Oilers Ranked for First Time Since 2014 | Enter Poll at #22
Findlay, Ohio – Following another dominating victory that extended a six-game win streak, the University of Findlay football team has made its way into the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Top 25, entering the poll at #22. This Thursday, October 26 will be the first time the Oilers play a game ranked in the AFCA poll since September of 2014 when the team checked in at #25 and will be the 12th time as an NCAA Division II member that the team will enter a game with a national ranking.
The Oilers are the first Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) football team to earn a national ranking in the conference's history.
Findlay, which reached it's highest NCAA Division II ranking at #18 in 2009, has a record of 5-6 in games as a nationally ranked team. The last time the Oilers won with a top-25 ranking was on September 13, 2003 when the Oilers took down Wayne State 19-3.
The Oilers have been one of the most dominant teams in the country over the past six weeks scoring 325 points in those games for an average of 54 ppg, all while allowing just 10 ppg in that stretch.
Through eight games this year the Oilers have been able to move the ball at will, picking up 218 first downs this season, second-most in the nation, and also converting on third down at nearly 53%, sixth-best in the nation. Part of the reason for the success is a talented offensive line that ranks second in the country in sacks allowed per game (0.38) and is paving the way for a rushing attack that is putting up 287.5 yards per game, sixth in the country, and 511 yards of total offense, seventh in the country.
Powering that offense has been a quarterback, Rhys Gervais, that is completing passes at a career-high rate of 70%, the fifth-best completion percentage in the country. He has been helped by tailback Daouda Sylla who ranks 11th in the nation at 7.1 yards per carry and ranks third in the nation with 14 rushing touchdowns. Findlay's other big weapon on offense is the talented receiver, Jason Moore, who ranks fourth in the country with ten receiving touchdowns.
When the Oilers do have to punt, they are the best in the country with a net punting average of 41.2 yards per punt and do not allow opponents any chance at a return. Findlay also leads the nation in punt return defense at -3.2 yards per return.
Equally as impressive has been the play on the defensive side of the ball where the Oilers are allowing just 13.9 points per game, ninth-best in the country, and are making 7.8 tackles-for-loss per game. One area where Findlay has been lights out is in the secondary where the self-titled 'Air Marshalls' are helping lead the way for a defense that has intercepted 12 passes, 13th in the country, and has scored four defensive touchdowns, fifth in the country.
Leading the Oilers' talented secondary has been senior Aaron Ivory, the most recent Great Midwest Defensive Player of the Week. Ivory has three interceptions this season, all of which have been returned for touchdowns while his teammate in the secondary, Francis Cutchember, leads the team with 43 tackles. But, Ivory and Cutchember could not do what they do without some talent in front of them. At linebacker, junior Justice Jenkins has lived in the backfield and has picked up five sacks, seven tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. He currently ranks fourth in the country with three fumble recoveries, as well.
Findlay will take their #22 ranking to Canton this Thursday to take on the Malone Pioneers.