Oilers Fall Short At #24 Saginaw Valley State
The University of Findlay football team fell 24-16 to 24th ranked Saginaw Valley State University on Saturday, October 31 in University Center, Michigan. The loss gives the Oilers a 7-3 record on the season with a 6-3 mark in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).
The Cardinals got on the board first as Austin Borchard drilled a 35-yard field goal with 1:34 remaining in the first half.
Trailing 3-0, the Oilers got the ball back just before halftime and marched 60 yards down the field for a score as senior quarterback Andrew Beam hit junior wide receiver Dustin Zielaskiewicz on a two-yard scoring pass.
Leading 7-3 in the third quarter, the Oilers kicked the ball off to the Cardinals to begin the half and watched them march down the field for a score on their first possession.
Behind 10-7, Findlay answered Saginaw Valley State's score on their next possession as junior kicker Cameron Stevens connected on a 40-yard field goal with 6:32 remaining in the period.
The Oilers momentum continued on the next series as freshman linebacker Brandon Butler came up with an interception in Saginaw Valley State territory but Findlay failed to move the ball and eventually sent a snap flying over the head of freshman punter Brian Schmeidebusch which gave the Cardinals great field position on the Oilers side of the field.
Taking advantage of the miscue, the Cardinals got a touchdown run of eight yards from Xavier Walker to make the score 17-10 with 2:46 showing on the third quarter clock.
In the fourth quarter, the Cardinals added to their lead with a ten-yard touchdown scamper from Charles Dowdell to make the score 24-10 with 10:55 remaining in the contest.
The Oilers then failed to convert on a fourth down with just over six minutes remaining in the game inside the Saginaw Valley State 25-yard line but the defense held strong and gave Findlay another opportunity to put points on the board.
Down 24-10, the Oilers drove down the field and scored on a fourth goal when senior wide receiver Mike Chambers hit Zielaskiewicz on a one-yard scoring pass with 2:19 to play. Findlay was unable to convert on the extra point attempt however, making the score 24-16.
Needing to get the ball back quickly, the Oilers were unable to convert on an onside-kick attempt and the Cardinals wound the clock down to 1:18 before they had to punt.
With 1:11 left, the Oilers regained possession of the ball on their 29-yard line and marched down the field into scoring position as the clock was winding down. Findlay was unable to come away with a successful reception in the end zone however as they dropped their third game of the season.
As a team, the Oilers out-gained the Cardinals 294-286 as Beam completed 21-of-42 passes for 217 yards and a score.
Freshman running back Monterae Williams gained 77 yards on 23 carries while Chambers and Zielaskiewicz each made six receptions.
Chambers finished with 53 yards receiving while Zielaskiewicz accumulated 47 yards and a pair of scores.
Junior wide receiver Jonathan Mora added four receptions for 49 yards while junior wide receiver DaJerrian Smith hauled in four catches for 53 yards.
Defensively, senior linebacker Joe Knopick had ten tackles while senior defensive back Anthony Fields and senior defensive lineman E.J. Whitlow had nine apiece.
The Oilers will be back in action again on Saturday, November 7 when they host Ashland University in their final regular season home game of the year. The GLIAC contest is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m. inside Donnell Stadium.