Box score
ASHLAND, Ohio-- The first two plays of the game set the tone as host Ashland secured a 19-3 win over Indianapolis in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon. AU's Carlin Isles returned the opening kickoff 91 yards for a score and a turnover on the first UIndy offensive play helped dig a hole from which the Greyhounds could not recover.
Isles long kick return put the Eagles (5-4, 5-3 GLIAC) on top right away, 7-0.
Patrick Bourne (Hamilton, Ohio/Hamilton) rushed for first-down yardage on the first offensive play for UIndy (4-6, 3-6), but fumbled and Ashland was primed to jump out to a big lead in the first minute of the game.
The Greyhound defense, as it did numerous times on the day, stopped the momentum and forced a field goal try for a 10-0 Ashland advantage. After a missed UIndy field goal attempt and the teams trading punts, the Greyhounds were put in a tough spot again when
Erick Kumming (New Haven, Ind./Bishop Luers) had his punt blocked deep in his own territory. The Eagles drove it down to the one, but could not punch it in and the Hound defense held again as Ashland tacked-on another field goal for a 13-0 margin.
AU would add another field goal and
Jace Morrison (Dale, Ind./Heritage Hills) later answered with a 34-yarder in the final seconds of the half for a 16-3 score. Through the first 30 minutes, the statistics were very even (total offense: Ashland 108, UIndy 105), but the long kickoff and excellent starting field position aided Ashland's 13-point advantage on the scoreboard.
UIndy had its opportunities to get back into the game in the third quarter as Ashland mustered just one first down in the third frame. Three sacks stalled one Greyhound drive in Eagle territory and another missed field goal after a fumble recovery cost the Hounds a second chance to gain points.
In its first series of the fourth quarter, Ashland strung together an eight-play, 66-yard drive, culminating in a 27-yard field goal for a 19-3 margin. UIndy started its ensuing drive at the 40 when the kickoff went out-of-bounds, but a sack on 4th-and-6 at the Ashland 22 killed that chance and Ashland went on to the win, snapping the Greyhounds' three-game winning streak.
Max Davis (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) had 12 total tackles, as did
Mike Dum (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard), to lead the Greyhound defensive effort.
Rob Doyle (Indianapolis, Ind./Bishop Chatard) did not throw a touchdown pass for just the third time all season, completing 24-of-41 for 181 yards and no INTs.
Stephen Geller (Avon, Ind./Avon) caught seven balls for 55 yards to lead the UIndy offense.
Indianapolis will closeout its 2009 season next Saturday at Northern Michigan. Game time is set for 1:00 p.m. from Marquette, Mich.
Notes: The loss gives UIndy its second straight losing season for the first time since 1996 ...
Ryan Forney (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) had a 49-yard punt return in closing seconds of the game, his third punt return of 40+ yards this season ... he came into the contest second in the GLIAC in punt return average (15.6), ninth in all of Division II ... Doyle went over 2,000 yards passing on the season on his final completion.