INDIANAPOLIS – With Week 2 bearing down, all eight Great Midwest Athletic Conference football programs will again be in action on Saturday with a full slate of games kicking off starting at noon ET.
Saturday, September 11, is a day that will never be forgotten as the country rallies to remember those lives lost on a tragic day in America’s history. Many games will be conducting their own form of respective Armed Forces / First Responders Appreciation Day ceremonies.
Week 1 resulted in three wins for conference teams as nationally ranked Tiffin, Lake Erie and Walsh, all started 1-0. The Dragons are now ranked 16th in the AFCA Coaches Poll in the first official ranking of the regular season.
Tiffin racked up eight sacks in the season opener against Marian and will host future conference member Northwood at Frost-Kalnow Stadium. DL Charlie Cleveland had 2.5 of those and Hunter Waits was credited with 1.5. The Timberwolves fell against Gannon in overtime, 28-21, to start the season.
Lake Erie’s Gerald Gardner led all QB’s with 365 yards in Week 1 and completed 29 of 43 pass attempts against Clarion. Peyton Brown also leads all WR’s with 126 yards and tied for the league lead with eight receptions. The Storm look to carry their momentum up to New Hampshire at Franklin Pierce, an NE-10 and Super Region 1 opponent.
Walsh is the early game on Saturday against Davenport. QB Jeremy Hodge spread the ball around against West Liberty and the Cavaliers’ defense held the Mountaineers to less than three yards per play.
Kentucky Wesleyan’s defense gave the Panthers (0-1) a fighting chance against Frostburg State last week with three interceptions by different players. It will be an in-state rivalry game against the SIAC’s Kentucky State.
Ashland is receiving votes and welcomes No. 2 Ferris State after the Bulldogs defeated Findlay in Week 1. The Eagles (0-1) had their upset bid against now No. 10 ranked Notre Dame (OH) fall just short in overtime. QB Austin Brenner and RB Gei’vonni Washington accounted for nearly 200 yards of rushing and three TD’s on the ground.
ODU’s Jed Quackenbush led all specialists with 12 points in Week 1 and D2Football.com recognized the talented senior with a national honor. The Panthers (0-1) are looking to get into the win column against Virginia State. LB Dauson Dales led all players with 14 total tackles against nationally ranked Shepherd while Evan Ernst had a pair of scoring passes inside the 5-yard line.
Hillsdale hosts No. 12 UIndy after battling Michigan Tech in the season opener. Points were hard to come by with all scoring done in the second half. QB Luke Keller finished off a 12-play drive lasting nearly six minutes for the Chargers’ first TD of the season. DB’s Alex Anschutz and Zach Herzog each had 10 tackles along with Nate Chambers.
A late add to the schedule was Findlay picking up UNC Pembroke in news that broke on Friday afternoon. The Oilers’ first home game came a little earlier than expected and will have a short time window to prepare for the Braves.