Gage's Game

After an early bye week, we’re eager to get back on the field this Saturday when we travel to Wilmington for a 1:30 kickoff. Having that week off gave us the chance to rest our bodies, heal up some nagging injuries, and really sharpen our focus for the rest of the season. The practices were purposeful, and you could tell the energy was different. We feel recharged and ready to go. This matchup against Wilmington is one that we can not take lightly. Yes, we beat them last year, but as everyone in the locker room knows, that doesn’t mean anything once the game starts. This year’s Wilmington team is not the same as last year’s. They’re more disciplined, they’ve got more weapons, and they’ve been competing hard in every game. That’s why we can’t take any game lightly. In the OAC, there’s no such thing as an easy Saturday. Every team can give you a tough game if you’re not locked in. We’ve learned the hard way that you can’t overlook anyone, and our coaches have been stressing that all week...

     Going into last Saturday's matchup against Heidelberg, we knew how much this game meant not only because it was Senior Day, but because we were coming off a tough loss the week before. The feeling all week in practice was that we had something to prove. We wanted to show everyone what Ohio Northern football really is.      From the first snap, there was a different energy on the field. Our defense was able to set the tone early, flying around and making big stops, and the offense fed off that momentum. We executed the game plan the way we knew we could, hitting some big plays and running the ball well. Every drive felt like we were building toward something bigger, and when we were able to take a 19-7 lead going into halftime, we felt pretty confident that we could continue that going into the second half.       What stood out most was how complete a team effort it was. Every position group stepped up, special teams pinned Heidelber...

     This past weekend was a tough one for us. We entered our matchup against Franklin University confident and prepared, but the game didn’t go as we expected. Franklin came ready to play, and while we fought hard until the final whistle, the result wasn’t what we wanted. This loss was tough because this is one that we won big last year and did not go our way this year.  It’s never easy to walk off the field knowing you came up short. You replay moments in your head, missed opportunities, little mistakes that we made, which could have turned the game our way. But football is a game of learning and responding. One loss doesn’t define a season, and it certainly doesn’t define who we are as a team. Now, the focus shifts. We’ve got Heidelberg coming to Ada this Saturday, and it’s not just another game; they are our rivals, and it’s our senior day. This rival is always a big one, and with it also being senior day, it is a big deal for us as a team. This week in practi...

      This Saturday, the football team travels to Franklin University. It seems like this week couldn't come fast enough, and after weeks of fall camp and practices, we are closing in on kickoff on Saturday afternoon. It feels like this is what we have worked hard for, the opportunity to go out and play on Saturday.     Looking at this game, Franklin is a team that we played for our first game last year and a team that we were able to beat to start the season off strong. Looking at Franklin, they have a different head coach than they did last year. They have a previous coach who was very successful at Franklin, who retired a few years ago, but has decided to return. This brings a different look to their team, but looking at their roster, they are a very young team. This should be a game that we can travel to their place and leave with a win. It is important that we come out strong and start the season off right.      We are a team that I believe h...