Box Score
Box score

INDIANAPOLIS-  The UIndy football team used three interceptions to stave off visiting Ashland, 17-12, in front of 4,419 at Key Stadium Saturday night.  The win moves the Hounds' record to 2-0 on the season.  Craig Ray had a career-high 18 tackles in the win and three different defenders snared INTs for UIndy.

It was a defensive struggle throughout and the score reflected that in the opening stanza as Ashland clung to a slim 3-0 lead at halftime.  It was the third quarter, again, where the Hounds put up the offense and took the lead.  In last week's win over Kentucky Wesleyan, UIndy posted 21 third-quarter points to cruise to the 38-10 win.  Saturday, UIndy needed 10 points in that quarter to take the lead for good and remain perfect on the season (2-0, 1-0 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference).

UIndy's first opportunity came following Ashland's second drive.  Mike Dum picked-off AU's Taylor Housewright in Eagle territory but Aaron Puntarelli missed on a 36-yard field goal try and the game remained scoreless.

Housewright led the Eagles right down the field again on the next possession but Alex Byrnes stepped in front of what would have been a touchdown, snagged an interception in the endzone to thwart another opportunity.  The teams continued to scrap for field position throughout the rest of the half and AU came out with a 36-yard field goal with two seconds left in the second quarter to take the lead into halftime.

UIndy immediately went to work in the opening drive of the second half.  Rob Doyle went 3-for-4 for 65 yards in the drive, capped by a 40-yard strike to Mar'Quone Edmonds for a 7-3 Greyhound advantage.  The teams traded field goals for a 10-6 UIndy lead. 

After a Greyhound drive stalled, Tyran Fakes continued his solid punting performance, skying a 56-yard punt down to the Ashland 1-yardline.  Two plays later, Tyler Peterman made a diving catch for UIndy's third interception of the night, this one deep in Ashland territory.  On fourth-and-goal from the 2-yardline, UIndy turned to Paul Corsaro, who took the snap and barrelled through the right side of the line into the endzone and UIndy enjoyed an 11-point advantage with just 8:43 remaining.

Ashland would not give up, however, marching 72 yards on 13 plays to score its lone touchdown, a one-yard plunge by Ethan Webb but Peterman sacked Housewright on the 2-point try and the Hounds remained on top by five, 17-12.  The UIndy defense wasn't done, stopping Ashland on a fourth-and-three to give the ball back to the Hounds with 2:22 remaining. 

AU would have one final dire attempt, but a fumble on a hook-and-lateral play ended the contest and gave UIndy the win.  Despite being out-rushed 139-to-11 and overall 378-to-242, Indianapolis held firm with big plays from its defense and recorded its first win over Ashland since the 2004 season.

The numbers would be gaudy on the defensive side for UIndy.  Ray racked-up 18 total tackles, part of three Greyhounds with double-digit totals.  Max Davis tallied 15 total stops and Dum had 10 as all three played a part in one of the two sacks on the night. 

Doyle finished the contest 17-of-29 for 231 yards with a TD and no interceptions.  Edmonds was the leading receiver, catching seven balls for 106 yards and a score.

The Greyhounds will face the nation's top-ranked Division II team next week when they travel to Allendale, Mich. for a battle with the Grand Valley State Lakers.  Kick is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.