ASHLAND — Lee Owens didn’t know how to react when he looked up at the Jack Miller Stadium scoreboard at halftime of last week’s 21-12 win over Michigan Tech.
For the first time in a month, Ashland held a lead at the break.
“We put some points on the board in the first half,” said Owens, AU’s longtime coach. “That was important.”
The Eagles, who had trailed at the half of their previous five games, will try to keep the momentum going when they visit Saginaw Valley State on Saturday. AU (5-3, 4-2 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) has won four of its last five games while SVSU (4-4, 2-3) has dropped three straight and four of five after opening the season with three consecutive wins.
The Cardinals are 3-0 at home this season and 1-4 on the road.
“They haven’t lost at home, so they are a different team at home,” Owens said. “That’s the team we are looking to play.”
Not much went right for SVSU in last week’s 34-10 loss at No. 2 Ferris State. The Cardinals trailed 24-3 at the half and were limited to 235 yards of total offense. Quarterback Ryan Conklin completed just 8 of 23 passes and was picked off twice.
Meanwhile, Ashland’s ground attack was again in high gear in the win over Michigan Tech. Freshman tailback Gei’vonni Washington rumbled for 174 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries, while quarterback Austin Brenner rushed for 86 yards and a TD on 12 carries while completing 10 of 17 passes for 152 yards.
Brenner is Ashland’s second leading rusher and also averages more than 42 yards per punt. He leads the GLIAC with 196.6 passing yards a game and ranks third in the conference with 75.1 rushing yards per game.
“He’s just a really good athlete,” Owens said. “Whatever you tell him to do, he’s able to go out and get it done.
“And he’s Houdini anymore with the ball in his hand when he scrambles. It’s silly. He’s getting better and better at making people miss.”
Brenner will have to be careful against Saginaw’s ball-hawking secondary. The Cardinals have picked off a GLIAC-high 14 passes.
“It’s a tough stadium to play in,” Owens said. “We’ll get their best shot.”
