Crestview Hills, Ky. - The University of Findlay football team remained perfect on the road this season with a convincing 34-17 victory against the Thomas More Saints on Saturday, Oct. 26. With the victory, the Oilers improve to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play while TMU falls to 3-5 and 2-4 in the conference.

The Oilers were forced to punt after just four offensive plays to start the game, but the team's defense answered the call when, on the fourth play of the drive, sophomore defensive lineman Majaden Lewis snagged his first career interception and rumbled into Saints' territory. That play set up the Oilers' offense on the TMU 43 yard line.

Senior Jayden Farmer got the carry on the first play of the ensuing drive and promptly raced 43 yards for a touchdown, the longest run of his career. The extra point put the Oilers ahead 7-0 early.

Thomas More then went on a long 17-play drive, but that journey was stalled out when, on third-and-nine, sophomore Desmond Brown recorded his first career sack at Findlay, forcing a field goal. The Oilers scored quickly when, just two minutes into the team's drive, senior quarterback Matthew Rueve found junior Bryan Hunt for a 47-yard score.

Findlay's defense forced a three-and-out and, in the beginning of the second quarter, the Oilers took a 21-3 lead on a 17-yard touchdown from Rueve to senior Redd Douglas.

Thomas More scored late in the first half but, after forcing another three-and-out on the first series of the second half, the Oilers found the endzone again, this time on a 20-yard connection between Rueve and Hunt.

That lead would hold up as Findlay would go on to a 17-point victory, defeating TMU for a second consecutive year.

The Orange and Black finished the game with 442 yards of total offense including 247 through the air and 195 on the ground. Findlay's defense was solid against, holding the Saints to 273 yards of total offense that included just 25 yards on the ground, the second time this season that the Oilers have held an opponent to under 30 rushing yards in a game.

Jayden Farmer had a big day, carrying the ball 23 times for a career-high 143 yards and one touchdown. Those are the most yards by a Findlay back since September of last season. Senior Makya Matthews had nine rushes for 46 yards, as well.

Rueve finished 17-of-25 for 247 yards and three touchdowns. He found Bryan Hunt five times for 101 yards and two scores, but his most targeted receiver was Delon Hurt who had seven receptions for 91 yards. 

True freshman Jayon Harvey continued his spectacular debut season with a team-high ten tackles, all of which were solo stops. He also had five pass breakups in the contest, the most by a Findlay defender since Chiebuka Chukwuneke had five breakups against Northern Michigan back on Nov. 14, 2015. Those five breakups are also tied for second-most by a DII player in a single game this season.

Also putting together a dominant effort on the defensive side of the ball was junior Romaro Warren Jr. The Lawrence, Indiana native was a wrecking ball, making eight tackles including 4.5 tackles-for-loss and two sacks. His 4.5 TFL are the most by a Findlay player since Brad Fenton had 5.0 TFL against Tiffin in the 2016 season.

Junior Sam Weihrauch had eight tackles while freshman Bryce Stack had seven, including a half TFL. Majaden Lewis and senior Keyshawn Bonner each had interceptions in the game.

Findlay returns home on Saturday, Nov. 2 for a game against the Walsh Cavaliers. That contest, which will feature the top two scoring teams in the G-MAC, will kick off at noon in Donnell Stadium.