Late FG Gives Oilers 45-42 Win Over NMU
The University of Findlay football team ended their 2015 season with a last second 45-42 win over Northern Michigan University on Nov. 14 in Donnell Stadium. The Oilers end the year with a 6-5 record, which includes a 5-5 record in Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) play.
The Oilers trailed the Wildcats by a score of 42-35 early in the fourth quarter. The defense then forced a three and out and took possession of the football with 9:32 remaining. After driving down the field, sophomore quarterback Rhys Gervais found senior wide receiver Tim Szabo for a 25-yard touchdown to tie the game at 42-42 with 6:35 to play in the game.
Tied at 42-42, the Oilers defense once again forced a three and out and the offense took the field with 4:52 to play. The Oilers drove down the field, eating up the clock, and got to the 13-yard line with just over two ticks remaining. Junior kicker Tyler Bugeja then booted a game-winning 30-yard field goal as time expired to give Findlay the victory on senior day.
The Oilers racked up 534 yards of total offense in the game and averaged 8.1 yards per game. They were led by Gervais, who completed 17-of-29 passing attempts for 372 yards and five touchdowns. His five touchdowns tied his own school record for most touchdowns in a game.
Gervais ends his sophomore campaign with school records for completions in a season (228), passing attempts in a season (362), passing yards in a season (3,353), total offense in a season (3,439) and passing touchdowns in a season (33). The Oilers also set passing records as a team for yards (3,350) and completions (229).
Szabo caught three passes for 144 yards and two scores in the win. One of his touchdown receptions was an 85-yard score, the second longest touchdown reception in school history.
Sophomore wide receiver Jason Moore made four grabs for 106 yards and a score while junior wide receiver Dylan Blunk caught five balls for 58 yards and a touchdown.
Senior running back Daiquone Ford rushed 23 times for 93 yards and a touchdown, ending his career ranked third all-time at UF with 3,420 rushing yards.
Freshman linebacker Anthony Kastelic paced the defense with 12 tackles. He also added two tackles for a loss and a sack.
Junior linebacker Myles Alexander racked up 11 tackles while freshman defensive back Francis Cutchember had 11 stops as well.
Red-shirt freshman defensive back Chiebuka Chukwuneke had another strong game for Findlay as well with ten tackles, two tackles for a loss and five breakups.
Sophomore defensive back Aaron Ivory picked off a pass in the game as well.