Orange Wins Spring Game 21-14

The University of Findlay football program held their annual spring game, which saw the Orange defeat the Black by a score of 21-14, on Saturday, April 12 in Donnell Stadium.

The Orange team took the opening drive and scored when senior quarterback Verlon Reed hit red-shirt freshman wide receiver Reilly Butz for a 24-yard touchdown.  They then tacked on another score when junior quarterback Jesse Slone called his own number and scored on a one-yard touchdown run to make the score 14-0 with 2:29 remaining in the first quarter.

The majority of the second quarter was played scoreless until Slone hit junior wide receiver Tim Szabo for a 57-yard touchdown pass with 1:10 to play in the half.

The Black squad got on the board in the third quarter when senior quarterback Devontae Payne threw a 24-yard touchdown strike to senior wide receiver Lloyd Henry to make the score 21-7.  They would then score again late in the fourth quarter to make the score 21-14 as senior defensive end Kevin Brewton scooped up a fumble and raced 66 yards for a touchdown.

The Black team had one last shot to tie or win the game when they regained possession of the ball with 26 seconds remaining. The team was unable to attain a pass completion in three attempts before the clock ran out however.

Szabo had a huge day for the Orange as he hauled in seven catches for 200 yards and a score.

Slone completed 5-of-11 passing attempts for 180 yards and a touchdown while Reed went 8-of-13 for 98 yards and a touchdown strike. 

Payne led the Black with 101 passing yards and a score, completing 11-of-28 passing attempts in the game.

Defensively, senior linebacker Zach Matracia and sophomore linebacker Brad Fenton led the Orange with four tackles apiece.  Both registered a sack while Matracia also racked up three tackles for a loss.

Sophomore defensive back Justin Browning paced the Black with six tackles while junior defensive lineman Austin Reichert and red-shirt freshman defensive lineman D'Avon Adkins had two sacks each.

Henry had four catches for 39 yards and a touchdown while red-shirt freshman quarterback led all rushers with 51 yards on three carries.

In the alumni flag football game, which took place before the Oilers spring game, the Orange squad came out on top by a score of 28-14 behind a MVP performance from quarterback Steve Jesko ('94).