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COLUMBUS, OHIO -- Ohio Dominican's football team will play its second consecutive top-20 ranked program as the Panthers hit the road to take on Ashland at 7 p.m. Saturday.
The Panthers (1-1, 1-1 GLIAC) enter the matchup ranked No. 17 in the AFCA poll and No. 14 in the D2Football.com poll. Ashland (2-0, 2-0 GLIAC) is ranked No. 19 in the AFCA. This will be the first meeting between the schools when both have been ranked.
ODU looks to bounce back from a tough 27-24 setback to Grand Valley State last Saturday. The Panthers, who haven't lost consecutive games since the 2011 season, outgained the Lakers 415-323 but committed five turnovers – all in the second half – in the loss.
The Panther defense limited GVSU to 3.6 yards per carry and just 5-of-14 on third downs. ODU finished with 9.0 tackles for loss and broke up six passes in the game.
Austin Osborne finished with nine tackles (3.0 tackles for loss) and Cody Culbertson also tallied nine tackles. Paul Wesselhoeft tied a career-high with seven tackles and had a sack and two tackles for loss and Mason Sawicki set a career-best with seven stops as well. Da'Twane Harris had six tackles, broke up three passes and blocked a punt as well.
In his second start, Grant Russell completed 34-of-47 passes for 272 yards and three scores while also running for 52 yards on 11 carries. His 58 total offensive plays are tied for the fifth-most in school history. No Panther quarterback in school history had thrown for more than 206 yards in a game by their second start.
Dez Stewart made eight catches for 84 yards and a touchdown and JT McFarland made a career-high nine catches for 53 yards and a score to lead the offense.
QUICK HITS
• Since 2006, ODU has an overall record of 72-29 (.713 win percentage.) The Panthers are 26-4 in their last 30 games (.867 win percentage.) ODU has also won 25 of its last 27 regular season games.
• Over the past 30 games, ODU has outscored opponents 1,202-553, an average of 21.6 points per game. The Panthers have scored 30 or more points 23 times in that stretch and held opponents to 14 points or fewer 14 times.
• ODU is 32-5 against opponents from Ohio since 2007 (.865 win percentage.)
• The Panthers have won 17 consecutive regular season road games, dating back to a 2012 loss at #4 Grand Valley State.
• The Panthers have won 17 consecutive GLIAC South Division games, dating back to a 2012 loss to #9 Ashland.
• The Panthers have been ranked in the top 25 in 25 consecutive AFCA and D2Football.com polls, dating back to Sept. 30, 2013.
• Over the past 37 games, ODU's offensive line has allowed just 20 sacks.
Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu
