The Game
Findlay's final two games of the year make for, by far, the toughest duo of any team in the Great Midwest as they wrap up the regular season with two of the top three teams in the conference in Ashland and Tiffin. The Oilers, currently tied with Ashland for second in the conference, one game behind the Dragons, control their own destiny as they can knock off their two in-state rivals and claim, at worst, a share of the conference crown.

Before looking to that circled matchup with Tiffin on Nov. 11, the Oilers will need all of their focus and effort on the Purple and Gold of Ashland University. That contest, which kicks off at 1:00 pm on Saturday, Nov. 4, will take place in Jack Miller Stadium in Ashland, Ohio.

The oldest Division II rivalry in the state of Ohio first kicked off in 1924 and has been played 50 times, with Findlay holding a 17-29-4 mark in those games. However, the Oilers have won two of the last three games in the series, winning in both 2019 and the spring of 2021.

Help Fund Championship Experiences
To help fund experiences like this, the University of Findlay relies on the generous support of Oiler Nation. Follow THIS LINK to make a gift in support of the football program. When you give, you directly support the personal approach and championship experience. Everyone at the University of Findlay, including our more than 700 student-athletes, thanks you for your support.

Tickets
Tickets for Ashland vs Findlay

Follow the Action
Video streaming of the contest will be produced by Ashland University and streamed on the Great Midwest Digital Network.
Live Stream
Live Stats
Ashland Radio Call

Findlay Oilers (7-2, 6-1 G-MAC)
2023 Findlay Football Coaching Staff

At this point in the season, a team's identity and attitude is often, for the most part, sealed. For the 2023 version of the Findlay Oilers, that identity isn't that of a fast paced, high school offense, although it does sit second in the G-MAC in scoring, but rather it's an identity that circles around its' defense. The Orange and Black currently lead the league in yards allowed per game (247.1) and in rushing yards per allowed per game (66.7) while sitting in second in scoring defense, giving up just 15 points per game. However, over the last three weeks, the Oilers have been as stingy as any team this season, allowing just a single touchdown since Oct. 14 and giving up just 4.3 points per game in that stretch.

That success comes, in big part, to incredible effort in the red zone where Findlay leads the league, allowing points just 63% of the time and a league-low nine touchdowns allowed inside the red zone. The reason those numbers are so low? Teams are struggling to even reach the Oilers' 20 yard line. Through nine weeks, Findlay's defense, led by coordinator Thomas Rebholz, has allowed just 19 trips to the red zone, essentially two per game.  

Leading the defense is sophomore linebacker Sam Weihrauch who has tallied 63 tackles this year, sixth-most in the G-MAC. The Findlay, Ohio native has 12 tackles-for-loss which is second in the conference and the most among the league's linebackers. Junior Johnny Harris has 58 tackles, second on the team, and has 6.5 TFL. Through the air, the Oilers have 12 interceptions as a team. Senior Jordan Grimes leads the Oilers in that department, collecting five picks this season including one interception in each of the last three games.

Findlay's offense is fully capable as well, scoring 29.8 points per game this season. That side of the ball is led by quarterback Alec Bornhorst who has been one of the top quarterbacks in the conference this season. The Gainesville, Ga. native has completed a league-high 157 passes and is completing passes at 65%, also a league-best. Through nine weeks, Bornhorst has thrown for 1,817 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Senior tight end Mike Rigerman is the go-to receiver for the Oilers, ranking second in the G-MAC in both receptions (49) and yards (635) and is tied for the G-MAC lead in receiving touchdowns with eight. Rigerman is just 63 yards shy of setting the program record for receiving yards by a tight end with 1,703 in his career. 

In the backfield, Garret Clark and Brian Benson have come to be two of the most productive backs in the conference. Benson has 111 carries for 595 yards while Clark has 61 carries for 334 yards, both combining for 5.4 yards per carry.

About the Opponent – Ashland Eagles (6-3, 6-1 G-MAC)

Ashland started the year with a pair of losses, dropping contests against then #6 IUP and then #1 Ferris State, but since then, the Eagles have rattled off a 6-1 record, all of which have come within the G-MAC. Their lone conference loss came on Sep. 23 to the Tiffin Dragons who currently lead the conference. With Tiffin already in their rearview mirror, Ashland is looking for some help if they want a piece of the conference championship, needing a win against Findlay this Saturday and then a Findlay win over Tiffin the following week to make that happen. That being the case, this Saturday's matchup has plenty on the line.

The Eagles, last year's conference champion, were picked to repeat as the league's champ in the preseason poll and began the year ranked 12th in the country. This year they boast the G-MAC's fourth-ranked offense at 27.6 points per game and also have the fourth-best scoring defense, allowing 20.7 points per game. On the ground, Ashland allows just 107 yards per game, third-best in the G-MAC behind Findlay and Ohio Dominican, but through the air, the Eagles have struggled, giving up 210 passing yards per game, eighth out of ten in the conference.

A backup QB and punter on last year's NCAA Playoff team, now starting quarterback Trevor Bycznski. He ranks third in the G-MAC with 1,744 passing yards this year, completing 148-of-252 attempts. He does, however, lead the Great Midwest in passing touchdowns with 18 this season and has thrown just three interceptions, the fewest among Great Midwest QBs.

Former Ferris State Bulldog Dezmin Lyburtus is now in Purple and Gold after transferring away from the back-to-back national champions out of Big Rapids, Michigan. Lyburtis is the most targeted receiver in the conference, catching a league-high 50 passes for 509 yards and seven touchdowns. Jent Joseph is also a major threat at receiver, collecting 27 passes for 441 yards and two scores.

Larry Martin, the Eagles' tailback, has four 100+ yard games this season, tallying 779 yards on 38 carries and nine touchdowns.

Follow the Oilers on Social Media
Follow the Oilers on social media to keep up with all the exciting news surrounding UF athletics.

Twitter
Facebook
Instagram
Youtube

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