Oilers Overcome Slow Start to Power Past Panthers
Findlay, Ohio – For the first time all season the University of Findlay football team failed to score in the first quarter of a game, but despite that early struggle, the Oilers eventually cruised past the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers on Saturday, October 5. Findlay would win the game 38-13 to improve to 3-2 on the year and 2-1 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) while the Panthers remain winless at 0-5 and 0-2 in league play.
In the opening frame, the Oilers struggled to establish themselves against a team that, in the past two years, they had outscored 137-33. Kentucky Wesleyan managed a field goal on the opening possession of the game and then held Findlay to a three-and-out on the Oilers first drive.
For the quarter, Findlay would be forced to punt three times and, on their best drive of the quarter, missed a 44-yard field goal to remain scoreless.
On the third play of the second quarter, the Oilers would convert on a 29 yard field goal to tie the game at 3-3. That was the start of a 17-point quarter for Findlay, who would go into the break 17-6.
In the second half, Findlay controlled the line of scrimmage and outscored the visitors from Owensboro 21-7 to pull off the 25-point win.
The standout performance of the night belonged to sophomore defensive back Christopher Jefferson. The Euclid, Ohio native intercepted three passes on the night that included 50 return yards. His three picks tie a G-MAC record for interceptions in a game. Findlay turned around and scored a touchdown on two of those turnovers.
As a team, the Oilers put up 478 yards of total offense that included 316 on the ground and 162 through the air. Findlay also controlled the ball for most of the game, winning the time of possession battle 31:49-to-28:11.
Senior Nate Slagel continued to amaze out of the backfield in place of injured starter Brian Benson. Slagel rushed the ball 12 times for 124 and found the end zone three times, giving him seven scores in the last two weeks. Not to be outdone, junior Derek Lynch had 15 carries for 116 yards. The duo of Slagel and Lynch have now each eclipsed the century mark in each of the last two weeks.
Junior Matt Winzeler fought through a season low in completion percentage of .452, completing 14-of-31 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown. He did rush the ball for a season-high 41 yards and a touchdown.
Putting together his third 100+ receiving performance was junior Ruben Flowers. The Lima, Ohio native had seven catches for 116 yards in the win.
Defensively, Richard Sheler led the way with 11 tackles and a pass breakup while senior Anthony Kastelic reached double-digit tackles again with ten.
The team's leading tackler Jack Trombetti had six tackles while Jefferson, who had the three picks, recorded five tackles.
Freshman David Marbury had a breakout performance, recording three tackles, each of which were tackles-for-loss. Two of those were sacks.
The Oilers are back in action next week when they head to Canton, Ohio to take on Walsh University.