.”
AU rebounded for a stunning loss at Michigan Tech two weeks ago with a 56-0 shellacking of Walsh last week. Tight end Adam Shaheen caught a pair of touchdown passes, matching the NCAA Division II single-season record for TD receptions by a tight end with 15. Meanwhile, the defense surrendered just 86 yards, the fewest an AU team has allowed in a game during the Owens era.
“They need to be there on Saturday,” Owens said. “We’ll be tested, there’s no question.
Offensively, defensively, special teams, the whole thing. We have to play well across the board.”
Ohio Dominican is led by quarterback Grant Russell, who has completed a jaw-dropping 70.5 percent of his passes (217-308) for 2,499 yards and 22 touchdowns. Receiver Cory Contini has 64 catches for 899 yards and seven touchdowns. Linebacker Ross Thompson leads the way with 86 tackles, while defensive end Demetrius Farmer has a team-best eight sacks.
“They’ve won five in a row and beat some really good teams in that stretch,” Owens said. “They’re a talented team with really, really good players. They’ve always played us tough in the past.”
Coverage of Ashland University Eagles athletics is produced in partnership with OhioHealth, the official sports medicine provider for Ashland University and dozens of high schools and universities throughout Ohio.
