Oilers Begin Preparations for 2012 Season

The University of Findlay football season officially begins this week as the Oilers open preseason preparations for the 2012 campaign under second-year head coach Rob Keys on Wednesday, Aug. 8.

The Oilers will have three weeks to prepare for their first game against Northern Michigan University, which is slated to be played on Thursday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m. in Donnell Stadium.

Findlay returns 61 players from last year including 22 players who started at least one game last year when they finished with a 6-5 record, which included a 6-4 mark in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).

Leading the group of returnees for the Oilers is senior running back Monterae Williams, a first team all-conference pick in 2011 that needs 698 more yards to break the school record for career rushing yards.

Also returning to help pave the way for Williams is senior center Scott Dearwester, a second team all-conference selection last year.

Senior quarterback Clay Belton will guide the offense and passed for 2,039 yards and 13 touchdowns during his junior season. His passing yards last season was the third-best total in program history and his 175 completions during the campaign was the second-best single-season mark in UF history.

Junior wide receiver Seth White, junior tight end Jaryd Brown and junior offensive tackle Justin Music will also return after earning honorable mention all-conference accolades last year.

White hauled in 60 passes for 628 yards and four scores while Brown caught 46 balls for 598 yards and six touchdowns.

On defense, senior defensive tackle Richard Sumlin and senior linebacker Brandon Butler will lead the group after capturing honorable mention all-conference honors in 2011.

Sumlin made 44 stops to go along with a team-high 4.5 sacks while Bulter led the team with 102 tackles.

The Oilers ten-game schedule features an even five games at home and five more on the road with a bye week coming after their first game of the year.