2017 Football Preview
Preseason Interview w/ Rob Keys
Findlay, OH - In the final season of Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play, the 2016 Oilers finished with a 6-5 record, their fifth winning record in six seasons under head coach Rob Keys. They ended the season with wins in four of their final five games including a 59-21 victory at Michigan Tech which was tied for the most points scored by Findlay under Keys.
Multiple major components return to the huddle on the offensive side of the ball, with junior quarterback Rhys Gervais at the forefront. In just two seasons, Gervais is rewriting the Oilers record books and has been one of the most productive arms in the country in the previous two seasons. A 2015 candidate for the Harlon Hill, Gervais has thrown for 6,188 yards in his career, has completed 464-of-740 pass attempts for a completion percentage of .627, and has thrown for 60 touchdowns. Each of those statistics is a University of Findlay record.
Also returning is an honorable mention all-American winner, senior, Jason Moore. In 2016, Moore caught 71 balls for a school record 1,115 yards for an average of 101.4 yards per game. He also snagged a school record, 15 touchdowns. Moore was named to the Lindy's Preseason All-American First Team earlier this summer.
In the backfield is senior Chauncey Bridges who will be in his final season with Findlay. Last season was Bridges' best yet as he carried the ball 218 times for 1,229 yards which gave the Oilers a 1,000-yard rusher for the fifth time in the last seven seasons. For his efforts, Bridges earned honorable mention all-region.
Protecting the offense is an experience, but young group of players on the offensive line. The Oilers return sophomore Andrew Dickinson, junior Andrew Alten, sophomore Neal Davis, and junior Christian Olmstead from the starting lineup a year ago. Combine, the group has started 58 games in the Orange and Black. A 2017 Lindy's Preseason First Team All-American, Alten alone has started 28 times and last season was named first team all-GLIAC and second team all-region.
The Oilers return seven starters from last year's defense including three out of the top five leading tacklers from last season's squad. Junior Francis Cutchember (76 tkls), Chiebuka Chukwuneke (55 tkls), and Isaac Miles (45 tkls) were all major pieces to an improved defense that promises to be even better in the 2017 season. Miles was fourth on the team with five and a half tackles for loss while Chukwuneke led the squad with seven pass breakups.
Findlay will kick off their 2017 season with a game on the road against Tiffin University. The Oilers are looking to win their 18th straight game against the Dragons in a Thursday night game, August 31 at 7:00 pm.