INDIANA, Pa. — Isaac Brooks’ second career interception helped deliver an opening night victory for Ashland in a Division II college football clash.
A Madison graduate, Brooks picked off a pass with two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter to help preserve a 13-9 AU win at IUP on Thursday night.
The Eagles overcame a 9-0 halftime deficit with two second-half touchdowns. The first came on a 25-yard scoring stroke from quarterback Cameron Blair to tight end Jonathan Merimee with 5:31 to play in the third, cutting IUP’s edge to 9-7.
Ashand took the lead on Ty’aris Stevenson’s 1-yard plunge with 2:10 remaining in the fourth. The touchdown capped an impressive, 10 play, 70-yard drive that took 5:33 off the fourth-quarter clock. Stevenson carried the ball seven times for 36 yards on the march.
AU leaned heavily on its veteran offensive line, piling up 133 rushing yards. Stevenson led the charge with 78 yards on 18 carries.
Blair, who was making his first start since 2021, completed 10-of-23 passes for 102 yards. Jent Joseph had four catches for 53 yards, while Merimee had two grabs for 31 yards.
Ashland’s stout defense limited IUP to minus-15 yards rushing and picked off three passes. Defensive end Michael Shimek had 3.5 sacks, while Jalon Jackson and E.J. Teah had an interception. Teah’s pick with two seconds remaining iced it.
IUP quarterback Matthew Reeve completed 13-of-23 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown. Maurice Massey caught four passes for 110 yards, while Randy Washington had a 55-yard touchdown catch in the second quarter. IUP’s other score came on a 44-yard Nick Andrasi field goal late in the first half.
The win was the first for the Eagles over IUP and the first opening-day victory since 2022. Ashland was 0-5 all-time against IUP before Thursday.