ASHLAND — Cameron Blair ran for one touchdown and threw for another as Ashland University thumped Hillsdale 26-9 on a sun-spanked Saturday afternoon at Jack Miller Stadium.
The home opener also served as the Great Midwest Athletic Conference lidlifter, and coach Doug Geiser’s squad was ready for it.
Blair’s 23-yard run put Ashland in front 7-0 late in the first quarter.
On the ensuing drive, Hillsdale responded with a 75-yard march, capped by Ben Ngishu’s 23-yard scamper. But the Chargers missed the extra point leaving the score at 7-6 early in the second period.
Blair struck again by hitting Jamari Croom with a 4-yard touchdown pass to cap a 9-play, 63-yard possession that sent AU to the halftime locker room with a 14-6 advantage.
The Eagles expanded the gap to 20-6 early in the third quarter when Darrius Atley returned a fumble 17 yards for a score. Manaki Watanabe’s 37-yard field goal gave AU an insurmountable 23-6 bulge midway through the third quarter.
The two teams swapped field goals in the final period, Watanabe’s 31-yarder with 3:20 remaining finished the scoring and secured the Traveling Trophy for Ashland.
Blair completed 20-of-26 passes for 203 yards and a TD, and added 31 yards rushing and another touchdown. D.J. Harvey contributed 51 yards receiving.
Jake Tarkington spearheaded the AU defense with 8 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Elisha Baldridge had 7 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 2 sacks.
The Eagles are 2-1 overall, 1-0 in the GMAC, and will play at Northwood next weekend.
Hillsdale falls to 1-2, 0-1.
(Photos by Tom Theodore)
