Findlay Snaps Streak Against ODU with Dramatic Overtime Victory
Columbus, Ohio – 3,654 days. That's how long it has been since the University of Findlay football team has beaten the Ohio Dominican Panthers. On Saturday, October 16, that changed.
The Oilers traveled to hostile territory as they took on their rival in a battle of Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) unbeatens. The Oilers had not ever beaten Ohio Dominican in Panther Stadium and has only beaten the Black and Gold one time, almost exactly ten years ago to the day (Oct. 15, 2011). That streak of seven straight losses to ODU ended in dramatic fashion as Findlay pulled of the 21-14 victory in overtime to improve to 5-2 and remain atop the G-MAC standings at 3-0. With the loss, the Panthers fall to 5-2 and drop to 2-1 in conference play.
Sometimes, one team gets all the breaks. So far this season, the Panthers had been that team. At the end of regulation, it looked like that would again be the case as Findlay missed a 43-yard field goal off the upright to send the game into overtime, another big break. But it took the Oilers just five plays, capped by a two-yard touchdown pass from Matt Winzeler to Mike Rigerman, to score and take the 21-14 lead.
This season, Findlay's defense has struggled at times, especially against the pass. ODU took their chance through the air with the game on the line and Findlay's Johnny Harris broke up back-to-back passes to end the game, sending the Oilers sideline into a frenzy.
The game proved to be a defensive battle early as the first two scores of the contest were field goals by Ohio Dominican, the second of which came early in the second quarter.
After the Oilers forced an ODU punt on their next possession, Findlay's offense went on their first scoring drive, a nine-play, 74-yard trip across the field that was capped with a 27-yard, SportsCenter Top 10 worthy touchdown grab by senior Ruben Flowers who high-pointed the pass from Matt Winzeler and, with a defender draped all over him, came down with possession in the corner of the endzone. That score put Findlay ahead 7-6.
Findlay extended that lead on the first series of the second half. The Oilers, who came in with the league's top rushing attack at more than 230 yards per game, went pass heavy, on a 13-play, 77-yard drive that was again capped with a pass from Winzeler to Flowers, putting the Oilers ahead 14-6.
ODU responded. After ten plays, the Panthers found themselves on the Oilers one yard line on a fourth-and-goal. Panthers' quarterback Evan Ernst ran the QB sneak and powered his way across the goal line. A two-point conversion tied the game at 14-14 with 2:07 left in the third quarter.
Four consecutive possessions ended in punts as neither team was able to gain an edge. Findlay would possess the ball with 2:20 remaining in the game and faced a fourth-and-one from ODU's 44. The air was sucked out of the Oilers sideline as Garret Clark was stopped short of the line to gain, turning the ball over the ODU with two minutes remaining and excellent field position.
Findlay's defense, which played it's best game of the year, came up with arguably their biggest three-and-out of the season, forcing a punt.
That stand set up the last second, 43-yard field goal that bounced off the upright, sending the game into overtime which saw Findlay come away victorious, their second overtime win of the season.
In the game, the Oilers put up 392 yards of offense while holding the Panthers to 310 yards. The big factor in the game was ironically Findlay's pass defense which held ODU's league-leading quarterback in terms of completions and yards to a season-low, 165 yards through the air. On the flip side, the Oilers passing offense, which has not been the main supply of points through six games this season, was as good as it has been all year as Matt Winzeler completed 28-of-39 for 289 yards and three scores.
The Oilers top receiver was Ruben Flowers who had his top performance of the season and showed why he has been one of the most feared receivers in the conference the past couple of seasons. Flowers had ten receptions for 136 yards and two touchdowns. His highlights included the two scores and also a 27-yard reception in the fourth quarter where he tiptoed the sideline in heavy coverage, helping set up the potential game-winning field goal.
On the ground, the Oilers put up a season-low 103 yards but were headlined by freshman Garret Clark who had 24 carries for 92 hard-earned yards.
Leading the Findlay defense which was as stout as it has been this fall was sophomore linebacker and the team's leading tackler, Grey Brancifort. Brancifort tallied 13 tackles including eight solo stops and a tackle-for-loss. Marqis Stokes had nine tackles while Jeremiah Jackson had six tackles, an interception, and three pass breakups. Kijana Caldwell and Johnny Harris each had five tackles. Harris added a pair of pass breakups, both of which came on the final two plays of the game, sealing the Oilers first-ever victory on Sunbury Road in Columbus.
In other G-MAC action, the Lake Erie Storm pulled of a stunner on the road against Hillsdale College, a 33-14 victory in Muddy Waters Stadium. That loss to Hillsdale puts the Oilers in the driver's seat in the G-MAC as the lone remaining undefeated team in the league.
Findlay will play host to those same Hillsdale Chargers in Donnell Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 23 at noon. Tickets can be purchased for that contest online by following THIS LINK to the Oilers ticketing website.
