A6 The Collegian sports December 8, 2017 Looking back upon the Eagles historic season STEVEN SHRENKEL @AUCollegian From a huge win on national television, to breaking numerous records, to winning their first out- right GLIAC title in five years, the Ashland Eagles football team has a historic season to look back upon. It was a year full of many tri- umphs for the Ashland football team, but ultimately ended in bit- ter defeat as the Eagles loss in the NCAA Division II Super Region Three semifinal to Harding, 34- 24. This was the second super re- gional semifinal that the Eagles have played in of all-time. They came into the second round of the playoffs as the No. 3 seed. Harding was the No. 7 seed. The loss was only the second time in four years that the victory bell wasn’t rang by the Ashland foot- ball team at Jack Miller Stadium/ MEGAN FURBY Martinelli Field. The football team after accepting the GLIAC Championship trophy after their win over Saginaw Valley State University. The Eagles senior class, led by quarterback Travis Tarnowski, fin- Field. Homecoming GLIAC matchup at ished with a career high nine The second half was when Ash- ished 38-7 overall and 37-5 in the That game saw the Eagles offense Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli catches and 94-receiving yards. He land’s defense began to figure out regular season throughout their catch on fire, putting up 563 to- Field. In front of family, friends, also went into the game catching a Harding’s offense and put the Ea- four years at Ashland. They con- tal yards for the game. Tarnowski and alumni, the Eagles defensive touchdown pass in three of the last gles defense in position to start a tributed to three Great Lakes In- led the attack with his 10th career got yet another shutout for the four game. comeback. tercollegiate Athletic Conference 300-yard passing game. season as they topped the Huskies The Eagles came into the game Tarnowski helped the Eagles cut South Division titles along with Owens put into perspective just 48-0. ranked No. 10 and finished their the deficit 31-21 with 9:24 left to go two overall conference champion- how dominant Ashland in when The defense collected four inter- regular season with a 10-game into the fourth quarter with a 17- ships. they play home after the game. ceptions, a fumble recovery, five winning streak to go with a 31-19 yard touchdown pass. Eagles head coach Lee Owens “We’re home,” Owens said. tackles for a loss, and a sack. victory. It was too little, too late, however, was disappointed with the season “When we play here, we play at a Tarnowski had a big game as it Tarnowski set a new conference as the Bisons answered right back ending when the team had been on different level.” was the fourth time that he had record for the game, throwing and shut Ashland down for the 34- a roll, but reflected on just how spe- Ashland continued to display its’ thrown a school-record-tying five 92 touchdown passes in GLIAC 24 win. cial the group of players was. dominance in week three as they touchdowns in a game. Tarnowski games, and passing former Grand Even with the disappointing loss, “It’s hard for our guys to put this buried the Northwood Timber- also reached another milestone as Valley State quarterback Curt many records were broken and his- whole thing in perspective right wolves 42-14 in their first GLIAC he became the first Ashland player Anes. tory was made for the whole Ash- now,” Owens said. “They have matchup on the road. to reach both 100 career passing With the game, AU’s senior class land University football team. been here four years and it’s only The game was another display touchdowns and 10,000 passing finished its career having never loss 20 players earned 2017 GLIAC been twice they have walked off the of dominance for Tarnowski as he career yards. a home regular- season game. Ow- season-ending honors. Owens field without ringing the victory put up 339 yards and five touch- The Eagles went into week eight ens after the game talked on the ac- earned the 2017 GLIAC coach of bell. And those were both post- downs in the first two quarters of facing a bigger challenge and re- complishments for the senior class. the year while senior center Domi- season games. Someday we’ll have the game, setting a new program membering the heartbreaking loss “We’ve got some warriors in our nic Giunta earned the 2017 GLI- a better perspective of what this career record and tying a program from the Tiffin Dragons back in senior class,” Owens said. “It was AC offensive linemen of the year. group did and the games they’ve single-game mark. 2016. They went into the Dragons fun. To go 9-0 in this conference, Senior wide receiver Matthew won. But today wasn’t our day.” It also marked another milestone territory on the road and stole a it’s such a tribute to that group of Wilcox earned the 2017 GLIAC Ashland finished their 2017 at as Owens earned his 100th win 38-24 victory. players. It’s a big-time accomplish- Jack H. McAvoy Award. The 11-2, which tied for the program leading the Eagles, becoming just The Eagles got lead the lead ment.” award was presented to a player record for wins in a campaign and the second head coach in program 24-10 going into halftime for the The win was a cause for celebra- who combined outstanding char- most consecutive victories in one history to do so. game. This was before the Dragons tion as it gave them their first out- acter and leadership not only on season. The Eagles also went an Owens, after the win, talked started to come back in the third right GLIAC championship in five the field, but the classroom and undefeated 9-0 in the GLIAC con- about the great people in the Ea- quarter when they connected on a years and guaranteed them a spot community as well. He finished ference. They were ranked No. 9 in gles organization, foreshadowing 60-yard touchdown pass. in the postseason. the season with 37 receptions, 707 the country. the historic season to come. Ashland responded to this with At their end of the season awards receiving yards, and five touch- Three teams of Ashland’s elev- “You can’t have success unless a nine-yard rushing touchdown banquet, the Ashland football downs. en opponents in the season were you surround yourself with great from junior running back Andrew team patiently awaited the news of Tarnowski finished off his career ranked in the top 12 in the final people,” Owens said. “We’ve been Vaughn to help put the game out who they would play in the upcom- at Ashland with another outstand- 2016 American Football Coaches fortunate to have great people of reach. He had a career high 175 ing week. ing season. He completed 59.5 per- Association poll. Seven of those here.” rushing yards and two touchdowns The national committee chose cent of his passes for 2,756 yards, eleven teams that the Eagles faced Week four saw the Eagles take on on 26 carries. AU ran for a season- the Eagles for postseason play and 29 touchdowns, and just four in- this year had winning records in their biggest challenge of the sea- high 294 yards in the game. slotted them at No. 3 in the NCAA terceptions. He also finished the 2016. son thus far. Week nine saw the Eagles outlast Division II Super Region three season with 128-rushing yards and The Eagles were coming into the At home, in a nationally televised the Wayne State Warriors 30-10 in playoffs. The game was chosen to one rushing touchdown. 2017 season with high expectations game at ESPN 3, Ashland got their final GLIAC regular season played at Jack Miller Stadium/ Through the first round of post- as they were coming off of a 2016 their biggest victory of the season road game. In the game, Vaughn Martinelli Field. season play, he was tied the third- campaign where they finished 9-2 with a 20-3 win against the Ferris saw his fifth 100-yard rushing Everything seemed to be pictur- fewest interceptions thrown and overall and 7-2 in the GLIAC. State Bulldogs in another GLIAC game of the season and his third esque for Ashland as they were was tied for eighth in touchdown That season had ended in disap- matchup. in a row. headed to the NCAA Division II passes. pointment as they were not select- Ferris State came in to that game For Week ten, the Eagles returned postseason for the seventh time in Tarnowski was the 2017 GLIAC ed for postseason play. as the nation’s leader in both total to Jack Miller Stadium/Martinelli program history. They were rolling player of the year. He was also the The Eagles journey started back offense and rushing offense. Field to take on the No. 19 ranked with a 10-game winning streak. third Eagle to be nominated for the on April 22 as they played their That was shut down by the Eagles overall Grand Valley State Lakers. That was until they found out the Harlon Hill Trophy twice, the Di- annual Purple and Gold Spring defense as held the Bulldogs to just AU came into the game ranked uphill battle they would have to vision II Player of the Year award.