Oilers Host Cardinals on Saturday
The University of Findlay football team will host Saginaw Valley State University on Saturday, Sept. 21. The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) contest is scheduled to begin at noon in Donnell Stadium.
Free Books from UF and Free Food from Fricker's
The University of Findlay bookstore will be giving away $500 worth of books at the Oilers football game against the Cardinals. All UF students attending the Oilers football game will be given a raffle ticket after showing their Findlay ID card for the chance to win the books. The winning ticket will then be drawn at the end of the third quarter. Students must be present in order to win.
In addition to this promotion, Fricker's will be providing free meals to the first 1,500 fans that purchase a ticket to the game. The gates will open at 10:30 a.m. for this event.
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 currently trail 8-3 in the all-time series against Saginaw Valley State dating back to the 2000 campaign when the Cardinals came out on top by a score of 31-6.
Last season the Oilers claimed a 29-27 win at #10 Saginaw Valley State behind a record-breaking performance from quarterback Clay Belton, who completed a school record 32 passes in the win for 335 yards and two scores.
Monterae Williams gained 131 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries while Seth White caught seven passes for 103 yards and a score.
Jaryd Brown added a team-high eight receptions for 80 yards and a score while Nathan Morris and Lloyd Henry had 61 and 59 yards receiving, respectively.
The Oilers racked up 518 yards of total offense on 83 plays and gained 30 first downs in the victory. They also possessed the ball for 39:36 and converted 6-of-14 third down conversions during the game.
Head Coach Rob Keys
Head coach Rob Keys is currently in his third season at the helm of the Oilers football program and has his team off to a 1-1 start.
In his second season with the Oilers, Keys posted a 7-3 record with the same mark in GLIAC competition. The Oilers showed improvement from their first season under Keys and saw six players earn either first or second team all-conference honors.
Keys led the Oilers to a 6-5 record during his first season as head coach, which included a 6-4 mark in the GLIAC. The win total marked a five-game improvement from the year before and included standout wins against Grand Valley State University and Wayne State University.
The Oilers, who had lost 11 straight to GVSU, claimed a 26-20 win on the road against the Lakers in the fourth week of the season and then defeated #22 Wayne State University on the road by a score of 43-42 in overtime to close the campaign.
Keys, who was hired as the head coach of the Oilers football program on December 16, 2010, previously served as 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.
For Findlay's 2012 coaching staff, please click on the following link:
The Oilers
The Oilers are coming off of a 41-31 loss at Northern Michigan last Saturday. The Oilers trailed by a score of 38-10 late in the third quarter, but their comeback fell short in the end. The Oilers threw for a school record 427 passing yards and racked up 592 total yards in the game.
Verlon Reed completed 22-of-36 passing attempts for 363 yards and also rushed 15 times for 59 yards. His passing total was nearly good enough to set a new school record as former Findlay player Billy Noonan holds the record with 364 passing yards against Ashland University in 2008.
Lloyd Henry caught a career-high ten balls for 175 yards and two scores while Luke Hampton had a career-high six catches for 140 yards.
Trevor Smith racked up a career-high 17 tackles while Feraris Golden and Harold Jones-Quartey made seven tackles apiece.
Golden also picked off his second pass of the season in the loss.
For Findlay's 2013 season statistics, please click on the following link:
For Findlay's 2013 roster, please click on the following link:
Saginaw Valley State Head Coach
The Cardinals are coached by Jim Collins, who is in his sixth season at the helm of the program. This year Collins has his team off to a 1-1 start.
In his previous five seasons, Collins has led the Cardinals to the NCAA Division II playoffs twice (2009 and 2011) and won a share of the GLIAC North Division championship each of the last two seasons (2011 and 2012).
Collins came to SVSU from Capital University (Ohio), where his teams compiled a record of 44-13 over his last five seasons and reached the NCAA Division III playoffs each of the final three years he was there. He finished with an overall record of 66-51 in his 11 season at Capital, setting school marks for victories in 2005 (10) and again in 2006 (11), and concluded the 2005-07 seasons ranked 5th, 3rd, and 15th nationally. His teams were eliminated from the playoffs by the eventual national champion each time.
The Cardinals
The Cardinals are 1-1 on the season and have been led by Jonathon Jennings, who is averaging 281.0 passing yards per game. His favorite target has been Jeff Janis, who is averaging 90.5 receiving yards per game with a 30.2 yards per reception average.
Defensively, Brian Johnson leads the team with 19 tackles.
For Saginaw Valley State's 2013 season statistics, please click on the following link
For Saginaw Valley State's 2013 roster, please click on the following link:
Record Catching
Senior wide receiver Seth White has made 122 career receptions for the Oilers, which ranks sixth all-time at Findlay. He is chasing Jason Hamby (1995-98) for fifth place in the standings as Hamby racked up 127 catches during his tenure with the team.
White also ranks seventh with 1,533 career receiving yards and is chasing Dustin Zielaskiewicz for sixth place. Zielaskiewicz accumulated 1,624 receiving yards during his career.
In addition, senior tight end Jaryd Brown ranks tenth all-time with 105 career receptions and eighth all-time with 1,333 career receiving yards.
He is chasing Ty Rhoad (2001-03) for ninth place on the all-time receptions list. Rhoad caught 106 passes for the Oilers.
Returning for Records
Senior running back Demetrius Trapps is chasing several return records this season. Trapps ranks third all-time at Findlay in kick returns with 61 attempts and third all-time in career kick return yardage at 1,332.
Steve Blackburn (1969-72) currently resides in second place in both categories at Findlay. Blackburn registered 63 kick returns for 1,341 yards during his tenure with the program.
Record Smashing
The Oilers threw for 427 yards in their 41-31 loss at Northern Michigan on Sept. 14, which established a new school record.
The previous record of 364 passing yards in a game was set in a 45-38 loss to Ashland on Nov. 8, 2008.
Airing it Out
Junior quarterback Verlon Reed leads the GLIAC in completion percentage at 68.8 and ranks second in the conference and 18th nationally in passing yards per game at 328.5.
Reed threw for a career-high 363 yards against Northern Michigan on Sept. 14, one yard shy of the school record 364, which was set by former quarterback Billy Noonan against Ashland on Nov. 8, 2008.
Sticky Hands
Junior wide receiver Lloyd Henry leads the conference and ranks 16th in the nation in receptions with 17 on the season. He also ranks second in yardage with 272 yards and is averaging 136 yards per game, the third best total in the league.
Henry accumulated a career-high ten receptions for 175 yards and two scores against Northern Michigan on Sept. 14.
Senior wide receiver Seth White checks in tenth with ten receptions on the year and ranks 12th with 152 receiving yards.
The Swiss Army Knife
Senior Seth White does a little bit of everything for the Oilers football team. On the year, White has made ten receptions for 152 yards and a touchdown. He has also made 4-of-5 field goal attempts and connected on all eight of point after attempts.
Among kickers in the GLIAC, White leads the conference with 20 total points. He is also averaging 35.7 yards per punt with two placed inside the 20-yard line. And for good measure, White has also recorded 33 passing yards and caught one two-point conversion on the year.
Moving the Ball
The Oilers rank second in the GLIAC and 14th nationally in yardage per game, racking up 533.5 total yards per contest. They lead the conference in passing yards per game at 377.0 and rank second in the league in yards per pass at 10.1. Findlay's passing offense is also ranked ninth nationally in yardage.
Individually, junior quarterback Verlon Reed ranks 16th nationally in total offense per game at 351.5.
A Bell Cow
Sophomore running back Daiquone Ford ranks sixth in the GLIAC in rushing yardage per game, churning out 129.5 yards per contest.
Ford had a season and career-high 172 yards rushing in the Oilers 51-33 win over Urbana on Sept. 5.
Making a Statement
Red-shirt freshman Luke Hampton made the most of his first career start against Northern Michigan on Sept. 14 by accumulating a career-high six catches for 140 yards.
Laying the Wood
Senior linebacker Trevor Smith leads the conference with a total of 25 tackles. He racked up a career-high 17 tackles against Northern Michigan on Sept. 14.
Getting After the Quarterback
Junior defensive end Josh Lee ranks third in the conference with 2.0 sacks on the season.
As a team, the Oilers rank second in the GLIAC in sacks with eight on the season.
Picking off Passes
Junior corner Feraris Golden leads the conference with two interceptions on the season. Golden also returned an interception against Urbana on Sept. 5 36 yards for a touchdown.
Getting Good Field Position
The Oilers are averaging 34.5 yards per kick return, the best mark in the GLIAC. Their total is also the second best mark in all of NCAA Division II football.
Captains
Senior tight end Jaryd Brown, senior offensive lineman Justin Music, senior Seth White and senior Jamon McClain were voted as captains for the Oilers football team in 2013.
GLIAC Preseason Poll
The Oilers were picked to finish third in the GLIAC South Division this year, receiving 69 total points and one first place vote in the annual coaches poll.
The Oilers finished the 2012 campaign with a 7-3 record, which was good for a tie for second place with Ohio Dominican in the South Division.
Preseason All-American Honors
Senior defensive back Ray Ballard was voted a 2013 preseason NCAA Division II All-American by USA College Football.
Ballard, a second team all-conference performer last year for the Oilers, was tabbed a first team All-American by the organization.
Senior wide receiver Seth White also earned praise from the organization and was tabbed a preseason honorable mention selection.
Preseason All-Ohio
Ohio College Football released their annual preseason All-Ohio teams on Aug. 6 and four Oilers were tabbed first team.
Senior wide receiver Seth White, senior tight end Jaryd Brown and senior offensive lineman Justin Music all earned first team honors on offense while senior defensive back Ray Ballard captured first team honors on the defensive side of the ball.
White, who earned preseason honorable mention All-American accolades by USA College Football, has played a variety of roles during his career with the Oilers. Last season White 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.
Brown earned honorable mention all-conference honors last year as a junior when he led the team with 50 receptions. He racked up 646 receiving yards, caught five touchdown passes and ran for another while averaging 64.6 yards per game.
Music has been a mainstay on the offensive line with 30 starts in his career at both tackle and guard. He has been named honorable mention all-conference in each of the past two years as well.
Ballard, a preseason first team All-American selection by USA College Football, earned second team all-conference accolades as a junior. He racked up 47 tackles and also registered five tackles for a loss and four sacks from his safety position in 2012. The Columbus, Ohio native also forced three fumbles and recovered three fumbles as well.
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: