Late Game Heroics Lift Oilers Over Ashland for Second Consecutive Time
Findlay, OH – The University of Findlay football team used some late game heroics to pick up an important victory at Donnell Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 6 against Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) newcomer Ashland University. The Oilers trailed 17-3 in the third quarter but came all the way back, using a 35-yard field goal by freshman Austin Snyder as the clock expired to pick up a 20-17 victory over their in-state rival. With the win, Findlay, ranked 10th in Super Region One, improves to 7-3 on the year with a 5-1 record in conference play. The Eagles, meanwhile, fall to 4-5 overall and 3-3 in the G-MAC, and have any hops of a G-MAC title erased.
The win over Ashland is the second consecutive for Findlay, the first time that has happened since the Oilers defeated the Eagles in 2002 and 2003.
In a game that featured the top two scoring offenses in the conference, both scoring over 32 points per game, it was defenses that turned up the pressure in what felt like a heavyweight slugfest. The Oilers were forced to punt on their first five possessions while the Eagles punted on three of their five first-half touches. However, it was Ashland who had a 10-3 lead at the break.
Ashland had 189 yards of total offense in the first half while the Oilers had just 112.
The Eagles scored on their first possession of the second half to take a 17-3 advantage, and then the Oilers defense stepped up. After that score to open the third quarter, Findlay's defense allowed just 37 yards for the remainder of the game, forcing the Eagles into a missed field goal and four consecutive punts.
The Oilers offense, meanwhile, picked up its game as well. After the missed field goal by Ashland, Findlay went on a 13-play, 80 yard drive that was capped with an 11-yard touchdown run by Brian Benson, making the score 17-10.
Over the next five possessions, neither team ran more than four plays.
Then came the play of the game.
On fourth down and 11 on the Ashland 18, quarterback Matt Winzeler lofted a ball to the far corner of the endzone for wide receiver Marlin Richardson. Richardson made an incredible leaping grab for the touchdown which, after the extra point, pulled the game even at 17-17.
Another three-and-out was forced by Findlay's defense, leading to the game-winning drive that ended with a 35-yard, no-doubter off the foot of kicker Austin Snyder to win the game with zeros on the clock.
After a slow start to the game, the Oilers ended up outgaining Ashland 333 yards to 319. 129 of Findlay's yards came on the ground while 204 were through the air. The Oilers picked up 22 first downs to just 15 for Ashland.
Defensively, Findlay was led by linebacker Jack Trombetti who had 11 tackles, seven solo stops, in the game including a half sack and 2.5 tackles-for-loss. Safety Kijana Caldwell also had 11 tackles to lead Findlay. Johnny Harris, who has had a breakout year for the Oilers on defense, had nine tackles and 1.5 tackles-for-loss. As a team, Findlay recorded 7.0 TFL including one sack.
Quarterback Matt Winzeler completed 20-of-36 passes for 184 yards and one score, the crucial fourth quarter touchdown pass to Marlin Richardson. Winzeler also rushed five times for 12 yards and had three receptions, two to himself, for 16 yards.
Marlin Richardson was the top receiver for the Oilers as he had eight catches for 102 yards, his second 100+ yard game this season and the fifth such game in his career. With a touchdown in the game, that gives the Findlay senior back-to-back games with at least one score. Tight end Mike Rigerman added four catches for 41 yards.
Picking up the bulk of the carries for Findlay was senior Brian Benson. The last time these two teams met, Benson had 90 yards and a score to help the Oilers to a win. On Saturday, the Oilers' running back tallied 12 carries for 63 yards, an average of 5.3 yards per carry, and had a touchdown, Findlay's first of the game in the third quarter.
Both the Findlay Oilers and Tiffin Dragons won, meaning next week's contest in Donnell Stadium will be the deciding game for the G-MAC Championship and likely will decide who, from this conference, will have a chance at an NCAA Regional berth. It will be the fourth time in five seasons that the Oilers will play in a defacto conference championship game. Findlay and Tiffin will square up next Saturday, Nov. 13 at noon.