Football: Ohio Northern (0-0 Overall) at Adrian (Mich.) (0-0 Overall)

Saturday, Sept. 2, 2017, 6 pm - Docking Stadium, Adrian, Mich.

| Game Notes (.pdf) | 

Saturday's Contest: Saturday's game is the 2017 season opener for Ohio Northern, which is kicking off its 123rd football season. ONU is has won 6 of its last 8 season openers, but fell 35-31 at Utica (N.Y.) last season. ONU received votes in the D3football.com preseason poll this year, marking the 16th time in the last 19 seasons that ONU has been mentioned in a national poll. 

ONU Head Coach Dean Paul: Paul in his 14th season at ONU with an 89-45 record. He is 128-57 in 18 seasons overall and is 2-0 against AC.

AC head coach Jim Deere: Deere is in his 8th season at AC with a 47-25 record. He is 0-0 vs. Ohio Northern.

ONU Preview: Optimism is running high for the Ohio Northern football program entering the 2017 season. fourteenth-year head coach Dean Paul welcomes back 12 starters and 43 lettermen from last year's squad that posted its 20th upper division finish in the Ohio Athletic Conference in the past 21 seasons in 2016. The Polar Bears feature seven All-Conference players among their 12 returning starters and two special teams returnees. Two-time All-OAC LB Zach Schmerge and All-OAC DL Jason Hundley and All-OAC CB Christian Randolph return on defense. RB Christiaan Williams, OG Nate Jones and QB Will Freed are all returning All-OAC honorees and lead the list of eight returning starters on the offensive side of the ball. K Joe French was named All-OAC in 2016 as well. The Polar Bears have been nationally ranked in 10 of the last 13 seasons and received votes in a national poll 11 times in that span.

ONU Leaders: The ONU running game was led in 2016 by All-OAC RB Christiaan Williams (193 att, 1208 yards, 12 TDs). All-OAC QB Will Freed completed 190 of 324 passes for 2330 yards and 23 TDs last year. RB Christiaan Williams (30 rec., 343 yards, 1 TDs) and WR Chad Rex (28 rec, 238 yards, 3 TDs) are the returning leaders at receiver. LB Zach Schmerge, CB Christian Randolph and LB Zach Meronoff are the leading returning tecklers with 103, 43 and 41 stops. DE Jason Hundley leads the returners with 5.5 sacks a year ago.

AC Preview: With a bevy of returners back on both sides of the ball, Adrian is positioned to improve on last year's 4-6 overall mark, including 2-4 for fifth place in the MIAA. All told, the Bulldogs have nine starters back on offense and eight on defense, plus two kick specialists. Leading the list is 2016 All-MIAA selections seniors Cameron Cook (placekicker), Connor Storms (punter), Eric McDonel (offensive lineman), Damon Fuller (defensive lineman), Emmanuel Stewart (all-conference in 2014-15 but did not play last fall), and juniors Chris Adams (outside linebacker), Jerron McGaw (wide receiver.

AC Leaders: he AC running game is led by RB Emmanuel Stewart (163 att, 1002 yards, 11 TDs in 2014) and RB David Nutter (74 att., 289 yards, 6 TDs in 2016). QB Hunter Hamm was 75 of 139 passing for 1179 yards and 7 TDs a year ago. WR Jerron McGraw (55 rec., 662 yards, 5 TDs) is the leading returner for AC at receiver. LB Jacob Davis, FS Chris Adams and DE Damon Fuller are the leading returners on defense with 76, 56 and 56 tackles, respectively, a year ago. DE Damon Fuller lead AC with 11.5 sacks in 2016.

ONU Statistical Leaders (2016 Stats)

All-Time Series: AC leads the series between the two schools by a 6-2 margin. AC won 6 straight from 1984-89 after ONU won games in 1912 and 1914.