Box Score

The Malone University football team fell by a score of 27-20 in its Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game at Ashland University on Saturday afternoon.

The Pioneers (1-7 overall, 1-6 GLIAC) held a 14-7 lead at the start of the second stanza after putting together a pair of lengthy first-quarter touchdown drives.  Ashland (4-4 overall, 4-3 GLIAC) managed knot the score on a 21-yard TD pass and then took the lead just before halftime with a 28-yard field goal by kicker Anthony McCarthy.  McCarthy would stretch the Ashland advantage to 20-14 with a 30-yard field goal midway through the third quarter before quarterback Tra'Von Chapman hit tight end Alex Renner with a six-yard TD pass to make the score 27-14 with 6:03 remaining in the fourth.

After each team went three-and-out on their next possessions, Malone quarterback Brandyn Eckhart led the Pioneers down the field on a 14-play, 90-yard touchdown drive.  However, the clock ran out on Malone's comeback hopes as tight end Drew Bond hauled in a 13-yard TD pass from Eckhart as time expired, making the final tally 27-20.

Against a strong Ashland defensive unit that entered the game ranked among the conference's Top 3 in both points and yards allowed, the Malone offense registered 80 rushing yards and 242 passing yards for a total output of 322 yards. 

The Pioneer defense, meanwhile, limited the potent Ashland running attack to an average of 2.2 yards per carry with a total of 106 rushing yards on 49 attempts.  Eagle running back Anthony Taylor, who entered the contest ranked third in NCAA Division II in rushing yards per game, was held under 100 yards for just the second time this season, finishing the afternoon with 93 yards and a TD on 39 attempts (2.4 average).  With its ground game mostly held in check, Ashland instead turned to the air, posting a season-high 241 passing yards to end the contest with 347 total yards of offense.

Although the yardage totals for each team were fairly even, turnovers played a large factor in the outcome as the Eagles picked off two Malone passes near the end of the second quarter while also recovering two second-half Pioneer fumbles deep in AU territory.  In addition to its +4 turnover margin, Ashland also enjoyed a substantial 37:15 to 22:45 edge in time of possession over the course of the game and managed to convert on six of seven fourth downs.

The Pioneers opened the contest with a nine-play, 72-yard touchdown drive, pulling in front 6-0 on a one-yard TD plunge by running back Steven Niewiedzial (extra point was no good).

Following a pair of punts, Ashland took over at the Pioneer 37-yard line and quickly grabbed a 7-6 lead on a one-yard Taylor touchdown run.

Malone answered right back moments later when Eckhart capped a six-play, 75-yard drive with a three-yard TD scamper.  The junior signal-caller then tacked on a two-point conversion pass to Bond to put the visitors on top 14-7.  The Pioneers had lined up to punt earlier in the possession, but the drive was revived after the Eagles were flagged for running into the kicker.  Eckhart then hit wide receiver Josh McLaughlin with a 58-yard pass on the very next play following the penalty to set up the go-ahead score.

Ashland moved to ball inside the Malone 20-yard line on its next drive, but a fourth-down Chapman pass fell incomplete, giving the ball back to the Pioneers.  Malone was unable to add to its lead, though, and the Eagles responded after a Pioneer punt, driving 56 yards on six plays and tying the game at 14-14 when Chapman connected with wide receiver Dan Piko on a fourth-down TD throw.

Ashland then snagged its first interception of the game on the opening play of Malone's ensuing drive, allowing the Eagle offense to take over near midfield.  Ashland moved to the Pioneer 10-yard line but the Malone defense held AU out of the endzone, tackling Taylor in the backfield for a one-yard loss and then forcing incompletions on two straight throws before  the Eagles settled for their 28-yard field goal just before the half.

McCarthy's 30-yard field goal would mark the only points of the third quarter.  Malone moved the ball to the Ashland 24-yard line midway through the period before the Pioneers' drive was terminated by a fumble. 

Down 20-14 at the start of the fourth stanza, Malone again drove the ball deep into Eagle territory before the turnover bug bit once more, halting the possession at the AU 16-yard line with another costly fumble. 

The Eagles would then turn the fumble recovery into points, converting two fourth downs on an 84-yard TD drive that culminated with Renner's six-yard catch.  The long drive took 6:27 off the fourth-quarter clock, leaving Malone with only enough time to cut the final deficit to seven on the last play of the game. 

Eckhart ended the afternoon having completed 15 of 26 passes for 242 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.  Running back Reggie Terrell picked up 45 rushing yards on 13 attempts while Niewiedzial recorded 36 rushing yards and a score on eight carries.  McLaughlin pulled in four catches for 89 yards while Bond also made four catches for 55 yards and a TD.

Linebacker Dan Mower led the way for the Malone defense with a game-high 13 total tackles, including one tackle for loss.  Safety Demarco Donaldson followed closely with 12 tackles, including one tackle for loss.  Cornerback Lepear Smith made nine tackles while linebackers Philip Fisher and Cristian Garcia each recorded seven stops.

For Ashland, Chapman completed 20 of 31 throws for 235 yards with two touchdowns.  Wide receiver David Soucie led the AU receiving corps with six catches for 118 yards.  Defensive lineman Jamie Meder anchored the Eagle defense with 10 tackles, including two tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.

Malone will be back in action next Saturday with a 1:30 p.m. non-conference game at Alderson Broaddus (WV) University.  Fans can listen to all the action live on www.malonepioneers.com/showcase (the contest will not be carried on ESPN 990 AM due to a scheduling conflict; Malone's football broadcasts will return to ESPN 990 AM for the remainder of the season, starting with the following Saturday's game vs. the University of Findlay).