End zone turnovers helped bring Ashland victory over Chargers
Loss to GLIAC rival leads football team into homecoming game fired up
Liz Klimas
Issue date: 10/2/08 Section: Sports
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"Anyone at the game saw we turned over the ball four times inside the 10-yard line," senior wide receiver Aaron Waldie said. "Before this game, we were about 94 percent inside the red zone."
The Chargers head into the weekend at 2-2 in the GLIAC after their 24-17 loss against Ashland. They hope to continue their two-game winning streak against the University of Findlay and four-game homecoming winning streak. Head coach Keith Otterbein expects the homecoming atmosphere, along with the previous loss, to fuel the fire.
"The festivities of the homecoming game always adds to the intensity," he said. "But when it comes down to it, we need to do what we do. Do our job."
Waldie agreed but acknowledged the level head players maintain during the weekend before the game.
"Homecoming is always a special week, and we can have fun -but we can't get too caught up," he said. "Last year we beat Findlay pretty bad and they'll be tough coming back."
Much of the Charger's mistakes Saturday fell inside Ashland's five-yard line: two fumbles and two interceptions after long, sustained drives by the Chargers. And two of these turnovers resulted in the Eagles' points.
"We put together a lot of good drives and just couldn't make it into the end zone," junior quarterback Troy Weatherhead said. "Four turnovers inside the 10-yard line right when we were about to score; that just kills. It was a tough game to swallow, but we've got to move on."
Senior Vinnie Panizzi was first to score against the Eagles and also proved integral to the Charger's running game with 29 carries for 140 yards, a season high. Junior kicker Mark Petro also assisted in the Charger's scoring along with Matt Patillo's one-handed, 17-yard touchdown catch.
In past weeks the Chargers have had to settle for six field goals, and this week turnovers worsened the issue.
"It's been frustrating for two weeks in a row moving the ball and settling for field goals," Otterbein said. "This week was the worst alternative with turnovers."
Otterbein said the team has done a good job each week sustaining drives, but he hopes for bigger chunks of yardage.
"We want to generate bigger plays when we have the ball," he said, wanting to implement this against Findlay this weekend. "It makes it easier on the offense."
After battling Findlay, the Chargers will move on to Grand Valley State University for the Fall Break weekend. GVSU is first at 4-0 in the GLIAC and, according to the NCAA Division II Regional rankings, is second in the Northwest division. Their most recent prey was Michigan Technological University, 52-6. GVSU has been consistently dominating the GLIAC season after season and across athletic disciplines.
"They're the king of Division II," Otterbein said. "They're success is something we're all striving to achieve. They're success has also increased the quality of football in our league."
Otterbein said the key to playing with GVSU is to keep it close.
"The longer you keep it close, the better opportunity you have to win," he said. "And as soon as a game like that gets lopsided, you start to do things you don't want to do."
Otterbein said GVSU is probably the fastest team in the GLIAC but also acknowledged the Chargers have increased their ability since the last time they played the Lakers in 2005 where they were defeated, 38-10.
Weatherhead said that though there is a football game to deal with this weekend, the Grand Valley game is in the back of everyone's mind.
"It's going to be a lot of fun," Weatherhead said, his excitement for the coming game showing on his face. "A challenge, but fun. It's the biggest crowd that many of us have played against."
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