Oilers Host Malone in Final Home Game of 2012
The University of Findlay football team (5-3, 5-3) will be at home for the final time this season on Saturday, Nov. 3 to take on Malone University (1-7, 1-7). The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) contest is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. inside Donnell Stadium.
Special Events
The University of Findlay football team is looking for your help to support the Findlay City Mission. On Saturday, Nov. 3, the Oilers will face Malone University in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) contest beginning at 12 p.m. in Donnell Stadium. Fans who bring any canned food item will receive $1 off their admission.
Come out to the stadium and support both the Oilers and the City Mission as they team up to feed the hungry.
Monetary donations will also be accepted.
Thank you for your support!
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 hold a 2-0 advantage in the all-time series against Malone dating back to the 1995 campaign when they came away with a 15-7 victory.
The two programs last met during the 1996 season with Findlay coming out on top by a score of 13-10.
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 5-3 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 Oilers lost 42-21 to #6 Ashland University on Saturday, Oct. 27 at Jack Miller Stadium in Ashland, Ohio.
The Oilers came out and took a 7-0 lead on the first possession of the game when Clay Belton connected on a 13-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Lloyd Henry with 8:01 remaining in the first quarter. The Oilers then kicked off and narrowly missed on recovering a fumble during the return, but it was all Ashland after that as they took a 21-7 lead at the break.
The Eagles did not let up in the second half as they tacked on two touchdowns in the third quarter before Monterae Williams found the end zone from 1-yard out with 12:41 remaining in the game.
After the Oilers touchdown, which made the score 35-14, Ashland responded with a touchdown drive of their own as the claimed a 42-14 lead with just over ten minutes to play in the fourth quarter.
The Oilers would tack on a final score when Belton hooked up with lex Kovach on a 10-yard touchdown pass with 1:56 showing on the fourth quarter clock.
Belton finished the game by completing 24-of-38 passing attempts for 288 yards and two touchdowns.
Seth White caught nine passes for 107 yards while Jaryd Brown hauled in six passes for 76 yards.
Kovach made five receptions for 65 yards while Williams churned out 83 yards and a score on 24 carries.
Brandon Butler led the defense with 14 tackles while Eric Palmore-Lett and Trevor Smith chipped in 12 and ten tackles, respectively.
For Findlay's 2012 season statistics, please click on the following link:
For Findlay's 2012 roster, please click on the following link:
Malone Head Coach
Eric Hehman is in his third season at the helm of the Pioneers football program and has totaled a 1-7 record this season.
Last season, Hehman led Malone to a 4-7 season.
Prior to arriving at Malone, Hehman served as the head football coach at NCAA Div. III Greenville (IL) College for five seasons and led the Panthers to a 7-3 record in 2009 including a berth in the NCCAA Victory Bowl (losing to Geneva College, PA 29-28), the first postseason appearance for Greenville since 2000. The team also captured the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference South Division Championship (3-0 record), which was the first Div. III conference title for the program. Hehman also served as the Panthers' Quarterbacks Coach in 2009 and as Special Teams Coordinator for the previous two years.
Prior to Greenville, he served at Trinity International University (IL) for six seasons (1999-2004) - as the assistant head coach in 2004 and also as offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach, offensive line coach and defensive line coach during his tenure there. Hehman also coached at Taylor University (IN) from 1995-1999, serving as both the offensive line (1998) and defensive line (1995-97) coach.
The Pioneers
The Pioneers are 1-7 on the season and are coming off of a 36-19 loss to Notre Dame (Ohio).
Will Szpor has thrown for 1,156 yards and eight touchdowns while Justin McLean has caught 27 passes for 427 yards and five scores.
Malik Felton has rushed the ball for 320 yards and five touchdowns while Demarco Donaldson leads the defense with 92 stops.
For Malone's 2012 season statistics, please click on the following link
For Malone's 2012 roster, please click on the following link:
An Explosive Offense
The Oilers are averaging 32.6 points per game and 451.4 yards of total offense per outing. Their points per game rank seventh in the GLIAC while their yardage is the fourth best mark in the conference and the 29th best nationally.
The Oilers are also achieving an average of 25.2 first downs per game, the second best total in the league.
Airing it Out
The Oilers are averaging 267.8 passing yards per game, the fourth best total in the GLIAC.
Individually, senior quarterback Clay Belton ranks fourth in the GLIAC and 28th nationally in passing yards per game at 264.4.
Toting the Rock
Senior running back Monterae Williams ranks second in the GLIAC and is 12th nationally in rushing yards per game at 130.9.
As a team, the Oilers are averaging 183.6 yards per game on the ground, the ninth best mark in the GLIAC.
Two-Headed Monster
Junior wide receiver Seth White and junior tight end Jaryd Brown have formed a formidable passing catching duo this year. White is averaging 5.5 receptions and 75.0 yards per game while Brown is averaging 5.2 catches and 67.0 yards per contest.
White's reception average is the sixth best in the GLIAC while Browns's total ranks seventh. White's yardage total ranks fifth in the league while Brown checks in eighth in receiving yardage per game.
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 44 catches for 595 yards and three scores, has kicked 25 extra points and three field goals and has averaged 36.6 yards per punt.
Tackling Machine
Senior linebacker Brandon Butler leads the team and the GLIAC in tackles per game at 12.0, which is also the third best mark in the nation.
Scoring Points
Senior running back Monterae Williams leads the conference in scoring, averaging 111.2 points per outing. His total is also the sixth highest in all of NCAA Division II football as the Canton, Ohio product has accumulated 15 scores thus far.
Belton Keeping Pace
Senior quarterback Clay Belton has thrown for 4,249 career yards in only 19 games, ranking second all-time at Findlay.
Belton has thrown for 2,110 yards this year and is also looking to break the record for most passing yards in a season. The record of 2,179 was set by Andrew Beam during the 2009 campaign, leaving Belton only 70 yards shy of setting the mark.
A New All-Time Rushing Leader
Senior running back Monterae Williams broke the Oilers all-time rushing record during the Oilers win over Lake Erie on Oct. 20. Williams rushed for 268 yards and five touchdowns during the win and now has 4,354 career rushing yards.
Williams eclipsed 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.
Williams 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 1,042 yards in eight 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 917 times and trails Nelson Bolden'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 44 touchdowns during his career, the fourth best mark in the history of Findlay football. He is chasing Bo Hurley (1994-97) for third place all-time as Hurley scored 46 touchdowns during his tenure with the team.
Nelson Bolden (1977-80) is the all-time leader in career touchdowns with 62.
Protecting the Quarterback
The Oilers offensive line has only allowed a total of nine sacks on the season, the 29th best mark in the nation.
A Record Tying Mark
The Oilers racked up a school record tying 33 first downs in their 41-17 win over Tiffin on Oct. 6 and broke the school record for most first downs through the air with 21.
The Oilers also achieved 33 first downs in a 20-19 win against Kentucky State in 1990 and also in a 54-14 victory over Tiffin in 1997.
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 Billy 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.
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: