The Game
Findlay has not been 10-0 in a season since 1997 and in the history of the program, has only been 10-0 four other times. On Saturday, Nov. 15 those games mean nothing as the long-time rival Tiffin Dragons come to Donnell Stadium to try and spoil a perfect regular season for the #8 team in the country. A win gives Findlay the honor of being the outright G-MAC Champions and the right to claim the Battle of 224 trophy that was established last season. Kickoff for Saturday is set for noon.

The Series
Findlay and Tiffin have played 33 times with the Oilers holding a 28-5 record all-time including a 19-game winning streak that spanned nearly three decades. However, the Dragons have won four of the last six meetings including the last two, last year winning the initial Battle of 224 Trophy Game with a 37-14 win.

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Video streaming of the contest will be produced by UFTV and streamed on FloCollege.

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#8 Findlay Oilers (10-0, 8-0 G-MAC)
2025 Findlay Football Coaching Staff

It has been a historic season for Findlay football as they have reached the highest regional and national ranking in the NCAA era and picked up a share of the conference title already. Yet none of that matters on Saturday when rival Tiffin comes to town looking to spoil an undefeated regular season and take away an outright league championship. A win would give the Oilers sole claim to the G-MAC crown and establish a new program record for wins in a regular season.

Complimentary football has been the key to the Oilers' success this season and has helped guide them to a perfect 10-0 record, one of just five teams in Division II to remain unbeaten heading into the final week of the regular season. With all three phases playing well, it has been the defense that has stolen the spotlight for much of the year. That unit is the best it has been in the NCAA era of the program and is arguably one of the best to ever take the field at Findlay. The Oilers rank second in the country in both total defense and rushing defense, allowing just 237.7 yards per game and 51.2 yards on the ground per game. No team has rushed for 100 yards against Findlay yet, the first time that has happened through any ten week stretch in program history while the total yards of 2,377 allowed are the fewest through ten games since 1996.

Findlay native Sam Weihruach is the leader on that side of the ball and has been instrumental to its' success all season. Weihrauch ranks 12th among all Division II active players with 272 career tackles and is currently tied for fourth in the G-MAC with 12 tackles-for-loss this year. Fellow linebacker Kevin Henderson has 60 stops this season and is third in the league with 12.5 tackles-for-loss making this duo a real problem for opposing offenses. On the back end, safties Johnny Harris and Jayon Harvey have stepped up when called upon. Harris, who ranks third among DII active players with 185 solo tackles in his career, and Harvey each have a pair of interceptions this year while Harris also has a forced fumble and fumble recovery to his credit.

Offensively, running back Jayden Farmer has been the bell cow, carrying the ball 137 times this year, 67 of which have come in the last three games. He has gained 632 yards and scored a league-leading seven touchdowns. A powerful runner, Farmer has not lost yards in 56 consecutive carries, a streak that dates back to the third quarter of Week 8 against Ohio Dominican.

Quarterback Chase Harrison is 80-for-119 this year for 1,009 yards and nine touchdowns and has done nothing but win in his time at Findlay. His favorite target has been Denny Furlong who has 37 receptions for a G-MAC-leading 711 yards and eight touchdowns. Furlong is two touchdown receptions shy of double-digits which would make him the first receiver at Findlay with ten touchdowns in a season since Jason Moore had 14 back in 2017.
 

About the Opponent – Tiffin Dragons (6-4, 5-3 G-MAC)

As much as records go out the window for a rivalry game, that may be even more true this year than any before in the 34th meeting between the Oilers and Dragons. Tiffin has nothing left to play for this season except for pride, but had a few plays gone differently over the course of the season it would be easy to see this as a Top-25 matchup. TU has a record of 6-4 this year, but all four of those games have been by a single score including a seven-point loss on the road at #1 Ferris State and three-point overtime losses against #20 Ashland and eight-win Northwood. That to say, this four-loss Tiffin team is as talented as any in the conference and would love nothing more than to spoil Findlay's regular-season finale and knock the #8 Oilers from the ranks of the nation's five unbeaten teams.

Tiffin, which has won the last two matchups against Findlay, currently hold the Battle for 224 Trophy after a convincing 37-14 win in Frost-Kalnow Stadium last season. In that game, the Dragons bullied the Oilers to the tune of 480 yards of total offense including 228 yards on the ground, the last time UF has allowed more than 100 yards rushing by a team.

This season, Tiffin boasts the best offense in the G-MAC, scoring 32.4 points per game and is averaging more than 400 yards of offense, 50 yards more per game than Northwood which is second. Much of that firepower comes through the air as the Dragons lead the G-MAC with 277.5 passing yards per game.

In his second year with the Dragons, Alex Johnson is lighting up the competition again this season and is leading the league in every major quarterback statistical category. He has completed 216 passes for 2,763 yards and 28 touchdowns. His passing yards rank ninth in the country while his touchdowns rank fourth. He has thrown his fair share of interceptions, as can be expected when throwing nearly 50 more passes this year than the next closest QB in the league. Johnson has turned the ball over nine times through the air including a stretch of seven INTs in a five-game stretch at the beginning of the year.

Ethan Holbrook is the biggest threat on the outside and accounts for 36 receptions and 500 yards through the air. His 11 touchdown receptions lead the G-MAC and rank sixth in all of Division II this year. Emari White is also one to watch out for as he actually leads the team with 548 receiving yards on 31 catches. He has four touchdowns to his credit while tight end Joey Zalewski has five.

On the ground, Ronald Blackman counters the pass game with a stout rushing attack. The 2024 all-American has carried the ball 133 times for 743 yards, the most in the G-MAC, and averages 5.6 yards per carry. He and backup Tyrese Banks-Dorn each have four rushing touchdowns. Last year against the Oilers, Blackman had a monster performance, rushing 24 times for 220 yards and two scores, averaging 9.2 yards per carry. Blackman ranks sixth among active DII players with 3,025 career yards.

Defensive back Jacob Tueimeh leads the Dragons and ranks second in the G-MAC with 84 tackles. He also leads the league with three forced fumbles and will constantly be around the ball on Saturday. On the defensive line, Khris Walton, Division II's national sack leader last year (13.5) and all-American, againt leads the Dragons with 12.0 tackles-for-loss and 9.5 sacks. Whalton ranks first in the country among DII actives with 1.0 sacks per game, totaling 23.0 in two years for the Dragons.

All told, Tiffin will come to Findlay this weekend with a winning attitude, expecting to upset one of the nation's best in their home stadium. 

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