The Game
Findlay started the season 3-0 but ran into a red-hot Northwood squad last Saturday to suffer the first loss of the season. The schedule does not lighten up as the Oilers turn around with a tough inter-conference road test on Saturday, Oct. 3 with a trip to Ohio Dominican University. Kickoff is set for noon in Columbus, Ohio.

The Series
The University of Findlay enters the matchup looking to narrow a 5-9 all-time series deficit against Ohio Dominican across 14 meetings dating back to 2010. For nearly a decade, the Panthers held the upper hand in the rivalry, handing Findlay a seven-game losing streak between 2012 and spring 2021. That difficult stretch featured major defensive struggles and high-scoring losses for the Oilers, most notably a 63-31 defeat in 2012, allowing ODU to take control of the head-to-head history.

However, Findlay has completely flipped the script in recent years, entering on a three-game winning streak against Ohio Dominican from 2023 to 2025. That momentum was highlighted by a 27-20 comeback win at Donnell Stadium on October 25, 2025, where the #14 Oilers erased a fourth-quarter deficit with 13 unanswered points.

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#16 Findlay Oilers (3-0, 1-0 G-MAC)
2026 Findlay Football Coaching Staff

While the 34-11 Homecoming defeat to Northwood was a frustrating night at Donnell Stadium, it serves as a slight bump in the road rather than a season-defining loss. Sitting at 3-1 overall and 1-1 in Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) play, the Oilers still hold their fate in their own hands. Every primary objective Findlay set before the season, competing for a G-MAC championship, securing an NCAA Division II playoff berth, and making a postseason run, essentially remains intact and ahead of them barring one of three teams in the league; Northwood, Tiffin, or Walsh, going the remainder of the year undefeated.

Findlay's offense has been electric through the first month of the season, averaging 35.5 points and 397.8 total yards per game. Ground production has been a pillar of that success, with the Oilers posting 175.5 rushing yards per contest at a efficient 5.5 yards per carry alongside 222.3 passing yards per game.

Quarterback Chase Harrison leads the aerial attack, completing 60.0% of his passes for 775 yards, 9 touchdowns, and only 1 interception. He is anchored by a dynamic backfield tandem in Dominic Bennett and Christian Davis. Bennett leads the team with 269 rushing yards on 7.9 yards per carry, while Davis has added 266 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns, highlighted by an 85-yard touchdown burst against Indianapolis. Out wide, Julian Johnson leads the deep-threat attack with an explosive 27.6 yards per reception, while wideouts Denny Furlong Jr. and Cameron Wright provide Harrison with versatile targets downfield. Cameron Wright has also given Findlay field position advantages, averaging 15.1 yards per punt return, including a 58-yard touchdown return against Fairmont State.

Defensively, the Oilers have been stout, allowing just 15.3 points and 263.0 total yards per game. Opponents have found virtually no room on the ground, averaging just 83.0 rushing yards per game and 2.3 yards per carry. Linebacker Jon Slaper leads the team with 33 tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss, while defensive back Christion Stokes has added 26 tackles. Up front, the Oilers' pass rush has logged 14 sacks and 39 tackles for loss, spearheaded by defensive lineman Carl Biddings (4.0 sacks, 4.0 TFLs), D'Andre Wright (team-high 6.0 TFLs), and Elijah Shankle (3.0 sacks, 5.0 TFLs). This unit is picking up nearly 10 tackles-for-loss per game which is tied for the top mark in the country.

About the Opponent – Ohio Dominican (2-2, 1-1 G-MAC)

The Ohio Dominican Panthers have had a flair for the dramatic in the early stages of the season, catching the attention of the college football world in Week 0 with a shocking triple-overtime upset victory over Moorehead State. They followed that up by taking their next game into triple overtime as well. Now sitting at 2-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play, ODU is finally preparing for its first home game of the season this Saturday in Week 5. After a grueling month on the road, the Panthers look to take advantage of some time on Sunbury Road as the meat of a challenging G-MAC slate begins.

Offensively, Ohio Dominican operates a balanced attack that puts up 27.0 points and 348.5 total yards per contest. The Panthers utilize a diverse ground game that churns out 160.0 rushing yards per game. Nathan Webster leads the backfield with 199 net rushing yards, closely followed by Mekhi Jenkins with 170 yards. Quarterback Carson Parker adds a dynamic rushing element to the offense with 132 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, while Roderick Love has been highly efficient when his number is called, averaging 5.3 yards per carry.

Through the air, Parker commands the offense with 754 passing yards and eight touchdowns, averaging 188.5 yards per game. His primary targets on the outside have been highly productive, with Conner Campbell and Luke Hess commanding the majority of the opposing secondary's attention. Campbell averages a robust 15.0 yards per catch, hauling in 15 receptions for 225 yards and two touchdowns. Hess serves as the volume leader with 17 catches for 224 yards and a team-high three receiving touchdowns.

While the Panthers' defense is surrendering 30.25 points and 429.8 total yards per game, they possess a distinct knack for taking the ball away. The secondary has been highly opportunistic, intercepting eight passes over four games. That effort is spearheaded by Treyton Schroeder's three picks and Sean Westmoreland's two. The tackling efforts are anchored by a busy back seven, with Gabe Pence leading the defense with 38 total tackles. Harlee Hanna and Mason Welsch follow closely with 37 and 35 tackles, respectively, with Welsch also pacing the team with 4.5 tackles for loss.

Generating pressure in the backfield has been a collective effort, with Dominik Richardson leading the charge via two of the team's six total sacks. If the defense can tighten up against opposing yardage and the offense continues to lean on its balanced attack and red-zone efficiency, the Panthers have the firepower and the experience to be a highly dangerous factor in the conference standings.

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