Posted: Nov 04, 2021

Oilers Set to Host Ashland

The Game

The Oilers got back on the winning track with a 49-0 shutout on the road against Walsh. With two weeks remaining, Findlay's conference title hopes remain alive, however two big-time opponents stand in the way. The first of those is Ashland. Findlay will host the Eagles on Saturday, November 6 in Donnell Stadium in a game that will kick off at noon.

Tickets

To purchase presale tickets for this contest, please visit https://athletics.findlay.edu/tickets

Media

Video streaming of the contest will be produced by UFTV and will broadcast on the Great Midwest Digital Network.

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LIVE STATS

RADIO

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Head Coach Rob Keys

Head coach Rob Keys will enter his 11th season at the helm of the Oilers football program in 2021. He has recorded a 73-42 record with the program as a head coach, which includes a 34-26 mark in GLIAC games and a 25-8 mark in G-MAC games.

For Findlay's 2021 coaching staff, please click on the following link:

2021 Coaching Staff

The Series

Findlay and Ashland is one of the more historic matchups in the state of Ohio as the two programs have met 46 times dating back to their first-ever contest in 1924. Ashland won that game 33-0. It was the Oilers who won the last time these two teams met back in 2019. That game, played in Donnell Stadium, ended with Findlay on top in a blowout, 53-18. Ashland has, however, won nine of the previous 11 matchups and the Oilers have not beaten the Eagles in back-to-back games since 2002 and 2003.

Findlay Oilers (6-3, 4-1 G-MAC)

Ranked tenth in the latest NCAA Super Region One rankings, the Oilers know that they still have all of their goals still in front of them. Two wins to end the season would give Findlay the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) title and would very likely earn the team a berth in the Division II Playoffs. That being the case, the next two weeks may just be the toughest two-week stretch of the entire season.

Saturday's contest will feature the two top-scoring teams in the conference with Ashland scoring 33.4 points per game and Findlay just behind at 32.6. That being the case, it might be the Oilers' defense that is the difference in the contest. Findlay comes into the game ranked third in the G-MAC with 25.3 points per game allowed while Ashland has struggled and is second-to-last at 29.9 points per game allowed.

Findlay's defense is led by linebacker Grey Brancifort who, in his second season with the Oilers, is the team's leading tackler and is tied for second in the conference with 89 stops. His 56 solo tackles are the best in the conference while his 8.0 tackles-for-loss rank 13th. Findlay's top tackler in the backfield is defensive lineman Ervin Besingi who ranks sixth with 9.5 TFL this season, 6.5 of which are sacks, second-best in the G-MAC.

On the back end of the defense, the Oilers have a pair of players with at least three interceptions this season as both Jeremiah Jackson and Johnny Harris have intercepted opposing QBs a trio of times.

On the offensive side of the ball, quarterback Matt Winzeler has thrown for more than 2000 yards this season and has 17 touchdowns, one of three QBs in the conference with at least 2000 passing yards and 17 touchdowns. He has shown improvement with his accuracy this season, as well, as the Oilers signal caller sits in third in the G-MAC witha 58.2 completion percentage.

Ranked seventh in the G-MAC in receiving yards is Oilers wideout Marlin Richardson who has 34 catches for 551 yards this season. He has two touchdown catches this season, both of which came last week against Walsh. Mike Rigerman, Findlay's tight end, leads the team with five touchdown receptions which is sixth in the conference, but most among tight ends.

Rushing the ball, Findlay's Derek Lynch has been a spark plug all season and has 109 carries for 651 yards and five scores this season. Much like is the case for Ashland, the backup is no slouch. Garret Clark has 78 carries this season for 445 yards and five tocuhdowns.

2021 Season Statistics
2021 Roster

Ashland (4-4, 3-2 G-MAC)

Entering their debut season as a member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC), the Ashland Eagles were selected fourth in the Preseason Coaches Poll, which those around the team took as a slight. A tradition-rich program, the Eagles still had their sights set on a conference championship in year-one with all intentions of making a statement that they would now be the team to beat in their new home.

Through two games, the Eagles were 0-2, although those two losses were both against teams which were and still are ranked in the top-ten in the country in #9 Notre Dame, still #9, and #2 Ferris St., now #1. Ashland won their conference opener at Walsh 35-10 to pick up back-to-back wins and pull even at 2-2 on the season. Then the outlook of the 2021 campaign changed.

Just ten minutes into their against Ohio Dominican in Week 5, starting quarterback Austin Brenner, who was putting up Player of the Year type numbers through four games, suffered a gruesome injury to his right leg, ending his season. Ashland would go on to lose that contest at home and the following week, lost on the road against Tiffin to fall to 1-2 in conference play.

All that aside, now with a freshman quarterback as the starting signal caller, the Eagles still remain in the hunt in the conference, but will need some help if they are to claim the crown.

The Eagles boast one of the more balanced offenses in the conference, joining Findlay as the only other program to average more than 200 yards per game both rushing and passing.

Trent Maddox is the freshman quarterback tasked with leading the Eagles the rest of the season. In seven games played, three games as the starter, Maddox has struggled compared to his predecessor. The freshman has completed 47-98 passes for just 48% and has 577 yards, six touchdowns, and three interceptions.

Brenner's injury forced the Eagles to focus on their rushing attack. Three of their top four games this season in terms of team rushing yards have come since that injury, including 214 rushing yards as a team against Ohio Dominican. The top rushing attack in the conference at 236 yards per game on the ground, Ashland is led by sophomore Gei'vonni Washington who is now in his second year as the starter. An honorable-mention all-American and GLIAC Freshman of the Year in 2019, Washington ranks third in the G-MAC with 618 rushing yards this season. His backup, Larry Martin, is no slouch as he has recorded 565 yards and leads the G-MAC at 6.6 yards per carry. The duo has combined for ten of the team's 19 rushing touchdowns this season.

On defense, linebacker Michael Ayers is the top tackler for the Eagles and has 84 stops this season, sixth-most in the conference. His 9.5 tackles-for-loss are second on the team and rank fifth in the conference. Leading the team in TFL is the reigning G-MAC Defensive Player of the Week Jeffrey Barnett who has 11.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage this season. He also has 5.5 sacks which ranks fourth in the conference.

2021 Season Stats
2021 Roster

Links

NCAA Division II Stats
NCAA
NCAA Division II Football
American Football Coaches Association
D2Football.com
Great Midwest