The Game
Findlay got back in the win column with a 16-point victory at Ohio Dominican last week and looks to improve to 7-1 with another road game on Saturday, Oct. 26, this time heading to Kentucky for a game against the Thomas More Saints. Kickoff is set for noon.

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Tickets
Tickets for Findlay at Thomas More

Follow the Action
Video streaming of the contest will be produced by Ohio Dominican and streamed on the Great Midwest Digital Network and is free of charge.
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LIVE STATS

Findlay Oilers (6-1, 4-1 G-MAC)
2024 Findlay Football Coaching Staff

Despite one loss on the season, the Oilers can still win a conference title, with some help, and are very much in the conversation for an appearance in the Super Region 1 Playoffs. Findlay must take its' remaining schedule one week at a time and that starts this Saturday with Thomas More.

Findlay is the second-highest scoring team in the Great Midwest at 35.3 points per game and is tied for the league-lead with 33 offensive touchdowns this season. Most of the offensive production comes through the air where the Oilers lead the conference with 1,948 passing yards this season. Leading that attack is quarterback Matthew Rueve who has thrown for a G-MAC-best 19 touchdowns this season. He has completed 134-of-219 passes for 1,779 yards, but has thrown nine interceptions, all of which have come in the last five weeks of the season.

 Redd Douglas has emerged as the go-to target for Rueve and has made a team-high 29 receptions for 399 yards this season. Bryan Hunt has 20 catches for 313 yards and two scores while Delon Hurt, who has 240 receiving yards, leads the team with four touchdown receptions, three of which came against Kentucky Wesleyan back on Oct. 5.

On the ground, Jaden Farmer is the primary weapon in the backfield, but backup Makya Matthews is no slouch. Farmer has 76 carries for 336 yards and four scores this season while Matthews has 84 carries for 434 yards and six scores, tied for the most rushing touchdowns in the G-MAC. The duo combines for 4.8 yards per carry.

Defensively, the linebacker trio of Christion Stokes, Sam Weihrauch, and Romaro Warren Jr. lead the way with 49, 48, and 40 tackles, respectively. Stokes is tied with teammate Jayon Harvey, who is tied for the conference lead with eight passes defended, for the team-lead with three interceptions. Warren Jr. leads the team with 6.5 tackles-for-loss while Weihrauch has 5.5.
 
About the Opponent – Thomas More (3-4, 2-3 G-MAC)

The beginning of the 2024 season for Thomas More was promising as the Saints dropped a one-score affair against Davenport, which was receiving votes in the national preseason poll, and followed that up with three consecutive wins against Kentucky Christian, Ohio Dominican, and Walsh. However, three consecutive losses have Thomas More at 3-4 on the season and 2-3 in the conference, fighting to stay around the .500 mark.

The Saints offense is scoring 19 points per game this year and is led by quarterback Rae'Von Vaden. This year Vaden has completed 63-of-119 passes, just 53%, and has thrown three interceptions, the fewest interceptions of any quarterback in the league that has started all seven games. His 784 passing yards are last among starters while his eight touchdown passes are tied for sixth in the G-MAC. He does have 203 yards rushing, third among quarterbacks in the league, and two touchdowns on the ground, as well.

Last year's G-MAC Co-Freshman of the Year Evan Brown is the leading receiver for Thomas More and ranks seventh in the  G-MAC with 456 receiving yards on 28 receptions. He has been kept out of the endzone though, scoring just twice this season. A second-team G-MAC pick last season, Freddie Johnson is also a threat on the outside, tallying 25 receptions for 335 yards and two scores while tight end Mike Kirch, also a second-team selection last year, has 22 catches for 218 yards and two touchdowns.

On the ground, Jaden Hall carries the load for the Saints' offense. He has 89 carries this season, sixth in the league, and has picked up 337 yards, scoring just one rushing touchdown. He runs behind an offensive line that is anchored by second-team all-G-MAC lineman Kyle Hillerich.

Defensively, linebacker Elijah Manning is one of the best in the confernece, making 52 tackles this season including 36 solo tackles, tied for second-most solo stops in the G-MAC this season. With Manning making plays in the middle of the field, defensive lineman Trey Weems spends his time getting into the backfield as he leads the team and the G-MAC with five sacks and is second in the league with eight tackles-for-loss this year. Weems has had at least one TFL in six of the Saints' seven games this yea.

When the offense does get stuck, punter Elgin Phillips has the ability to flip the field. A second-team selection last year, Phillips leads Division II with an average punt of 46.9 yards.

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