Oilers Escape with 43-42 2OT Win Against Falcons
The University of Findlay football team escaped Donnell Stadium with a 43-42 double overtime win against Notre Dame (Ohio) College on Saturday, September 29. The win gives the Oilers a 3-1 record on the season with an identical 3-1 mark in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).
The Oilers, who jumped out to a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter, found themselves down 14-13 at the break before freshman kicker Josh Rode drilled a 37-yard field goal to make the score 16-14 with 10:20 remaining in the third quarter.
The lead would change hands four more times before Findlay grabbed a 36-28 advantage on a 16-yard run by senior running back Monterae Williams with only 5:10 to play in the game.
Up eight points, the Oilers were looking for a stop on the defensive side of the ball, but could not come up with one as the Falcons marched down the field on a 15 play, 80-yard drive. Pedro Powell, who racked up 162 yards and three scores on 37 carries for Notre Dame, then plunged into the end zone from three yards away to make the score 36-34 with 51 seconds left. The Falcons then came up with a two-point play as Mikhail Morgan caught a pass from Ray Russ to tie the game and force overtime.
In the first overtime period the Oilers took the ball and only advanced it four yards as they had to settle for a 38-yard field goal attempt by junior receiver Seth White. White's kick sailed left and the Falcons appeared to be in full control of winning the game.
Notre Dame advanced the ball to the Oilers 18-yard line, but were stuffed from there and had to settle for a field goal attempt to win the game. Chris McClearn's attempt sailed left as well, forcing an extra overtime session.
The Falcons received the ball in the second overtime and scored on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Russ to Jack Foy on a third and nine play. McClearn came on for the extra point, but his attempt hit the post giving the Oilers a golden opportunity to win the game.
Trailing 42-36, the Oilers took their possession and capitalized when senior quarterback Clay Belton found senior receiver Alex Kovach for a 10-yard touchdown pass. White then drilled the extra point, giving the Oilers a wild 43-42 win in front of the home crowd.
Williams finished the game with 121 yards on 25 carries, scoring two touchdowns along the way.
Belton completed 21-of-32 passing attempts for 277 yards and two scores while junior tight end Jaryd Brown hauled in five catches for 86 yards and a touchdown.
White registered five receptions for 81 yards while red-shirt freshman running back Daiquone Ford had nine carries for 41 yards and a score.
Sophomore receiver Nathan Morris had a big day in the return game as he ran back five kicks for a total of 158 yards, which included a long of 58.
Ray led the Falcons offense with 322 yards passing and three touchdowns while Colton Wallace caught nine passes for 129 yards and two scores.
Senior linebacker Brandon Butler led the defense with a career-high 21 tackles while junior linebacker Trevor Smith registered 11 stops.
Red-shirt freshman defensive back Devontay Scott had eight stops and one interception while junior defensive back Jamon McClain recorded seven tackles and a sack.
The Oilers racked up 419 yards of total offense and surrendered 512 yards to the Falcons in the win. The defense did however cause three turnovers in the game.
Findlay will host Tiffin University next Saturday, Oct. 6 at noon in Donnell Stadium.