Oilers Head to Canton Looking to Bounce Back vs Walsh
The Game
A tough loss against Hillsdale in Week 8 has the Oilers out of the driver's seat in the G-MAC as there is now a four-way tie atop the league. However, with three games remaining, Findlay can still control it's own destiny. The Oilers will play their final road game of the regular season this Saturday, Oct. 30 when they head to Canton to take on Walsh University. The game will kick off at noon at GlenOak High School.
Tickets
To purchase presale tickets for this contest, please visit https://www.athletics.walsh.edu/information/ticketing
Media
Video streaming of the contest will be produced by Ohio Dominican and will broadcast on the Great Midwest Digital Network.
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Head Coach Rob Keys
Head coach Rob Keys will enter his 11th season at the helm of the Oilers football program in 2021. He has recorded a 72-42 record with the program as a head coach, which includes a 34-26 mark in GLIAC games and a 24-8 mark in G-MAC games.
For Findlay's 2021 coaching staff, please click on the following link:
The Series
Findlay has a 7-1 mark in the series all-time with Walsh. The first contest was played in 2012, a 26-7 win for Findlay. Earlier this spring, the Oilers defeated the Cavaliers 35-0 in Donnell Stadium, the last time Findlay shut out an opponent. Walsh's only victory in the series came in 2015, a 39-38 game in Canton.
Findlay Oilers (5-3, 3-1 G-MAC)
With just three games remaining, Findlay still has hopes of a conference title, but will likely need some help now after suffering their first G-MAC loss of the season last week against Hillsdale. The Oilers will certainly be motivated to put on a solid performance on Saturday against Walsh, especially knowing the final two games of the year are both at home and are against two big-time G-MAC programs in Ashland and Tiffin.2021 Season Statistics
2021 Roster
Walsh (1-7, 0-4 G-MAC)
The 2021 fall season has been a struggle for the Walsh Cavaliers, who come into the ninth week of the season last in the G-MAC at 0-4 and with just a single win on their resume thus far. Picked sixth in the preseason poll, the Cavs opened up the year on a high note, defeating West Liberty on the road by three touchdowns. Since that win, the Cavs, who were 1-4 in the abbreviated spring season, have lost seven consecutive games.
The offense is an issue for the injury-riddled Cavaliers. Walsh is currently ranked last in the conference at just 12.9 points per game, the only team in the G-MAC that isn't scoring at least 20 ppg and, with just ten this season, is the only team in the G-MAC that hasn't scored at least 20 touchdowns this season.
Walsh will be quarterbacked on Saturday by Jeremy Hodge, a senior quarterback who has played in five games this season. Hodge started the first four games of the season before junior Tom Vatter returned from injury to take his spot as the starter. Vatter, however, was injured again during the Kentucky Wesleyan game and has since given way to Hodge again. This season, Hodge has completed 60-of-119 passes (.504) for 749 yards, five touchdowns, and four interceptions. His best performance this season came against Quincy where he threw for 212 yards and two scores, but his latest start was a loss against ODU where he threw for 167 yards, no touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Wide receiver Jaden Gresham is the top target for Walsh as he has 30 receptions for 362 yards and two touchdowns, almost double the amount of receptions as Tyre Gray who is second on the team in receiving. Gray does, however, lead the team at 15.7 yards per catch and leads the team with three touchdown receptions. Grey, Delonte Hall, and Keyshawn Johnson all have 17 receptions this season.
Thomas Wilks is the starting tailback due to injury trouble for senior Koby Adu-Poku who has rushed for almost 2,500 yards in his career. Wilks has 119 carries this season, second in the conference, and has 429 yards. Despite the large volume of carries, Wilks has yet to find the end zone. In fact, the only player on the Cavaliers' roster with a rushing TD is quarterback Jeremy Hodge who has two.
On the defensive side of the ball, senior Sal Sidebotham, a third-team all-conference performer in the spring, again leads Walsh in tackles. He has 79 this season which ranks third in the G-MAC. He also has 3.5 sacks, 8.0 tackles-for-loss, and has an interception. Defensive back Diego Bremer is second on the team with 53 tackles while linebacker Matt Amison has 47. Defensive back Noah Caston leads the team with eight pass breakups.
Links
NCAA Division II Stats
NCAA
NCAA Division II Football
American Football Coaches Association
D2Football.com
Great Midwest