ASHLAND — Lee Owens isn’t interested in padding his wins total.
Ashland University’s veteran coach would rather find out where his Eagles stand in the Division II landscape.
AU, ranked 15th in the American Football Coaches Association preseason poll, opens the season at Jack Miller Stadium on Thursday against No. 4 Indiana (Pa.) in what is arguably the best opening weekend game in all of Division II football. The Eagles will try to avenge last year’s 26-23 last-second loss to the Crimson Hawks, who advanced to the national semifinals last December.
“It’s an opportunity to play the best,” said Owens, beginning his 15th season at AU. “That’s where we’re at as a program. We want that challenge. We want that opportunity.”
Ashland, which lost in the second round of the playoffs a year ago, will go into Thursday’s opener with a new quarterback under center. Billy Bahl, who appeared in 20 games during the past three seasons for Division I Miami (Ohio), will take over for record-setter Travis Tarnowski. Bahl passed for 3,383 yards and 21 touchdowns for the Redhawks.
“What’s most helpful for Billy, I think, is our offense fits his skill set better,” Owens said. “I don’t think he’s a spread quarterback. I think he’s a pro-style quarterback.”
The Crimson Hawks counter with one of the best dual threat quarterbacks in the nation in senior Lenny Williams Jr., who threw for 2,789 yards and 31 touchdowns last year while rushing for 406 yards and one TD. He is joined by a pair of returning 1,000 yard rushers in Samir Bullock and Justice Evans.
“It’s going to be a challenge, they’re a great team,” AU linebacker Clay Shreve said. “It’s an experience like no other. It’s a blessing to be able to play in these games.
“We’re not new to the situation..”
