Oilers Back at Home, Will Face Falcons on Saturday
The University of Findlay football team (2-1, 2-1) will host Notre Dame (Ohio) College (1-3, 0-3) on Saturday, Sep. 29. The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) contest is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. inside Donnell Stadium.
City Barbeque
City Barbeque will be providing free food to the first 750 fans who purchase a ticket to the Oilers game against Notre Dame (Ohio) College on Saturday, Sep. 29.
The gates at Donnell Stadium will open at 10:30 a.m. for this event.
1992 UF National Championship Football Team
The 1992 NAIA National Champion Oilers football team will be honored at halftime of the game on Saturday. Come out and show your appreciation for the 1992 squad, which went 12-1 and out-scored their opponents by a 408-154 margin.
Coach to Cure MD
The University of Findlay football team will be participating in Coach to Cure MD for their football game at home against Notre Dame (Ohio) on Saturday, Sep. 29.
The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) sponsored program seeks to raise awareness and money to fund research for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the most prolific lethal genetic disorder of childhood.
Coaches from the Oilers staff will be wearing patches on the sideline to promote this drive during their game against the Falcons, which is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. in Donnell Stadium.
For more information, please click below:
Sights and Sounds
All Oilers football games can be heard on 88.3 FM "WLFC" or on the internet via their web site.
You can listen to the broadcast by clicking on the following link:
The University of Findlay will also broadcast all of their home football games on the internet. You can watch the games live by clicking on the following link:
UF athletics will also offer live stats for all home games. A link to this process can be retrieved by clicking on the live stats window located on the left side of the Oilers athletic website.
The Series
The Oilers and Falcons have never met on the football field before this season.
Head Coach Rob Keys
Rob Keys is currently in his second season as the head coach of the Oilers football team and his squad off to a 2-1 start.
Last year, Keys guided the Oilers to a 6-5 record, which included a 6-4 mark in GLIAC play. The record represented a five-win upgrade from the 2010 campaign when the Oilers crawled to a 1-10 mark.
Keys was previously the co-defensive coordinator and special teams coordinator for the Oilers from 2000-04.
In 2010, Keys served as the defensive backs coach at the University of New Hampshire. He helped coach the team to an 8-5 record in 2010 and a spot in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Playoffs. The Wildcats, who were ranked #10 in the nation, were then upended by the #5 University of Delaware Blue Hens 16-3 in the quarterfinals of the tournament.
Before his time with the Wildcats, Keys spent four years as the special teams coordinator, recruiting coordinator and defensive backs coach at Slippery Rock University (2006-10).
Prior to his work at Slippery Rock, Keys served one season as the safeties coach and special teams coordinator at Indiana State University (2005) after his five-year run at Findlay.
Keys also spent three seasons coaching at his alma mater, West Virginia University, coaching running backs, special teams, tight ends, tackles, quarterbacks and wide receivers.
As a player at West Virginia, Keys was a two-year letter winner and a 1995 team co-captain. He won the Mountaineer Club Award twice (1994-95), the highest honor a West Virginia player can receive. He was also given the Scott Shirley Award for the special teams MVP in 1995 and participated in the USF&G Sugar Bowl and Carquest Bowl during his tenure as a player.
Keys graduated from West Virginia in 1996 with a bachelor's degree in physical education and then later earned his master's degree in the same field in 1998 from WVU as well.
He also obtained a post-graduate degree from the Marine Military Academy (Harlingen, Texas).
Coach Keys and his wife, Jenifer, are the parents of three daughters, Katie, Casey and Kaylee.
For Findlay's 2012 coaching staff, please click on the following link:
The Oilers
The University of Findlay football team lost 35-10 to Michigan Technological University on Saturday, Sep. 22 in Houghton, Mich. The loss gave the Oilers a 2-1 record on the season.
The Oilers came out in the first half and turned the ball over three times. The turnovers led to 14 points for Michigan Tech as the Huskies took a 21-3 lead at the break.
Findlay's defense came up with a turnover on the first possession of the second half as junior defensive back Jamon McClain forced a fumble, which was recovered and returned by red-shirt freshman defensive back Derrick Mason. The Oilers then capitalized on the Huskies mistake as senior quarterback Clay Belton hit junior wide receiver Seth White for a 10-yard touchdown pass to make the score 21-10 with 11:23 left in the quarter.
The 11-point deficit was as close as the Oilers would get the rest of the way however as the Huskies reached the end zone two more times to put the game out of reach.
Belton completed 20-of-48 passing attempts for 219 yards and a score, but had the two interceptions.
Red-shirt freshman running back Daiquone Ford and senior running back Monterae Williams paced the Oilers ground game with 52 yards apiece while White hauled in six passes for 57 yards and a score.
Senior linebacker Brandon Butler led the defense with 14 tackles while senior defensive tackle Richard Sumlin had eight stops, including 4.5 behind the line of scrimmage.
Sophomore defensive end Josh Lee added two tackles and picked off one pass, which he returned 18 yards.
As a team, the Oilers gained 347 yards of total offense and gave up 385 yards to Michigan Tech. The Huskies controlled the game on the ground with 228 rushing yards and converted 8-of-12 attempts on third down.
For Findlay's 2012 season statistics, please click on the following link:
For Findlay's 2012 roster, please click on the following link:
Notre Dame Head Coach
Adam Howard was named Notre Dame's first head coach in January 2009. This season, Howard has his team off to a 1-3 start with a 0-3 record in conference play.
Howard came to Notre Dame from across town, where he served as assistant head coach/defensive coordinator for Baldwin-Wallace. Howard was the Yellow Jackets' defensive coordinator the last six seasons (2003-08). He was the defensive backs coach for the 2002 season. At B-W, the former Wilmington College player (1993-97) developed one of the finest defensive corps in the Ohio Athletic Conference.
Howard was named the OAC's Assistant Coach of the Year in 2003, and his Yellow Jacket defenses consistently performed at a high level.
Prior to heading to B-W, Howard was the defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator at Wilmington College from 1999-2002. Before that, he served as the defensive ends coach at the University of Dayton in 1998-1999.
The Falcons
The Falcons are currently 1-3 on the season with a 0-3 record in the GLIAC.
Notre Dame is averaging 33.2 points per game, but giving up 59.2 points per contest.
Pedro Powell has led the offense with 96.2 rushing yards per game to go along with six touchdowns on the season.
Last week the Falcons were defeated 63-14 by nationally ranked Hillsdale.
Notre Dame threw four interceptions in the game and three of them were returned by the Chargers for touchdowns.
For Notre Dame's 2012 season statistics, please click on the following link
For Notre Dame's 2012 roster, please click on the following link:
An Explosive Offense
The Oilers are averaging 28.0 points per game and 462.3 yards of total offense per outing. The points per game ranks tenth in the GLIAC while their yardage is the third best in the GLIAC and the 25th best in all of NCAA Division II football.
Airing it Out
The Oilers are averaging 287.7 passing yards per game, the second best total in the GLIAC. The yardage total is also the 24th best in the nation.
Individually, senior quarterback Clay Belton ranks second in the GLIAC in passing yards per game at 280.7.
Moving the Chains
The Oilers are converting third downs on a 48.8 percent success clip, the sixth best total in the GLIAC.
Toting the Rock
Senior running back Monterae Williams ranks fifth in the GLIAC in rushing yards per game at 90.0.
As a team, the Oilers are averaging 174.7 yards per game on the ground, the eighth best mark in the GLIAC.
White Open
Junior wide receiver Seth White ranks third in the GLIAC in receiving yards per game at 81.7 and third in receptions per game at 5.7.
Teammate Jaryd Brown checks in seventh with 64.3 yards per outing and is ranked fifth in the league in receptions per game at 5.0.
One Man Wrecking Crew
Senior quarterback Clay Belton is racking up the yardage this season and ranks second in the GLIAC in total offense at 298.0 yards per game. His total is also the 18th best mark in the nation.
Doing it All
Junior wide receiver Seth White is a jack of all trades for the Oilers football team, serving as a receiver, kicker and punter.
This season, White has 17 catches for 245 yards and two scores, has kicked eight extra points and three field goals and has averaged 30.8 yards per punt.
White currently ranks third in the GLIAC in scoring, averaging 9.7 points per game.
Tackling Machine
Senior linebacker Brandon Butler leads the team and ranks sixth in the GLIAC with 9.7 tackles per outing.
Making Plays Behind the Line of Scrimmage
Senior defensive tackle Richard Sumlin is ranked fifth in the GLIAC with 5.5 tackles for a loss.
Piling Up Yards
Senior running back Monterae Williams will have the opportunity to break the school record for career rushing yards during his final season with the Oilers.
Williams, who ranks second all-time at UF in rushing yardage, has rushed for 3,582 career yards and is only 428 yards shy of eclipsing the record of 4,009, which was set by former standout Nelson Bolden. Bolden achieved the rushing yardage total from 1977-80, helping the Oilers capture the 1979 NAIA National Championship in the process.
The Canton, Ohio native rushed for 937 yards and six touchdowns during his first season in 2009. For his performance, he was tabbed the GLIAC Freshman of the Year as well as second team all-conference.
In his sophomore season, Williams earned honorable mention all-conference accolades with 1,107 rushing yards and four scores. He then followed with 1,268 yards and 18 touchdowns last year as a junior. His performance on the field earned him first team all-conference honors.
This season, Williams has rushed for 270 yards in three games.
A Workhorse of a Back
Senior running back Monterae Williams has racked up the carries during his career at Findlay and is currently ranked second all-time in rushing attempts.
During his career, Williams has carried the ball 775 times and trails Nelson Boldon's 958 attempts in the record books. He set his record from 1997-80 as the Oilers primary back in their wishbone formation.
Williams is also looking to become the first Oilers back in history to lead the team in rushing four straight seasons.
Finding the End Zone
Senior running back Monterae Williams has scored 32 touchdowns during his career, the sixth best mark in the history of Findlay football. He is chasing Dana Wright (1984-86) for fifth place in the record book as Wright scored 35 touchdowns during his career with the Oilers.
Nelson Boldon (1977-80) is the all-time leader in career touchdowns with 62.
Belton Keeping Pace
Senior quarterback Clay Belton has thrown for 2,881 career yards in only 14 games for the Oilers and is chasing DeMya Wimberly (1989-92) for fifth place all-time.
Wimberly, who won a national championship in 1992, threw for 3,430 career yards during his tenure with the Oilers.
Bo Hurley (1994-97) is the all-time leader in career passing yards at Findlay with 4,835.
GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week
Senior quarterback Clay Belton was tabbed the GLIAC Offensive Player of the Week on Monday, Sep. 17 for his performance in the Oilers 29-27 victory at #10 Saginaw Valley State University.
Belton completed a school record 32-of-42 passes for 335 yards and two touchdowns. His yardage total was also the second best mark in school history and he also added 16 yards rushing in the Oilers comeback win.
The Dayton, Ohio native completed 9-of-11 passes for 74 yards on the Oilers final drive, which ended in a 25-yard field goal by junior Seth White.
GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week
Junior wide receiver Seth White was named the GLIAC Special Teams Player of the Week for his role in the Oilers 29-27 win at #10 Saginaw Valley State on Sep. 15.
White racked up 103 yards receiving and a touchdown on seven catches. He also kicked two extra points, had one punt for 19 yards and kicked the game-winning field goal from 25 yards out with only ten seconds to play.
Setting School Records
Senior quarterback Clay Belton set a new school record in the Oilers 29-27 win at #10 Saginaw Valley State on Sep. 15 by completing 32 passes. Belton finished the game by going 32-of-42 for 335 yards and two scores.
Belton's 32 completions eclipsed the record of 28, which was held by Kevin Crooks and Billyn Noonan.
Crooks had 28 completions against Northwood in 2004 while Noonan completed 28 against Ashland in 2008.
His 335 yards passing was also the second best total in school history while his 42 attempts ranks fourth.
Offensive Line Honored
The Oilers offensive line was named the Offensive Line of the Week by Beyond Sports Network after enabling the Oilers to rack up 518 yards of total offense in their 29-27 win at #10 Saginaw Valley State on Sep. 15.
Senior Captains
Seniors Monteae Williams, Brandon Butler, Clay Belton and Richard Sumlin were each elected to serve as captains this season by the Oilers.
Preseason Honors
Eight student-athletes from the Oilers football team earned preseason honors from Ohio College Football as the organization released their FCS/NCAA Division II all-Ohio teams on Friday, Aug. 17.
Senior running back Monterae Williams, junior tight end Jaryd Brown and senior center Scott Dearwester each earned first team honors on the offensive side of the ball while senior defensive tackle Richard Sumlin and senior linebacker Brandon Butler were tabbed first team on defense.
Williams was also tabbed the preseason favorite for Offensive Player of the Year, an award he captured last season.
Junior wide receiver Seth White earned second team honors on offense and as a punter as well while junior offensive lineman Justin Music and junior linebacker Kenny Klatt were also second team selections at their respective positions.
Preseason GLIAC Poll
The Oilers football team was picked to finish third in the South Division of the GLIAC as the league office unveiled their annual preseason poll on Aug. 15.
The Oilers received 97 points in the poll, which included one first place vote. Ashland University was picked as the favorite to win the division and received 113 points and ten first place votes.
Ohio Dominican was picked one spot ahead of the Oilers in the poll as they received 108 points to go along with five first place votes.
Grand Valley State University is the favorite in the North Division as the Lakers received 108 points and six first place votes. National runner-up Wayne State University was second, receiving 99 points and four first place votes.
The Oilers finished last season with a 6-5 record, which included a 6-4 mark in the GLIAC. Their record was a five-game improvement from the 2010 campaign, when they finished 1-10.
Links
For complete NCAA Division II football statistics, please click on the following link:
For information about the American Football Coaches Association, please click on the following link:
For more information about NCAA Division II football, please click on the following link:
For more information on the GLIAC, please click on the following link: