Postgame Interview with Head Coach Kory Allen

Columbus, Ohio - The University of Findlay football team returned to the road with a trip to Ohio Dominican on Saturday, Oct. 19, coming away with a 26-10 victory. That win gives the Oilers a 6-1 record on the year with a 4-1 mark in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) while ODU falls to 2-5 overall and 1-4 in the conference. It is Findlay's third win in the last four games against the Panthers.

Findlay received the opening kickoff and drove to the ODU seven, converting on a pair of third downs on the way. The drive stalled out but junior kicker Cameron Shirkey connected on a 24-yard field goal to put UF ahead 3-0.

That trend would continue to the Oilers next drive which ended in a 26-yard field goal for Shirkey, his second of the game and third of the year.

The Oilers' first touchdown of the game came in the middle of the second quarter when, after getting the ball back on an interception by freshman Jayon Harvey, Findlay punched the ball in from the one yard line, the sixth rushing touchdown of the year for senior Makya Matthews.

One more field goal before the half, a 43-yarder from Shirkey, put the visitors ahead 16-0 at the midway point of the game. 

With just over seven minutes left in the third, Findlay got the ball back after forcing a three-and-out inside the Panthers' ten yard line, the third three-and-out forced by the Oilers to that point in the game. That 19-yard return by Matthews set up the Orange and Black at the ODU 25. Three plays later, the Oilers picked up another three-points against the Panthers, which lead the league in field goals allowed with 14 this season. This kick from Shirkey was good from 43, his longest make of the 2024 season.

That 19-0 lead was plenty already as the Oilers' defense had put the clamps down on the Panthers, ultimately allowing just over 200 yards of total offense.

A one-yard touchdown rush by senior Jayden Farmer made the score 26-0 before ODU finally got on the board, putting up ten points in the fourth quarter. While the shutout was broken, the Oilers came away with a convincing victory against a team that has, historically, been a conference title contender.

UF would pick up 302 yards of total offense, the second most allowed by the Panthers stingy defense this season. Findlay's defense also shined, giving up just 207 yards including only 74 on the ground.

Shirkey was the Oilers' big point-scorer on Saturday, making a perfect 4-of-4 field goals, the first player at UF to make four field goals in a game since Chris Demler did so against Walsh back in 2019.

Senior quarterback Matthew Rueve completed 15-of-30 passes for 172 yards and threw a pair of interceptions. Junior Redd Douglas was the leading receiver, collecting six passes for 102 yards including a 42-yard reception in the first quarter.

Farmer led the Oilers on the ground, running the ball 19 times for 61 yards and a touchdown while Matthews ran 11 times for 54 yards and a score.

Findlay is back on the gridiron on Saturday, Oct. 26 when they travel into Kentucky to take on the Thomas More Saints. That game will kick off at noon in Crestview Hills, Ky.