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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio Dominican's football team will look to run its win streak to three in a row and continue climbing up the GLIAC South Division standings as the Panthers play their final road game of the season at Ashland at 1 p.m. Saturday.
Ashland enters the game ranked sixth in the latest regional poll. The top six teams from each region qualify for the postseason.
After a 62-7 win over Tiffin, ODU scored 31 unanswered points but needed to hold on late to fend off Lake Erie, 38-30, last Saturday.
The Storm had rallied from a 38-14 deficit in the second half with two fourth quarter touchdowns, converting both two-point tries, but their onside kick with 54 seconds sailed through the hands of one of their receivers and out of bounds, allowing ODU to kneel out the game.
Senior quarterback Jeremy Fudge accounted for five total touchdowns (three passing, two rushing) and ODU's defense and special teams forced four turnovers, including two in a pivotal 44-second stretch at the start of the third quarter that resulted in Panther touchdowns. The Panthers have now forced nine turnovers in their past two games.
Mike Noffsinger had his third straight 100-yard game with 122 yards on 25 carries, cracking the century mark on the season (1,030 yards). The defense was led by sophomore Justin Bell, who registered a career-high 14 tackles, and freshman Cody Culbertson, who had a career-best 13 stops and his first career interception.
Saturday's matchup will feature the GLIAC's top rushing offense against the second-best rushing defense. ODU averages 221.8 yards per game on the ground, while the Eagles allow just 125.4 yards rushing. The Panthers ran for 213 yards against the No. 1 rush defense, Wayne State, and 117 yards against the No. 3 defense, Michigan Tech.
ALL OHIO DOMINICAN FOOTBALL GAMES LIVE ON THE RADIO AND INTERNET
Fans in Central Ohio can listen to Ohio Dominican football LIVE on the radio on 1580 AM (St. Gabriel Radio) and simulcast online everywhere at www.ohiodominicanpanthers.com. This week's broadcast starts at 12:30 p.m. with the Panther Countdown Pregame Show. Veteran broadcaster Todd Bell returns for his fourth year in the booth as the play-by-play announcer and is joined by former Buckeye A.J. Trapasso in the booth, while Dan Long handles the pregame and halftime shows. Live video is also provided FREE for all six home games this season.
THE SERIES
This is the second matchup between the teams, with Ashland winning 44-15 last year in Columbus. The Panthers committed four turnovers and Ashland QB Taylor Housewright completed 18-of-25 throws for 281 yards and three scores. Mike Noffsinger ran for 123 yards on just 17 carries and Tyler Purcell had seven grabs for 69 yards.
DID YOU KNOW????
>> Ohio Dominican has converted six straight fourth downs and seven of its past eight attempts. ODU is second in the GLIAC in that category.
>> The Panthers set a new school record with 1,996 yards rushing this season. ODU's 221.8 yards per game tops in the GLIAC.
>> ODU's defense has forced six turnovers on downs inside the red zone, the most of any GLIAC team this season.
>> The Panthers' nine turnovers forced in the past two games are one shy of their consecutive-game record (10, Campbellsville and Walsh, 2005).
Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu
