Oilers Host #13 Ferris State
The Game
The Oilers will host the thirteenth ranked team in DII when Ferris State University comes to Findlay on Saturday, October 1. The game begins at 7:00pm and is the second time this season that the Oilers take on a nationally ranked opponent.
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:
Live stats will also be available for all contests. A link to retrieve the live stats can be found on the schedule page of the website.
UFTV
A video broadcast of the game is provided by UFTV and can be found on their YouTube page by clicking the link below.
Coach Keys Weekly
Don't forget to tune into 88.3 FM "WLFC" for Coach Keys Weekly. The show is aired from 7-7:30 p.m. on Tuesday evenings.
Fans are also encouraged to send questions in for coach Keys through Twitter. Please send questions throughout the week on Twitter Tim Montgomery @Oilersonair.
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The Series
The Oilers are 11-13 against Ferris State with their first meeting taking place in 1934, an Oilers victory. Their latest encounter came a year ago when Ferris invaded Findlay as the fourth ranked team in the country. Findlay had a 14-point halftime lead but eventually lost 42-39.
Head Coach Rob Keys
Head coach Rob Keys is in his sixth season at the helm of the Oilers football program in 2016. He has recorded a 34-24 record with the program as a head coach, which includes a 30-23 mark in GLIAC games.
For Findlay's 2016 coaching staff, please click on the following link:
The Oilers
The Oilers head into the fifth week of the season after a 58-13 dominating victory over the Lake Erie College Storm. The win gives Findlay a 2-2 record in GLIAC play as they currently sit in second place in the South Division of the conference.
After back-to-back losses, Findlay let out their frustrations in Painesville as they came out of the gate looking as sharp as they have all season. It took just four offensive plays for the Orange and Black to find the end zone. On the flip side of the ball, the defense was locked in as they forced three straight three-and-outs to begin the game. Once the first quarter ended, the Oilers had put 27 points on the scoreboard, the most points in a quarter since 2014.
2016 Season Statistics
2016 Roster
The Bulldogs
The Bulldogs come into the game sporting a 3-1 record with all of those games being played within the GLIAC. Despite falling six spots from #7 to #13 in the AFCA DII Poll, the Bulldogs are still the highest ranked one-loss team in the country.
There was some question surrounding the Bulldogs beginning the year after they graduated two-time Harlon Hill winner, Jason Vander Laan. Thus far, they have filled in nicely as junior Reggie Bell has led the team from Big Rapids back into the national rankings.
Ferris State began the year with a 41-0 blowout of Ohio Dominican but their previous three games have all been decided by a combined 11 points including a last second touchdown to beat Northwood in Week 3.
Bell, who played his first two years of college football at Eastern Michigan, has been a force offensively as he is the team's leading passer and rusher. On the year, he has thrown for 880 yards while rushing for 405 yards while scoring a combined eight touchdowns. He has thrown for 200+ yards and rushed for 100+ two of his four games this season.
His favorite target this season has been senior Jamel Lockett who leads the team and is seventh in the GLIAC with 22 receptions. However, the leading receiver in terms of yardage is sophomore Malik Taylor who has hauled in 14 passes for 272 yards. That is good for nearly 20 yards per catch.
Senior linebacker Anthony Darkangelo is the team's leading tackler, and second in the GLIAC, with 41 stops this season. He has 4.5 tackles-for-loss and 0.5 sacks. Darkangelo is the lone Bulldogs player who earned first team all-GLIAC honors last season. He has been all-GLIAC in each of the previous two seasons.
Other all-conference returners include junior defensive end Dylan Roney (2nd team), junior linebacker Nick Huckabay (honorable mention), and senior linebacker Brady Sheldon (honorable mention).
2016 Season Statistics
2016 Roster
Record Watch: Rhys Gervais
In his second year as the Oilers signal caller, Rhys Gervais already has his name all over the Findlay record books. Last year he set multiple season records; passing yards (3,353), completions (228), pass attempts (362), total offense (3,439), and passing touchdowns (33).
After this outstanding first season, Gervais' name can also be found in the career record book, as well. He is currently sixth at UF with 494 pass attempts and is chasing the mark of 534 set by Bryan Hieber (1999-2000) for fifth. He is fifth in pass completions with 314 and again, could move into the top spot as Gervais is just 73 completions shy of Crooks' mark of 387. He is chasing Bo Hurley (1994-97), who completed 337 passes, for fourth.
Perhaps most impressive is the amount of yards Gervais has thrown for in his short time as the quarterback. Rhys currently sits in third at UF with 4,435 yards, just 396 yards shy of the record set by Bo
Hurly from 1994-1997. Gervais is chasing Verlon Reed (2013-14) for third. Reed threw for 4,503 yards. Gervais also sits in sole possession of second all-time at UF for touchdown passes in a career. He currently has 44 and is chasing Bo Hurley who threw 57 touchdowns from 1994-1997.
Record Watch: Dylan Blunk
Senior wide receiver Dylan Blunk ranks seventh all time at Findlay with 117 receptions after leading the team last year with 65 receptions. He can quickly move into sixth place, needing to reach 119 to pass Andy Witker (118 / '04).
Blunk is also nearing the top in receiving yards in a career as he currently ranks seventh all-time with 1,554 yds.
GLIAC Preseason Poll: The Oilers were picked to finish fourth in the GLIAC South Division this year, receiving 13 total points in the annual coaches poll. They trailed Tiffin University (19), Ohio Dominican (19) and Ashland University (25) in the South Division poll.
Grand Valley State University was tabbed as the favorite to win the North Division as the Lakers, ranked third in the country to begin the season, racked up a league-high 47 points.
Links
NCAA Division II Stats
NCAA
NCAA Division II Football
American Football Coaches Association
D2Football.com
GLIAC