#22 Oilers Shutout Pioneers for Seventh Consecutive Win
Canton, Ohio – The University of Findlay football team improved on their longest win streak since 1997 with yet another convincing win on Thursday, October 26. The Oilers, which are ranked #22 in the nation, took down the Malone Pioneers by a score of 49-0 to improve to 8-1 overall and a perfect 5-0 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC) play. It was Findlay's first game as a top-25 team since 2014 and the first time since 2004 that the Orange and Black have had at least two shutouts in a season. In five games against the Great Midwest, Findlay is putting up 51.6 points per game, outscoring opponents 258-33.
The Oilers showed why they made the jump into the national poll, dominating the game in every way. Coming into the game, Findlay ranked in the top-ten in the country in scoring offense and defense and led the Great Midwest in total yards per game and yards allowed per game. On Thursday, Findlay would improve in all areas, putting up 578 total yards while holding the Pioneers to just 104 total yards, the least yards allowed by the Oilers in a game this season.
Findlay got the scoring started with six minutes into the game when senior Daouda Sylla rushed three yards, capping an 81-yard drive with a touchdown, his league-leading 15th rushing score of the year. Sylla would leave the game in the second quarter with an injury.
The first half of play was dominated by the Oilers who would lead 28-0 at the break. In the first half, Findlay put up 352 yards of offense and made 16 first downs. The #22 team in the country did not allow the Pioneers to reach the first down marker until 9:30 left in the first half.
Just two minutes into the second half, Findlay again found the end zone when backup quarterback Adam Bertke found junior Jason Moore for his second touchdown catch of the game. With the reception, Moore would move into a tie with Rick Hatfield (1976-79) for the most touchdown receptions in a career at Findlay with 34. The Oberlin, Ohio native also passed Seth White (2011-14) for second place on the all-time receptions list. Moore now has 152 career receptions.
Taking the bulk of the carries after Sylla's exit would be junior Michael Campbell who tallied 136 yards on 20 carries. He rushed for a pair of touchdowns. Campbell's performance marks consecutive games where he has rushed for at least 135 yards and a score.
Junior Rhys Gervais would improve on an already gaudy completion percentage, completing 10-of-12 passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns. Gervais is now completing 71% of his passes this season.
Freshman Terrence Smith would lead the Oilers in tackles with a career-high eight stops. He had one tackle-for-loss in the game while junior Tyler Long would finish with seven tackles and 1.5 tackles-for-loss. Sophomore Isaac Miles ended the game with five tackles, two tackles-for-loss, one sack, and a fumble recovery while senior Aaron Ivory, last week's Great Midwest Defensive Player of the Week, had two tackles and led the team with two pass-breakups.
The Oilers will return home on Saturday, Nov. 4 when they take on the reigning Great Midwest Champion, Alderson Broaddus in Donnell Stadium. The game will begin at 1:00 pm with Senior Day festivities taking place prior to kickoff.