Postgame Interview with Coach Kory Allen
 

Midland, Mich. – The University of Findlay football team, ranked no. 11 in the country in the latest American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) poll, went on the road and picked up a statement win against Northwood Timberwolves, ranked no. 24 in the country by D2Football.com, on Saturday, Nov. 1. The Oilers never trailed en route to a 31-16 victory and improve to 9-0 for just the fifth time in program history and remain in first place in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference at 7-0. Northwood, which was a team, along with Findlay, that was recently named as a team under consideration for the NCAA DII Playoffs, falls to 7-2 overall with a 5-2 record in the conference.

This win gives the Oilers a 14-13 lead in the overall series between the two teams but, more impressively, is the team's first win on the road against Northwood since 2002.

Facing a team that had turned the ball over just once all year, the fewest in the country, the Oilers capitalized on a trio of fumbles on Saturday, the first of which came in the first quarter. Forced to punt on its' first possession, Findlay's Samuel Lawanson punched the ball free on the return which was recovered by long snapper Will Kurtz. Ten plays later Jayden Farmer found the end zone on a one-yard touchdown run, putting the Oilers ahead 7-0.

The Oilers added another touchdown in the second quarter after a bad snap led to a blocked punt by Luke Weihrauch, giving UF prime field position at the Northwood 28. Farmer again punched it in from a yard out, extending the lead to 14-0. Northwood managed a 50-yard field goal before halftime, but Findlay's defense had already set the tone, holding the Timberwolves to just 66 yards in the first half including just ten yards on the ground.

In the third quarter, Findlay added a 34-yard field goal from Zachary Barzd following a drive that began after a turnover on downs. Northwood responded with a touchdown to cut the lead to 17-10, but the Oilers answered quickly. After a fumble by Northwood quarterback Ethan Hamby, recovered by Sam Weihrauch, Findlay needed just four plays to score again, this time a 12-yard touchdown run by Brennan Remy.

Northwood made one final push, scoring on a 27-yard touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 24-16. But Findlay sealed the win with a 7-play, 47-yard drive that ended in a 23-yard touchdown pass from Chase Harrison to Jakar Williams, the first receiving touchdown of Williams' career. The drive was set up after a failed onside kick gave the Oilers the ball inside Northwood territory.

Findlay finished with 345 yards of total offense, including 199 on the ground and 146 through the air. The Oilers held the ball for nearly 40 minutes and converted 7 of 16 third downs. Northwood was limited to 30 rushing yards and committed three fumbles, all recovered by Findlay. The Oilers have not allowed a team to rush for 100 yards this season and have limited their opponents to a total of just 67 yards on the ground in the last three weeks combined.

Farmer led the Oilers with 128 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries, the second consecutive week he has eclipsed the 100-yard mark on the ground.. Christian Davis added 71 yards on 22 carries and caught four passes for 15 yards. Harrison completed 14 of 23 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown. Williams had one catch for 23 yards and a score, while Aidan Guilbeau caught four passes for 37 yards.

Defensively, Kevin Henderson recorded 11 tackles, including two sacks and three tackles for loss. Weihrauch added eight tackles, three sacks, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Lawanson forced two fumbles, and Slaper had one fumble recovery and a 13-yard return.

This win sets up an even bigger game next week as the Oilers continue a tough stretch of games to close out the regular season. Findlay is set to head to #17 Ashland University on Saturday, Nov. 8 for a game that, due to the Eagles' win today, will be a battle of two 7-0 G-MAC teams. With only one game on the schedule after next week, the winner of Saturday's game between Findlay and Ashland will be crowned as at least a co-champion of the league and will, because of head-to-head being the deciding factor, earn the conference's automatic qualifier into the NCAA DII National Tournament.

Small School Saturday
Saturday's game against Northwood was covered by media company the D1 Rejects who produced their show Small School Saturday, similar to ESPN's College GameDay, prior to kickoff of Findlay and Northwood's game. To watch the show in its' entirety, click below: