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INDIANAPOLIS - In one of only three top-25 match-ups in NCAA Division II this week, the No. 19 UIndy Greyhounds (1-0) escaped its 2013 home opener with a slim 10-9 win versus the ninth-ranked Ashland Eagles (0-1) Saturday night at Key Stadium.  UIndy senior Klay Fiechter rushed for more than 100 yards while redshirt-sophomore Reece Horn came one catch shy of tying a school record with 13 receptions.

The Hounds started an o-line unit that combined had just one collegiate start between them.  The young but physical bunch helped Fiechter record his ninth career 100-yard game.  The veteran back grinded out 109 yards on a personal-high 31 carries.  The byproduct was a near nine-minute advantage in time of possession for the Hounds.
 
Meanwhile, Horn hosted a coming-out party of sorts.  The second-year wideout very nearly joined former UIndy greats Mar'quone Edmonds and Cesare Manning as the only Greyhounds to notch 14 catches in a single game.  Horn amassed an even 200 yards receiving, with 10 of his grabs going for 10 yards or more.  His first-quarter touchdown marked the only time UIndy found the end zone.
 
All 19 of the game's points came in the first half; Horn's seven-yard TD catch gave the Hounds the early lead, but the Eagles added a field goal and promptly parlayed an interception into a touchdown to take their first and only lead of the night early in the second quarter.  Ashland missed the extra-point, however, allowing 37-yard field goal by UIndy's Scott Miller to be the difference.
 
The biggest play of the night for the UIndy defense came halfway through the third, as the Hounds came up with a critical takeaway in the red zone.  Ashland's all-conference running back Anthony Taylor, who finished with 104 yards, broke off a 56-yard gaunt to put the Eagles at the UIndy 24 yard-line.  The Eagles crept as close as the Greyhound 14, but freshman linebacker Derrick Bryant dislodged the ball from 230-pounder Jordan McCune, allowing junior John Strickland to corral it and terminate the Ashland drive.
 
The Hounds went on the force two fourth-quarter punts from the Eagles and later sealed the win on sacks by Todd Hacker and Vince Maida in the final minute.
 
Dating back to last year, the Hounds have faced three straight top-10 opponents, taking two of the three match-ups; UIndy also defeated No. 8 Midwestern State in the first round of last season's NCAA DII playoffs.  The Hounds are now 7-0 at home in the last two seasons and 12-1 in the last three.
 
Hacker and Bryant finished with 13 and 12 tackles, respectively, while Strickland garnered nine.  They led a defense that held a non-conference opponent under 10 points for the first time since shutting out Kentucky Wesleyan in the 2011 opener.
 
The UIndy's next opponent, Saint Xavier, marks the second of three straight 2012 conference-champion opponents for the Hounds this year.  The Cougars are ranked No. 4 in the NAIA and are coming off a 31-24 overtime win versus second-ranked Marian.