The Game
The Oilers hit a bump in the road last week against Northwood, but still control their own destiny this season with plenty of games ahead. Their first chance at a bounce-back game is against G-MAC newcomer Thomas More on Saturday, Oct. 14 in Donnell Stadium. The noon kickoff will be the first time these two opponents have met on the gridiron.

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Tickets vs Thomas More

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Video streaming of the contest will be produced by Findlay's PulseTV and will be streamed on the Great Midwest Digital Network.
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Findlay Oilers (4-2, 3-1 G-MAC)
2023 Findlay Football Coaching Staff

Now past the halfway point in the season, the Oilers still have all of their preseason goals ahead of them. A conference title and an NCAA postseason berth are still well within the realm of possibility. What Findlay likely does not have anymore is a margin for error. Three of Findlay's final five games are against teams that are in the top two in the current G-MAC standings, and that begins on Saturday with a game against G-MAC newcomer, Thomas More University.

Quarterback Alec Bornhorst leads the Orange and Black offense and has been getting better every week since taking control of the starting job in the beginning of the year. In his previous four games, Bornhorst is completing 74% of his passes for 869 yards and seven touchdowns. He has also rushed for 79 yards per game and has scored three rushing touchdowns over that span. This hot streak has Bornhorst at the top of all G-MAC quarterbacks in completion percentage for the season at 66.5%.

Tight end Mike Rigerman has also been a big factor for Findlay's offense and comes into the game sitting in fourth on the Oilers' all-time tight end receiving yards list with 1,453 career receiving yards.  The Arcade, New York native is coming off of his best game of the season, securing ten receptions for 113 yards and two touchdowns against Northwood. This season, Rigerman has made at least three catches in every game and has more than 50 receiving yards in five of his six games.

With injuries forcing inconsistency at the running back position, Bornhorst is now the team's leading rusher, carrying the ball 63 times for 420 yards and six touchdowns. Brian Benson has 65 totes for 374 yards and four touchdowns while Makya Matthews has 40 carries for 217 yards and three touchdowns. Oilers fans are hoping for the return of the opening day starter, Garret Clark, who has battled injury early on in the season. Clark has played in three games this year but in those games, was averaging seven yards per carry.

Sitting in fourth in the G-MAC in tackles is sophomore Romaro Warren Jr. who now has 49 stops this season including six tackles for loss. Fellow linebacker Sam Weihrauch has 44 tackles and 6.5 TFL. Former linebacker turned defensive end Grey Brancifort has been the leader on the Oilers front, leading Findlay with eight tackles for loss.

About the Opponent – Thomas More Saints (4-2, 3-1 G-MAC)

As the new kid on the block, the Thomas More Saints were not getting much respect at the beginning of the year. The team from Kentucky was selected last in the G-MAC Preseason Coaches' poll, receiving just 13 points. That poll may have been the best motivation for the program as they have officially turned heads this season, sitting with a record of 4-2 overall and 3-1 in the conference including an 18-17 win over Ohio Dominican, the program's first Great Midwest victory. Where the Saints will finish is yet to be determined, but for now, this team will certainly not be viewed as a pushover by any of their future opponents.

Thomas More's calling card in their wins this year has been their defense. That was on full display in their win against Ohio Dominican where the Saints gave up 14 points in the first quarter and just three over the course of the rest of the game. Part of the success of their defense is the ability to get to the quarterback. TMU ranks fourth in the G-MAC with 14 sacks this season, but is second with 118 sack yards, just one yard behind league-leader Ashland.

The Saints have four players with at least two sacks this season and are led by graduate senior Jackson Gear who has 3.5 sacks and five tackles-for-loss this year. Ross Halverstadt, Vuk Sajlovic, and Trey Weems all have at least two sacks, as well. Del Thomas is the team's leading tackler, picking up 42 stops this season while Colton Sandhas leads the squad with three interceptions.

On offense, the Saints are led by their junior dual-threat quarterback Rae'Von Vaden. This year, Vaden has thrown for 694 yards and has seven touchdowns, completing just 65 passes which ranks ninth out of ten in the G-MAC. He also has 78 carries for 288 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, rushing for at least 60 yards in three separate games this year.

Sophomore Jaden Hall leads the rushing attack and is coming off of a career performance against Kentucky Wesleyan. To-date, Hall has 91 carries for 396 yards and four scores, but did most of that damage against KWC where he ran 24 times for 151 yards and a touchdown. 

TMU's leading receiver, like Findlay, is their tight end. Sophomore Mike Kirch has a team-high 183 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Wideout Freddie Johnson, who last year was named Second Team All-Mid South Conf., leads the team with 21 receptions, tallying 137 yards.

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