Findlay Routes Lake Erie
Painesville, OH – After a tough game a week ago, the University of Findlay football team made it look easy on Saturday, September 24 with a 58-13 win over the now 0-4 Lake Erie College Storm. With the win, the Oilers improve to 2-2 on the year with each of those games being Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) contests. The 58 points are the most in a game since they scored 59 against Tiffin in 2014.
It was clear from the get-go that the Oilers meant business as they came out and put up 27 points in the first quarter, the most points in a quarter since they score 28 in the fourth quarter in the Tiffin game in 2014.
Findlay's offense hadn't scored a touchdown since September 10 against Ohio Dominican, but after three straight running plays to open up the game, junior Rhys Gervais connected with senior Dylan Blunk for a 59-yard touchdown, the longest pass play of the season, to put the Oilers up 7-0. Before the quarter ended, Gervais would have four touchdown passes to three different receivers, Blunk, freshman Nate Slagel, and two to junior Jason Moore.
On top of the precision offense in the opening frame, Findlay's defense stepped up and played as well as they have all season. The Storm only managed 21 yards of offense and one first down in the first quarter as the Oilers defense forced a trio of three-and-outs.
A touchdown pass from Gervais to junior Anthony Federico would make the score 34-0 as the teams headed to the locker rooms for halftime.
The second half would see many of the Oilers' starters get a rest as Findlay would cruise to the end of the game with a touchdown in the third and two more in the fourth to cap the 45 point win.
Gervais would finish the game with 324 yards passing, the eighth time in his career he has thrown for over 300 yards. He also threw for five touchdown passes in the game, all of which came in the first half. It is the third time in his career he has thrown for five TDs. The only other player in Oilers history to throw five touchdowns in a game is Bo Hurley who did so in 1997 against Taylor.
Junior Daouda Sylla had a career day at tailback as he picked up 130 yards on 22 carries and one touchdown. The 130 yards are the most by an Oilers rusher this season. Junior Chauncey Bridges chipped in 103 yards rushing on 13 carries. It is the fourth time in his career that Bridges reached the century mark.
Sophomore Francis Cutchember led the defense with 11 tackles in the game, tied for the most in a game this season. Freshman Justin Ellis picked up a couple sacks in the game while sophomore Justice Jenkins had two tackles-for-loss.
Findlay rushed for 322 yards and passed for 356 yards for a 678 yards of total offense, the most in a game under head coach Rob Keys.
Findlay is back in action next Saturday at 7:00 pm when they play host to #7 Ferris State University.