Findlay, Ohio – The #14-ranked University of Findlay football team hosted Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) opponent Walsh University on Saturday, Oct. 24 at Donnell Stadium. Facing a Walsh squad that was ranked 25th in the country through the first four weeks of the season, the Oilers stepped up with a dominant 49-3 victory to improve to 7-1 overall and 5-1 in conference play, while dropping the Cavaliers to 4-4 (2-4 G-MAC). It is the tenth straight win in the series against the Cavs and is the 15th time, and the third straight, that the Oilers have started a season 7-1 or better.
Walsh won the coin toss and elected to receive the opening kickoff, immediately showing they were not fazed by the Oilers national ranking. They did so by methodically driving down inside the Findlay 5-yard line on a 13-play opening sequence. However, the Findlay defense held firm when junior Jace Henry intercepted Hayden Wickard's pass in the endzone for a touchback to kill the drive. That turning point swung the early momentum back in Findlay's favor and, it never returned to the team on the opposite sideline.
Findlay's offense immediately capitalized on the turnover, marching 80 yards in just over two minutes and capping the drive with a 7-yard touchdown run from senior Dominic Bennett. After a quick three-and-out that included an 11-yard sack by senior Mason Kucera, senior quarterback Chase Harrison extended the lead to 15-0 at the end of the first quarter with a 1-yard touchdown plunge.
Early in the second quarter, Henry delivered the defining play of the afternoon, jumping a pass from Walsh quarterback Brendan Zurbrugg and returning his second interception of the day 82 yards for a touchdown to blow the game open at 22-0. Henry is the first player in two years to record multiple interceptions in a game.
Sophomore quarterback Andrew Leonard added a 7-yard rushing score before Walsh's Brock Huggins managed a 47-yard field goal just before halftime, keeping the margin at 29-3 heading into the locker room.
The Oilers added two more rushing touchdowns in the third quarter, one by Jordan Mathews and another by Harrison, and a pair of Zachary Barzd field goals in the fourth quarter to comfortably close out the blowout.
Findlay dominated the team statistical battle, racking up 495 yards of total offense compared to Walsh's 292. The Oilers controlled the ground game with 202 net rushing yards to the Cavaliers' 116, and outgained them through the air 293 to 176. Findlay's defense was highly disruptive all afternoon, holding Walsh to 5-of-15 on third-down conversions and forcing three total interceptions and a fumble.
Henry was the standout of the defensive unit, recording five total tackles alongside his two interceptions and 82-yard defensive touchdown. Sophomore Walter Berry paced the defense with a team-high nine tackles, while Mason Kucera contributed a sack and an interception of his own.
Offensively, Harrison efficiently managed the passing attack, completing 8 of 13 attempts for 168 yards while rushing for two touchdowns. Leonard supplemented the air attack by completing 6 of 10 passes for 125 yards and a rushing score. Junior Cameron Wright was the primary deep threat, hauling in three catches for a career-high 120 receiving yards. On the ground, Bennett, who leads the G-MAC in yards per carry, led the rushing attack with 69 yards and a touchdown on just eight touches.
Findlay travels to Thomas More next Saturday, Oct. 31 for a date with the Thomas More University Saints. That contest will kickoff at 12:00 pm in Crestview Hills, Ky.
