Postgame with Coach Allen (with Tim Montgomery)
Findlay, Ohio – The University of Findlay football team, ranked #24 in the country and seventh in Super Region 3, took down the Northwood University Timberwolves on Saturday, Nov. 9 in Donnell Stadium by a final of 27-17. That victory gives the Oilers a 9-1 record on the year and a 7-1 mark in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play. Northwood falls to 5-5 overall and 3-5 in the conference with the loss.
Neither team converted on their opening possession, each punting the ball away after drives that stalled out. Findlay's second series would turn into points as the Oilers drove 70 yards on seven plays. The big play of the drive came on a first and ten from the Northwood 43-yard line when senior Matthew Rueve found senior Delon Hurt for 46 yards. Junior Bryan Hunt capped the drive with an eight-yard touchdown reception.
Northwood, which defeated the Oilers last season in Midland, Michigan, tied the game up at 7-7 on their longest possession of the game, an 11-play, 56-yard drive that spanned just over five minutes.
A pair of field goals by Findlay before the half gave the home team a 13-10 advantage.
On the Timberwolves opening possession of the second half, NU found its way into Findlay territory. However, that drive was stopped abruptly when, on third and five, senior James Gladden picked up a sack, forcing a fumble.
A 35-yard pass to Delon Hurt was followed by a 43-yard touchdown deep down the right side to Redd Douglas. The ensuing PAT gave UF a 20-10 lead.
Leading 20-17 at the beginning of the fourth, Delon Hurt fought through a pass interference penalty, making a remarkable grab for a 30-yard gain, setting up the Oilers on the Northwood 30. On the next play, Bryan Hunt arguably made an even better reception, making a touchdown reception in the corner of the end zone while falling down, blanketed by a defender.
Leading by ten, Findlay then squeezed the life out of the game, turning Northwood over on fourth down three times down the stretch to help seal the victory.
Findlay rushed for just 88 yards in the game, but threw for 303 yards, the fourth time throwing for more than 300 yards in a game this season. The Oilers would outgain Northwood by nearly a hundred yards, tallying 391 yards to 293 yards of total offense.
Redd Douglas has a special performance, especially in the kick return game where he had three returns for 108 yards, the most return yards in a game this season. His longest return went for 65 yards, also the longest by a UF player this season. Douglas also had a team-high six receptions for 92 yards and a touchdown.
Rueve threw the ball 28 times, completing 18 of them, for 303 yards and three scores. Along with Douglas, Delon Hurt was a favorite target, making three catches for 111 yards. Hunt also had three receptions, two of which were touchdowns.
Sophomore Isaiah Kenney and freshman Kevin Henderson led the team with ten tackles. Kenney also had a pair of pass breakups to his ledger.
Junior Romaro Warren Jr. made nine tackles while junior Sam Weihrauch and sophomore Adonai Bumba had six. Bumba had a fumble recovery in the game, one of two turnovers earned by the Oilers' defense. The other was an interception by freshman Jayon Harvey, who has proven to be one of the top pass defenders in the G-MAC.
As if next Saturday's rivalry game at Tiffin wasn't going to be intense enough, a 24-10 loss today by Ashland at the hands of Walsh means that the Oilers can earn a share of the G-MAC Championship with a victory against their NW Ohio neighbors. That game will kick off at noon in Tiffin, Ohio on Nov. 16.
