Full Game Notes (PDF)

Game:        NCAA Div. II #13 Ashland University               4-0 (4-0 GLIAC)   
                  at Malone University                                            0-4 (0-4 GLIAC)
Date:         Saturday, October 3, 2015
Kickoff:       2:00 p.m. EDT at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium (Canton, Ohio)
Live Video: http://livestream.com/maloneuniversity
                  1:40 p.m. EDT pre-game (Clint Scroggs – play-by-play, Larry Ridgeway – color)
Live Stats:  http://gliac.org/sports/fball/2015-16/boxscores/20151003_5gvp.xml
Tickets:      $8.00 adults; $5.00 students/senior citizens; Children 12 and under are free

Series:       
Ashland holds a 3-0 edge in the all-time series, having claimed a 31-7 victory over Malone at Benson Stadium in 2012 and home wins of 27-20 in 2013 and a 42-13 last fall.

Coaches:   
Malone – Eric Hehman is in his sixth season as the Pioneers' head coach and has tallied an 11-46 record at Malone.  Prior to arriving in Canton, Hehman spent the previous five years as the head coach at NCAA Division III Greenville (IL) College where he led the Panthers to a 28-22 record and a berth in the 2009 NCCAA Victory Bowl.
Ashland – Lee Owens is in his 12th season at Ashland.  He has guided the program to an 83-41 mark and three NCAA Div. II playoff appearances (2007, 2008, 2012) since he became the Eagles' head coach in 2004.  As a collegiate head coach, Owens has tallied a 123-102 career mark, having spent nine years at the Univ. of Akron prior to becoming the head coach at AU.  Owens' resume also includes stints as an assistant at Ohio State Univ. and as the head coach at Massillon Washington H.S.

Last Season's Records: Malone 1-10 (1-9 GLIAC), Ashland 8-2 (8-2 GLIAC)

Construction at Benson Stadium: As part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's HOF Village Project, Tom Benson Stadium will undergo substantial renovations throughout the 2015 season.  All fans (from both the home & visiting teams) must enter through Gates 7 & 8 located adjacent to McKinley High School.  All other entrances will be closed to the public.  Click here for more information and a map of the construction areas.

Malone Notes: The Pioneers suffered a narrow 27-24 home loss in overtime to Tiffin University on Saturday…Malone battled back from fourth-quarter deficits of 21-14 and 24-21, sending the contest to overtime after connecting on a 30-yard field goal with three seconds to play in regulation…However, the Dragons pulled in front with a field goal in the extra period and then intercepted a fourth-down pass attempt to secure the victory...The Malone offense set season-highs for total yards (427), rushing yards (274) and first downs (20) in the contest…The Pioneer defense also posted several season-highs with its three sacks, seven tackles for loss and six pass break-ups…Malone has held a lead in all four of its contests this year, including a 14-9 halftime advantage against the Dragons…The Pioneers are one of the least penalized teams in the GLIAC, ranking fourth in the conference (and eighth in NCAA Div. II) with an average of just 33.5 penalty yards per outing.

Malone players to watch:  RB Matt Blasiole scored three touchdowns and set a new Malone single-game rushing record on Saturday with 279 yards on 24 carries (11.6 average)…The sophomore eclipsed the mark in overtime, edging the previous record of 277 yards that was set by Bernard Payton in a 2006 victory over Walsh…Blasiole currently leads the GLIAC and ranks fourth in NCAA Division II with eight rushing touchdowns on the season…He also leads the conference (ranks 12th in the nation) with 513 total rushing yards.…QB Will Szpor has completed a pass of 30 yards or more in each of Malone's first four games…The senior signal caller, who has connected on 43 of 74 pass attempts this year for 667 yards, currently ranks fifth in the GLIAC with an average of 9.0 yards per pass attempt…Szpor, now with 701 career pass attempts, needs 12 more to move past Shane Nalepa for fourth on Malone's all-time list…WR Eian Elsass has registered a team-high 18 catches for 264 yards and a TD… DB Lucas Haupt made 11 stops last week and now has 36 total tackles on the season…LB Ryan Weber has made a team-high 37 tackles with a sack and two tackles for loss…Weber & Haupt rank seventh & ninth, respectively, among the GLIAC leaders in tackles.

Ashland Notes: The 13th-ranked Eagles currently sit atop the GLIAC South Division standings after opening the year with road wins at Lake Erie and Walsh and then notching big home victories against Ohio Dominican and Findlay…In last week's game against the Oilers, Ashland led 26-14 at halftime…Findlay twice cut it to a one-possession game in the second half, but the Eagles answered with touchdowns each time en route to securing the 40-28 triumph…Ashland racked up 495 yards of offense on Saturday and currently ranks among the GLIAC leaders in points (38.5), total yards (502.5), passing yards (274.0), rushing yards (228.5) and first downs (22.0) per game…The Eagles' defense has forced eight turnovers on the season (six interceptions, two fumble recoveries) and ranks sixth in the conference in yards allowed, yielding 384.3 per contest…Ashland leads the GLIAC in kickoff returns, averaging 27.0 yards per run back.

Ashland players to watch: Although he missed a game due to injury, RB Vance Settlemire has rushed for 407 yards on 61 attempts (6.7 average) with four rushing touchdowns this season…Last week vs. Findlay, the junior picked up 210 yards on 30 carries (7.0) and scored two TDs – the first on a five-yard run and the second on a 66-yard pass….Settlemire currently leads the GLIAC in both rushing yards per game (135.7) and all-purpose yards per game (169.7)…QB Travis Tarnowski threw for 270 yards and three scores against the Oilers…On the season, the sophomore signal-caller has completed 69 of 117 passes (59%) for 1061 yards with nine touchdowns and three interceptions…TE Adam Shaheen pulled in seven catches for 70 yards against the Oilers and is AU's leading receiver this season with 24 catches for 314 yards and two scores…In all, Ashland has six players who have eclipsed 100 yards receiving this year…WRs Matthew Wilcox and Stewart Turner are both averaging over 23 yards per reception…DL Tim Lehr is tied for third in the GLIAC with 3.5 sacks…LB Zach Olszewski paces the Eagles with 35 total tackles…DB Dale Irby leads the GLIAC in kickoff return average at 30.4 yards per attempt…P Austin Bruns is ranked second in Div. II with an average of 47.1 yards per punt.
                                                            
2015 Rosters
Malone  |  Ashland

2015 Statistics
Malone  |  Ashland