Oilers Win by 21 in Season-Opener at Hillsdale
Hillsdale, Mich. – The University of Findlay football team opened up their abbreviated six-game schedule on Saturday, March 13 at Hillsdale College. It was the first game for the Oilers in 483 days. Findlay outscored the Chargers 14-0 in the fourth quarter to seal the 45-24 victory and start the season 1-0 in a season that will feature only Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) opponents.
On the opening series, Findlay's defense stepped up and picked up a stop on fourth and one as Hillsdale refused to punt on its' first possession of the season. That stop gave the Oilers' offense the ball on the Hillsdale 35 yard line.
The seventh play of the drive was a one-yard touchdown pass from senior Matt Winzeler to senior transfer Jake Brown, who was playing his first game for the Orange and Black after three seasons at Division I James Madison.
Hillsdale answered the drive with a score of their own to tie the game at 7-7.
Brown would score his second touchdown of the game with 1:42 on the clock in the second quarter, on a 19-yard touchdown pass from Winzeler. That score gave the Oilers a 17-14 lead into halftime.
Out of the half, the Oilers scored on a six-yard rushing touchdown by senior Brian Benson to take a 24-14 lead.
The Chargers scored the next ten points and tied the contest at 24-24 with 1:49 left in the third, but with ten seconds remaining in the quarter, on third and three, Winzeler found senior Marlin Richardson who made a leaping catch down the sideline, broke a tackle, and raced 67 yards for the score.
Hillsdale did not pick up a first down in the final quarter and the Oilers scored twice to ice the game and give Findlay the Week 1 victory, 45-24.
Findlay finished the game with 477 yards of total offense while allowing just 318 yards. Just as they have done in the past, the Oilers' offense was balanced, picking up 218 yards on the ground and 259 through the air. First downs also favored the Oilers as the Orange and Black moved the chains 26 times while the Chargers managed just 18.
Winzeler had a solid season debut as he completed 18-of-28 passes for 259 yards and four touchdowns. It's the fourth consecutive four-touchdown game for the Toledo, Ohio native.
The leading receiver was Richardson who had 91 yards on three catches, one of which went for a score. Jake Brown had six catches for 59 yards and two scores while sophomore Tanner Schroeder had four catches for 40 yards and a score.
Senior Derek Lynch averaged more than ten yards per carry and was the Oilers' leading rusher with 10 carries for 105 yards and one score. Senior Brian Benson also had a rushing touchdown as he picked up 74 yards on 15 carries.
Junior all-American and reigning G-MAC and Region Defensive Player of the Year Christopher Jefferson was the Oilers' leading tackler on Saturday as he had nine tackles to lead the defense. He also had a pair of pass breakups, again proving to be one of the top defensive players in the country.
Sophomore transfer Jordan Grimes had nine tackles and a tackle-for-loss in his Oilers' debut while junior Kyle Nunn, also playing his first game for the Oilers after transferring in from the University of Pittsburgh, had five tackles. Junior Reggie Micheaux also had five stops in the game.
Findlay is off for two weeks now as their next game will be Saturday, March 27 vs Walsh. That is a home game and will kickoff at 6:00 pm.