Norwalk grad Fries coaches ONU into postseason

WESTERVILLE — The Ohio Northern football team clinched its first 8-win season and will participate in the postseason for the first time in 10 years. The NCAA Division III Polar Bear closed out the regular season with a 56-14 victory at Otterbein's Memorial Stadium on Nov. 15 in Westerville. With the win, the Polar Bears have clinched a spot in the postseason for the first time since 2015. ONU is coached by 2005 Norwalk graduate Andy Fries, who is in his second season as head coach with a 13-7 record, good for a winning percentage of .650. Senior Louie Blasiole (Mantua/Crestwood) had 33 carries for a career-high 244 yards and three touchdowns in the win. Senior Sam Feldman (Springboro) completed 14 of 19 passes for 280 yards and 3 TDs, while junior Seth Borondy (Bellbrook) caught four passes for 132 yards and two TDs. The Polar Bears outgained the Cardinals 594-253 in total offense. ONU entered the game ranked No. 38 in the NCAA's latest NPI rankings. The Div. III playoffs feature a 40-team bracket with 27 automatic bids and 13 at-large selections. No. 2-ranked Mount Union clinched the OAC's automatic bid this season, but ONU did not finish among the top 13 at-large selection teams in order to make the playoffs. Despite missing the NCAA playoffs, it will compete in the second annual Open Dorse Bowl Series at the Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. The Polar Bears face Wabash, Ind. (8-2) at 1 p.m. in the ForeverLawn Bowl on Nov. 22. The Open Dorse Bowl Series is a two-game series featuring the highest-ranked team to not make the NCAA playoffs from the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference, the North Coast Athletic Conference, the Ohio Athletic Conference, and the Presidents' Athletic Conference. In the second game on Nov. 22, Westminster (Pa.) (7-3) from the PAC will face Mount Saint Joseph (6-4) from the HCAC at 6 pm. After Saturday's win, ONU leads the series with Otterbein by a 47-19 margin. Northern has now won 13 consecutive games in the series and is 22-7 in games played in Westerville. Ohio Northern finishes in second place in the OAC with its 7-1 mark. Saturday's game concluded the 131st regular season of football at Ohio Northern. The Bears are now 571-528-36 all-time, a winning percentage of .519. Fries was hired as the 29th head coach in the 129-year history of ONU football on Dec. 11, 2023, and he is just the school's fourth head coach in the past 38 years. Fries came to ONU after four seasons as assistant coach at Rose-Hulman (Ind.), where he served as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach from 2020 to 2023. After graduating from Norwalk in 2005, Fries went to Otterbein to continue his academic and athletic career. He was a four-year letter winner and three-year starter for the Cardinals from 2005 to 2008. Fries was elected captain his senior year and helped the Cards set records for most wins (9) and reach the NCAA playoffs for the only time in school history. Also a two-time All-OAC first team selection, Fries was named the OAC's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 2008 and was a third team All-American selection by D3football.com. Fries later served as a graduate assistant at Otterbein from 2010 to 2012, then returned to his alma mater after stints at Lakeland College (2012-13) and Wilmington College (2013-15). After one season at Davenport, Mich. in 2019, Fries arrived at Rose-Hulman. The 2009 graduate of Otterbein has a bachelor's degree in communications. He also earned a master's degree in teaching from Otterbein in 2012. He and his wife, Marinda, a 2010 Otterbein graduate, have two children — Madeline (8) and Luke (6).