ASHLAND — Coming into Saturday (Oct. 3) afternoon’s 102nd Homecoming game, Ashland University’s football team ranked eighth in NCAA Division II in total defense.
And the Eagles’ opponent, Tiffin, was ranked first.
Saturday’s game played out that way, with the Dragons earning a 14-9 win over the Eagles. Ashland is 1-4 overall and 1-2 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, while Tiffin is 4-1, 3-0.
“Traditional slobber-knocker,” said Ashland head coach Doug Geiser. “That was a physical football game. Both teams played their tails off. A lot of great old-school defense on both sides.
“We’ve got to be able to take advantage of opportunities in the red zone when they come.”
The two teams combined for 23 points and 478 yards of offense (Ashland 281, Tiffin 197).
After a scoreless first quarter, the Eagles took the lead at the 8:41 mark of the second period on a 19-yard field goal from redshirt freshman kicker Nate Russell. The drive took 7:38 off the clock.
With two seconds until halftime, the Dragons took the lead at 7-3 on a one-yard quarterback sneak from Kyle Antoine.
Through the game’s first 30 minutes, Ashland had 85 yards of offense (2.93 yards per play), and Tiffin 64 (2.56 yards per play).
The Dragons then extended their lead to 14-3 with 1:13 to go in the third quarter on a 17-yard scoring pass from Antoine to Jaedyn McKinstry.
Ashland rallied to get to within five points at 14-9 with 2:15 to go when freshman quarterback Coy Hamic hit sophomore wide receiver D.J. Harvey for a 39-yard touchdown pass. The two-point conversion failed.
Hamic played the second half and finished 8-of-17 for 132 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
“He stepped in, and that’s the one thing I noticed, he didn’t lose his poise,” Geiser said. “He’s got some arm talent, that’s for sure.”
Junior linebacker Jack Talkington picked up a dozen tackles (six solo) and a tackle for loss.
Ashland will go back on the road for a Great Midwest game on Oct. 10 at noon at Findlay (4-1, 2-1).
(Photos by Tom Theodore)
