COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio Dominican's football team led 21-13 late in the second quarter, but ninth-ranked Ashland scored the game's final 31 points and took a 44-21 victory over the Panthers Saturday at Panther Field.

With the win, Ashland remained unbeaten at 6-0 (5-0 GLIAC), while ODU fell to 3-3 (2-3 GLIAC). All three of ODU's defeats have been to nationally ranked foes, including two top-10 teams in Ashland and then-No. 4 Grand Valley State.

ODU managed just one first down in the second half and was doubled up offensively by the Eagles, outgained 556-278.

Freshman Brandon Schoen (Olentangy, Ohio) notched his third straight 100-yard game, recording 109 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. That's the most yards Ashland has allowed to an opposing back this season.

Freshman wide out Ronald McCloud (Cleveland, Ohio) had his second 100-yard game of the season, registering five catches for 119 yards and a score.

Freshman Billy Eakins (Pickerington, Ohio) led ODU with a season-best 16 tackles and senior Eisen Hardy (Pickerington, Ohio) made 11 stops, as did junior Justin Bell (Groveport, Ohio). Freshman Di'Andre Harrison (Columbus, Ohio) had two sacks and five tackles.

ODU started the scoring with its second drive of the first quarter. Freshman Tajuan Green (Columbus, Ohio) took a handoff in the backfield and lofted a strike downfield to McCloud, who shook off a tackle and jogged into the end zone for the TD to give ODU a 7-0 lead at 5:40 mark.

Ashland answered with a TD drive of its own, converting a fourth-and-10 on the Panther 28 yard line and scoring on the next play. The extra point missed, keeping ODU's lead at 7-6 heading to the second quarter

After the team swapped punts, ODU took over on the Ashland 49. After a 21-yard run by Schoen, Miller flung a pass into the flat that sophomore Abe Johnson caught and scooted into the end zone for a 19-yard TD, bumping the Panther lead to 14-6 at the 10:41 mark of the second.

Ashland again answered with a TD drive, covering 12 plays and 84 yards, but after the teams traded punts again, the Panthers took over on the Ashland 35. On second-and-nine from the 19, Schoen slid around the right end and darted down the Eagle sideline, diving into the end zone for the score to make it 21-13 Panthers at the 1:58 mark.

The Eagles came right back with a nine-play, 78-yard drive in just 1:11, converting another fourth down play to keep the drive alive, and scored on a 19-yard pass play with 48 seconds left before the break to cut the Panther lead to 21-20.

Ashland then scored on its first drive of the second half, and after consecutive three-and-outs by the Panthers, scored again on a seven minute drive later in the third to grab a 34-21 lead.

ODU threatened to score early in the fourth on a 56-yard pass play from Miller to McCloud that advanced the Panthers to the Eagle 25, but ODU would turn it over on downs, and the Eagles tacked on 10 more fourth quarter points to seal the win.

That pass play would be the lone first down of the second half for the Panthers and account for all but 13 yards of ODU's offense in the half.

The Panthers will hit the road for a 3 p.m. matchup Saturday at Findlay.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu