Reaper Named GLIAC Offensive Lineman of the Year
Senior left tackle Chris Reaper was named the 2015 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Offensive Lineman of the Year on Nov. 17. The four-year starter was also a first team all-conference pick.
Reaper helped pave the way for the Oilers to average 477.5 yards per game in 2015, the third best mark in the GLIAC and the 18th best total in all of NCAA Division II football. His pass blocking efforts enabled the team to establish a new school record for passing yards in a season (3,350) as well.
As the leader of the Oilers offensive line, Reaper helped the Oilers churn out 273 first downs and 36.1 points per game in 2015. Their first down total led the GLIAC and ranked tenth in the nation.
The Toledo, Ohio native earned second team all-conference honors for Findlay in 2014. He was an honorable mention all-league pick in 2013 as well. In his career, Reaper started all 43 games in which he played.
Senior running back Daiquone Ford was rewarded for his play on the field and took home second team all-conference honors for the Oilers too.
Ford led the Oilers with 871 rushing yards and eight touchdowns. The Myrtle Beach, S.C. native was a first team all-conference and all-region pick in 2013 and ends his career with 3,420 rushing yards, the third highest total in school history.
In addition, senior right tackle Bobby Brown, senior wide receiver Tim Szabo, junior wide receiver Dylan Blunk, junior defensive back Anthony Linnear, sophomore quarterback Rhys Gervais and red-shirt freshman defensive back Chiebuke Chukwuneke all earned honorable mention all-conference honors.
Brown has appeared in 40 career games for the Oilers, making 33 starts. As a senior, the Grove City, Ohio native helped the Oilers pass offense average 304.5 yards per game and their run game churned out 172.9 yards per contest.
Szabo had a breakout senior season in which he caught 42 passes for 795 yards and eight touchdowns. He ranked seventh in the GLIAC in touchdown receptions and ninth in receiving yards. The Dayton, Ohio ends his career with 71 receptions for 1,159 yards and 11 scores.
Blunk led the Oilers with 65 catches for 839 yards. He also made six touchdown grabs in 2015. His 65 catches ranked fourth in the GLIAC while his 839 receiving yards were the sixth best total in the league. The Findlay, Ohio native has recorded 97 catches for 1,264 yards and seven touchdowns during his tenure with the Oilers.
Linnear ranked 18th in the GLIAC with 84 tackles. The Ft. Wayne, Ind. native also posted 2.0 sacks and 4.0 tackles for a loss.
Gervais had a record-breaking season as the Oilers signal caller. He ended his sophomore campaign with school records for completions in a season (228), passing attempts in a season (362), passing yards in a season (3,353), total offense in a season (3,439) and passing touchdowns in a season (33).
The Puyllap, Wash. native led the GLIAC in passing yards (3,353) and passing yards per game (304.8). His 33 touchdown passes ranked second in the conference as well. His passing touchdowns rank seventh nationally while his passing yards and passing yards per game are good for ninth in the nation.
Chukwuneke recorded 60 tackles on the year for the Oilers. He also recorded 5.5 tackles for a loss and 2.0 sacks. The Edison, N.J. native led the team with three forced fumbles and ten pass breakups. He also recovered and returned one fumble for a 20-yard touchdown and intercepted a pass on the year.