ASHLAND, Ohio — The Eagles showed no mercy to Mercyhurst.
Ashland University lived up to its preseason billing as one of the best teams in the nation, swamping the Lakers 48-0 in the season opener Thursday at Jack Miller Stadium.
The shutout was AU’s first since Nov. 10, 2012 and the first in a season opener since 1990.
“I don’t care what level you play or how young the team is you’re playing,” AU coach Lee Owens said. “With the nature of offensive football today, to be able to keep a team out of the end zone is quite an accomplishment.”
Sixth-ranked Ashland limited Mercyhurst to 188 total yards and sacked quarterback Doug Altavilla five times. The Lakers managed just seven rushing yards on 28 attempts.
“I’ve never seen a number like that. That’s crazy,” Owens said. “They’re really young … but you’ve got to give them credit. We’ve played some teams that were young before and they just self-destructed. It wasn’t like they were beating themselves. They were just out-manned.”
Big Guns: Ashland quarterback Travis Tarnowski completed 20 of 28 passes for 226 yards and three touchdowns in the first half. The redshirt junior, who tweaked his ankle after being sacked midway through the second quarter, orchestrated first-half scoring drives of 95, 73, 76, 99 and 66 yards before sitting out the entire second half.
“For an experienced team to go out there and take care of business like we did, it’s a good sign,” Tarnowski said. “I was pretty happy with the way the offense played.”
Tailback Vance Settlemire rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns and caught an 8-yard TD pass from Tarnowski. Settlemire moved into third place on AU’s career touchdowns list with 37, two behind Clear Fork graduate Jordan McCune and eight in back of program leader Anthony Taylor (45).
Like Tarnowski, Settlemire sat out the entire second half.
“We went out there and executed the plan just like the coaches set it up,” Settlemire said. “I just run wherever my line gives me a hole to run.”
Tight end Adam Shaheen caught seven passes for 89 yards. The 6-foot-6 redshirt junior and former college basketball player packed on 20 pounds since last season.
“I feel a lot faster and quicker and stronger than I did last year,” said Shaheen, an All-American last year. “I did a lot more running in the off-season than last season.”
Happy Birthday: Defensive end Austin Utter celebrated his 21st birthday in style. The junior had a pair of sacks in his first career start.
“It couldn’t have gotten any better,” said Utter, a converted linebacker. “The biggest thing was I knew eventually my time would come. I just had to keep working.”
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.
