Oilers Football Picked to Finish 3rd in South Division
The University of Findlay football team was picked to finish third in the South Division of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) as the league office unveiled the 2013 coaches poll on Monday, Aug. 26.
The Oilers recorded 69 total points in the poll, which included one first place vote. They trailed Ashland University (88 points) and Ohio Dominican University (80 points) in the GLIAC South Division. The Eagles received ten first place votes while the Panthers recorded four first place votes of their own.
Grand Valley State University was tabbed as the early favorite to win the GLIAC North Division with 94 points and six first place votes. Saginaw Valley State University was a close second with 87 points and six first place votes.
The Oilers, who will be sporting new uniforms this season, finished the 2012 campaign with a 7-3 record and are 13-8 overall with third-year head coach Rob Keys roaming the sidelines.
Although the Oilers lost some key contributors from their 2012 squad, the team will feature more depth with 19 players who have started a game in the past. Senior wide receiver Seth White and senior defensive back Ray Ballard headline the group after earning second team all-conference accolades one season ago.
White, who saw time last year at multiple positions on offense and special teams, led the team with 698 receiving yards and five touchdowns. He caught 48 passes on the year, averaged 36.5 yards per punt and connected on all 30 of his extra point attempts while drilling four field goals as well.
The Bexley, Ohio native enters his senior season with 112 career receptions, which ranks eighth all-time at Findlay. He will have a chance to break the school record for career receptions this year as the record of 138 catches is held by Jeff Rowe (2000-03) and Rick Hatfield (1976-79).
White also ranks eighth all-time in career receiving yards as he has racked up 1,381 yards through the air up until this point and was recently selected as a preseason honorable mention All-American by USA College Football.
Ballard meanwhile has spent time on both sides of the ball during his career and earned his all-conference honors as a safety last year on defense.
The Columbus, Ohio native accounted for 47 tackles last season and also registered five tackles for a loss, four sacks and six passes defensed. He also forced three fumbles and recovered three as well. He was tabbed a 2013 preseason first team All-American by USA College Football too.
In addition, senior tight end Jaryd Brown, senior offensive lineman Justin Music and senior defensive back Jamon McClain all return to the team after capturing honorable mention all-conference honors in 2012.
Brown led the team with 50 receptions and recorded 646 receiving yards in 2012. He caught five touchdown passes and ran for another while averaging 64.6 yards per game.
The Germantown, Ohio native ranks tenth all-time at Findlay with 98 receptions and ninth all-time with 1,268 receiving yards.
Music has been a mainstay on the Oilers offensive line and has 30 career starts to his credit while McClain has 29 career starts and 146 career tackles.