Stevens, Defense Carry Oilers To 9-6 Win Over NMU
Junior kicker Cameron Stevens booted a 44-yard field goal with just over three minutes to play giving The University of Findlay football team a 9-6 win over Northern Michigan University on Saturday, October 24 at Donnell Stadium. The victory increases the Oilers record to 7-2 on the season with a 6-2 mark in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).
After a scoreless first quarter, Stevens connected on a 19-yard field two seconds into the second quarter but the Wildcats answered with a scoring drive of their own ending in a 1-yard touchdown run by Cater Kopach on fourth down. The extra point was missed however as Northern Michigan held a 6-3 advantage at the break.
In the third quarter, the Oilers found their running game and marched down the field on the opening possession of the second half, culminating in a 24-yard field goal from Stevens with 8:20 remaining in the period.
Both teams remained scoreless until the fourth quarter when the Oilers defense gave Stevens a chance to win it.
With the Wildcats driving late in the final period, senior linebacker Jesse Kontras forced a fumble which was recovered by fellow senior linebacker Joe Knopick at Findlay's seven yard line. The play gave new life to the Oilers who immediately came out and hit a big play as senior quarterback Andrew Beam found senior wide receiver Mike Chambers for a 21-yard gain through the air.
The passing play from Beam to Chambers gave the Oilers some breathing room as senior Melvin Jackson plowed his way time and time again down the field to set up a 44-yard field goal attempt by Stevens.
Staring down a long kick, Stevens booted a line drive kick which skipped across the crossbar and through the uprights. The field goal, made in cold and windy conditions, put Findlay up 9-6 with 3:24 to play.
Needing to get another big play on defense to assure a win, Kontras came calling again with a huge tackle for a loss on a fourth and three play just inside Findlay territory. The Oilers would then run out the clock for their seventh win of the season.
As a team, the Oilers defense shined by holding the Wildcats to only six points and 233 total yards. On the season, Northern Michigan had been averaging 35.7 points per contest and 393.9 yards per game.
Findlay also kept Northern Michigan's tough running game in check, holding them to a mere 74 yards on the ground and 1.9 yards per carry. The Wildcats had been averaging 248.6 rushing yards per game on an average of 5.5 yards per rush.
Jackson led the offense with 96 yards on 18 carries while freshman running back Monterae Williams gained 69 yards on 15 carries.
Beam completed 11-of-26 passes for 67 yards and also rushed six times for 33 yards.
Defensively, Knopick led the team with 15 tackles while Kontras added eight.
Senior defensive lineman E.J. Whitlow, sophomore defensive lineman Brandon Cornell and senior defensive back Anthony Fields each had seven stops apiece.
Whitlow added a sack and a forced fumble, Cornell racked up a pair of sacks, a forced fumble and three quarterback hurries while Fields made 1.5 tackles for a loss and broke up two passes.
Sophomore defensive back Ikechi Emeaghara also had a great game, making six tackles to go along with a pair of sacks, a fumble recovery and a break-up.
The Oilers will be back in action again on Saturday, October 31 when they face Saginaw Valley State University. The contest is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m. in University Center, Michigan.