Week 6 Preview | Oilers Welcome Timberwolves on Homecoming
D2Football.com Preview (G-MAC Columnist – Jake Riepma)
The Game
It's Homecoming Saturday on Oct. 8 in Donnell Stadium as the Oilers welcome in long-time foe Northwood University at 2:00 pm. Facing a 1-4 record and currently winless in the Great Midwest, Findlay looks to get back on track against the Timberwolves who have not beaten Findlay since 2014.
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Head Coach Allen
Head Coach Kory Allen is in his first year at the helm of the Findlay football program and, as an assistant, has helped lead the Oilers to multiple NCAA D2 Playoff appearances and a Great Midwest Championship. Allen has spent 16 years on staff in various other roles including offensive coordinator, offensive line coach, and recruiting coordinator.
In Week 3 against Southwest Baptist, Coach Allen picked up his first victory as a head coach, defeating the Bearcats 52-35 in Donnell Stadium.
Comments from the Coach
Kory Allen Interview ahead of Northwood (Tim Montgomery)
2022 Findlay Football Coaching Staff
Findlay Oilers (1-4, 0-2 G-MAC)
At the midway point of the season, no question the Oilers did not expect to be 1-4. However, Findlay's top-heavy schedule was arguably one of the toughest in the country as it featured a rival in the opener, a 500+ mile trip, a high-powered offense, and two teams that currently reside in the top six in the national poll including the defending national champ.
But, this is college football and no one is going to feel bad for a program stumbling out of the gates, especially a program coming off of a conference title. So as UF looks ahead to their remaining six games, they can't help but feel a 7-4 record at the end of the year is not out of the question.
One area where the Oilers have been outstanding is their on-field discipline. This season Findlay has committed just 3.2 penalties per game for just 112 total yards, both of which lead the country. On top of that, the Oilers have lost just one fumble this year which ranks eighth in the country. However, a big struggle has been total time of possession which is odd for a program that historically is one of the best in the country in that stat. This year Findlay's average time of possession is just 27:10 which ranks 140th out of 169 teams in the country.
The Oilers rank seventh in the G-MAC in points per game (20.6) and also rank seventh in points allowed per game (32.6). Running the ball has been critical this year, on both sides of the ball, as Findlay is fourth in rushing yards per game at 136.6 but rank last in rushing yards allowed per game at 210.6, a number that can be skewed after taking on one of the top rushing attacks in the country in Ferris State.
Quarterback Jeremy Hunt is 73-141 this year and has thrown for 937 yards and nine touchdowns. His last couple of games have been a struggle, throwing a pair on interceptions in both. For the Oilers to go on a streak, it will take Hunt to look more like he did against Southwest Baptist when he threw for 232 yards and four touchdowns to earn G-MAC Player of the Week.
Juniors Tanner Schroeder and Mike Rigerman have caught everything thrown their way this season and make for reliable targets for Hunt. Schroeder has 22 receptions for 278 yards and a score while Rigerman has 13 catches for 216 yards and three scores. Findlay's top scoring threat at wide receiver is freshman Bryan Hunt who has burst onto the scene, making nine catches, four of which have been for scores.
On the ground, Garret Clark is the key. This year he has 79 carries for 468 yards which ranks second in the G-MAC. As of late, sophomore Jayden Farmer has been carrying the load, as well, and has 33 carries for 149 yards, an average of 4.5 yards per carry.
Junior Grey Brancifort is far and away the team's leading tackler, making 50 stops through five games this season. Senior Marqis Stokes has 36 tackles while senior Jeremiah Jackson has 35. Sophomore Johnny Harris has 31 tackles, 13 of which came last week against Ferris State, a career-high. On the line, junior Dalton Rockhold leads the way with 3.5 tackles-for-loss and has also forced two fumbles..
About the Opponent - Northwood (3-0, 0-0 GLIAC)
The Timberwolves are in their first season as a member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) and have split their two league games thus far. Historically, Northwood has struggled on the gridiron as they have posted one winning season since 2010, a 7-4 campaign in 2017. The program's most successful run came under the late Pat Riepma who coached football and also served as a baseball coach and Athletic Director at Northwood, as well. While leading the Timberwolves, Riepma led the team to four NCAA DII Playoff appearances and three Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) titles. Since Riepma last coached the team in 2007, Northwood has had just two winnings seasons.
Leading an offense that ranks second-to-last in the conference in yards, most of the snaps for Northwood will go to junior quarterback Nate Gomez who, through five games this year, has completed 53-of-100 passes for 804 yards and six touchdowns. He has struggled with turnovers, however, as he has thrown five interceptions including three against Davenport on Sep. 24. Sophomore Jake Kelbert will likely get some snaps as well. He has completed 12-of-20 passes for 160 yards and three touchdowns and has rushed eight times for 31 yards.
The top offensive target for Northwood is senior wideout John Hall who currently leads the G-MAC in yards per catch at 24.7. Through five games he has just 16 receptions but has amassed 395 yards and six touchdowns. Hall's best game of the year came in the first week against Kentucky Wesleyan where he had three receptions for 146 yards, his only 100+ yard game of the year. Senior Tajae Leslie, the only all-conference recipient on the team from a year ago, has ten catches for 112 yards. He was a second team all-GLIAC member last season.
On the ground, Northwood is led by junior running back Brec Alward who has 225 yards on 54 carries. He and Ethan Whitley each have a pair of rushing touchdowns this season. Whitley has rushed for 157 yards on 43 carries. Those two make up the only players on the team with at least 75 rushing yards.
Senior linebacker Mahlon Slaughter, an honorable mention all-GLIAC recipient last year, leads the Timberwolves with 35 tackles this season, 20 of which have been solo stops. He has tallied 7.5 tackles-for-loss this year which are tied for the most in the Great Midwest. With 30 tackles this season, honorable mention all-GLIAC winner Mbaimba Tunkara joins Slaughter as the two make up a formitable corps of linebackers. Tunkara has 30 tackles including three tackles-for-loss. Defensive back Jace Parrish leads the team with six pass breakups this season and is third on the team with 27 tackles, 21 of which are solo.
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