Week 10 Preview | Findlay Seeking Fifth Consecutive Win in Program's 1000th Game

Week 10 Preview | Findlay Seeking Fifth Consecutive Win in Program's 1000th Game

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The Game

Winners of four games in a row, Findlay looks to continue their momentum on Saturday, Nov. 5 with their final of six homes games this year, welcoming in the Walsh Cavaliers for a 3:00 pm kickoff. Prior to the start of the contest, Findlay will be honoring their 2022-23 seniors who will be playing in their final home game for the Orange and Black.

It is also the 1,000th game in the history of Findlay football which began competition in 1892. The Oilers are one of just 33 Division II programs to have played at least 1,000 games.

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Tickets

Ticket Information Here

Follow the Action

Live Video (Great Midwest Digital Network - PulseTV)

Live Stats

Radio (88.3 WLFC – Tim Montgomery)

Head Coach Allen

Head Coach Kory Allen is in his first year at the helm of the Findlay football program and, as an assistant, has helped lead the Oilers to multiple NCAA D2 Playoff appearances and a Great Midwest Championship. Allen has spent 16 years on staff in various other roles including offensive coordinator, offensive line coach, and recruiting coordinator.

Comments from the Coach

Kory Allen Interview | Walsh (Coaches Corner with Tim Montgomery)

2022 Findlay Football Coaching Staff

Findlay Oilers (5-4, 4-2 G-MAC)

It's the final home game of the season for the Oilers who look to secure yet another winning season, the 11th in the past 12 season if Saturday is a victory. Findlay is also celebrating a host of seniors who will be playing their final games for the Orange and Black.

2022 Seniors to be recognized Saturday:

Ervin Besingi / 2017-2022

Logan Bitikofer / 2021-2022

Grey Brancifort / 2020-2022

Max Burhenn / 2019-2022

Kijana Caldwell / 2017-2022

Ben Farrar / 2018-2022

Sam Hardenbergh / 2019-2022

Ralph King / 2018-2022

Derek Lynch / 2017-2022

Cade McCaskey / 2019-2022

Eli McCourt / 2018-2022

Nick Milluzzi / 2019-2022

Mitch Niekamp / 2019-2022

Ryan Nocero / 2018-2022

Kyle Nunn / 2020-2022

Kade Peters / 2018-2022

Sean Pilon / 2018-2022

Nick Reibly / 2018-2022

Shean Rheams / 2020-2022

Dalton Rockhold / 2019-2022

Marqis Stokes / 2018-2022

Austin Watt / 2018-2022

Chase Wilcox / 2018-2022

Thomas Wolfe / 2019-2022

 

The Oilers have been on a tear lately as they have rattled off four consecutive victories to improve to 5-4 on the season. At 29.3 points per game, Findlay ranks third in the G-MAC in scored, but over the course of their winning streak, the Oilers are scoring a gaudy 40.3 points per game while allowing only 14.5 points per game.

Findlay is being outscored in the first quarter of the last four games 41-to-24, but in the three following quarters, opponents have scored just 17 points while the Oilers have put up 137.

The Oilers have been splitting the quarterbacking duties as of late as seniors Jeremy Hunt and Alec Bornhorst have shared the work load. This season, Hunt is 117-for-221 for 1,561 yards, 11 touchdowns, and five interceptions while Bornhorst is 13-for-25 for 113 yards and has yet to throw a touchdown pass.

When looking at Findlay's offensive attack, however, it's not the passing game that has stood out. aAthough from a yardage perspective, the offense is fairly balanced at 808 rushing yards to 737 passing yards, over the past four games, the Oilers have relied on the run to put the ball in the endzone, scoring 15 of the team's 17 touchdowns on the ground.

Leading that rushing attack has been sophomore Garret Clark who has risen to the top of the conference in rushing yards, now with 829 this season. Over the last four games, Clark has been nearly unstoppable as he has 73 carries for 370 yards, picking up nearly five yards every time he touches the ball. He also has five touchdowns over that stretch. Not to be overlooked is freshman Jayden Farmer who has five touchdowns in the last four games, as well, and is also picking up almost five yards per carry with 247 yards on 49 totes. That duo has become arguably the top tandem of backs in the conference.

Defensively, the last four games have been dominated by freshman Sam Weihrauch who leads the team over that stretch with 35 tackles including 2.5 tackles-for-loss, three quarterback hurries, and a forced fumble. Freshman Romaro Warren Jr. has elevated his game, as well, making 23 tackles in the last four weeks including 4.5 TFL and 2.5 sacks from his linebacker position. Senior Dalton Rockhold and junior Grey Brancifort each have 4.5 TFL over the stretch, as well.

About the Opponent – Walsh (1-7, 1-5 G-MAC)

The Walsh Cavaliers have struggled to gain traction over the past few years, picking up just four wins combined from 2020 to the present. This season has not gone well for the team out of Canton as the year began with seven straight losses before finally picking up their first win of the year last week against Kentucky Wesleyan. The 35-10 win was a bit of a stunner as the Panthers, who have had struggles of their own, have taken the program a step forward this season as they picked up a mid-season victory over Hillsdale College who, coincidentally, just took down #6 Ashland last week.

In last week's win, Walsh went with a different starting quarterback, deviating from Northern Illinois transfer Tom Vatter who had not thrown a single touchdown pass in eight starts. Instead it was freshman CeeJay Yarboro who got the call and delivered, completing 13 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns. On the ground, senior running back Cory Thomas had his best game of the year by far, toting the ball 18 times for 109 yards and a touchdown, all season-highs.

Junior Tai Carter is listed as the starting tailback and will get the bulk of the carries on Saturday. This season he has rushed 112 times for 424 yards and two scores. Carter's best game this season came against McKendree where he rushed for 91 yards on 16 carries. Cory Thomas is listed as the backup and this year, has rushed 31 times for 157 yards and a touchdown.

After his performance last week, CeeJay Yarboro has earned the starting job under center with Vatter falling into a backup role. This season, Yarboro has played in just three games, completing 16-of-25 passes for 171 yards and two scores. Vatter, on the other hand, is 124-for-219 for 1,170 yards, 12 interceptions, and no touchdowns.

As a team, Walsh ranks last in the conference in scoring offense at just 11.3 points per game. They also rank last in total offense (266.3).

The leading tackler for the Cavaliers is Stephen Baugh who has made 56 tackles this season. He has 8.5 tackles for loss and three sacks to go along with a forced fumble. Diego Bremer has 39 stops while Cam Hollobaugh has 36 tackles including 5.5 TFL and 1.0 sacks.

Walsh's defense ranks sixth in the G-MAC in points allowed at 29.9 and allows more than 350 yards of total offense. Against the run, Walsh is allowing 123.4 yards per game which is fourth-best in the conference, but they also allow 232.1 yards per game through the air which ranks seventh.

Links

NCAA Division II Stats
NCAA
NCAA Division II Football
American Football Coaches Association
D2Football.com
Great Midwest