Findlay Falters at #5 Ashland
Ashland, OH – The University of Findlay football team hit the road for the first time this season and came away with a 35-3 loss at the hands of the fifth ranked team in the country, the Ashland Eagles. Findlay now has a 1-2 record, all of which have been Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) contests, while the Eagles improved to 3-0 with a 2-0 mark in GLIAC play.
With 2:40 left in the first quarter and the score tied at 0-0 with neither team making any offense progress, the Oilers forced a punt and senior DaShawn Scott was able to break through and block the kick giving the Orange and Black the ball on Ashland's 11 yard line. A nine yard rush from junior Daouda Sylla put the ball on the two yard line, but the Eagles' defense held, forcing a field goal. Senior Tyler Bugeja knocked it through to give Findlay a 3-0 lead.
The second quarter was a different story as Ashland's offense clicked to the tune of 14 points giving them a 14-3 lead at the break.
From then on it was all Ashland. The Purple and Gold added a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter and one more in the fourth to seal the 35-3 victory.
Junior Rhys Gervais had an unusual game as he was just 8-16 for 92 yards. Sophomore Adam Bertke played the final series for Findlay and completed a pair of passes for 19 yards.
Senior Chauncey Bridges was the Oilers' leading rusher as he churned out 15 carries for 45 yards. Close behind was Sylla who had nine carries for 44 yards.
Junior Jason Moore was the team's leading receiver with four catches for 67 yards.
Sophomore Francis Cutchember was one of two players for Findlay that reached double-digit tackles. Cutchember finished with 11 while senior Myles Alexander finished with ten.
Findlay is back in action next Saturday, September 24 when they travel to Painesville, Ohio to take on the Lake Erie College Storm. That game will begin 1:00pm.