2014 Ashland Preview (by Tony Nicolette, GLIAC contributor)

For many teams in the GLIAC, sometimes a year of tough luck is simply a required part of the experience and sets the table for a resurgence.  Ashland may look at 2013 and chalk that one up to said “experience”.  The previous six seasons had all netted winning records for coach Lee Owens and staff, and among those were three playoff appearances to go along with an outright GLIAC crown in 2012.  5-5 is hardly the end of the world, but with what had been expected for the Eagles entering 2013 that was a result that they likely weren’t anticipating.  Will 2014 be one of those years of “resurgence”?

One of the key pieces that Ashland had during the six straight winning seasons was consistent, top-end QB play.  Multiple starters and some injuries plagued the Eagles at the position a year ago and that lack of consistency made for tough sledding.  Often known for their prolific passing attacks, the Eagles were more run-based last year and their passing game was near the bottom of the league.  That lack of balance is not the usual Eagle hallmark, so how they rectify that moving into 2014 should prove interesting.  While the QB position is not settled at the moment whoever earns the job will have several key tools at his disposal, the most important of which being senior RB Anthony Taylor.  Taylor was the league’s second leading rusher a year ago, posting 1,691 yards and 14 TD’s.  Hope is there that Taylor’s backfield mate from 2012 Jordan McCune will also be back after missing nearly all of 2013 due to injury.  Last but not least, graduation claimed only four receptions and 48 yards from last year’s receiving corps.  There is a great deal of experience at the skill positions for Ashland, and they’ll spend camp trying to find a QB to leverage it.

The Ashland defense was most certainly not a source of consternation for the club last fall.  In addition to being second in the league in scoring defense at 23.4 points allowed per game, the Eagles ranked near the top of the GLIAC in nearly every statistical category.  While it is foolish to think that the loss of two-time GLIAC DL of the Year Jamie Meder won’t be felt, leading tackler Chris Harvey is back along with fellow LB’s Phil Galaska and Zach Olszewski.  Those three LB’s each had 68 tackles or better and should provide a great deal of stability for this year’s unit.

It’s no stretch to classify Ashland’s road schedule as “difficult” at the very least.  Back-to-back trips in September at Ohio Dominican and Findlay team up with back-to-back trips in November to Grand Valley and Tech.  All four of those clubs had winning records a year ago.  What is the only roadie for the Eagles against a team that was below .500 last year?  It’s at Hillsdale, and while the Chargers were only 5-6 both clubs know that the Traveling Trophy hasn’t been played for since a double-OT thriller in 2011.