The Game
The 125th season of Findlay Oilers football begins on Saturday, Sep. 5 in Indianapolis, Ind. with a marquee matchup with the #9 Greyhounds of the University of Indianapolis. It is the second-consecutive season that the Oilers have opened with UIndy, defeating the 17th-ranked Hounds last year in Findlay to begin the year. This will also be the last time these two teams meet as non-conference opponents as the Greyhounds will join the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) next season. Kickoff for Saturday is set for 2:00 pm.
The Series
This is the 18th meeting between the two schools. Indianapolis (Indiana Central prior to 1986) is 11-6. Findlay won last year's matchup by a score of 38-35 in Findlay, Ohio.
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Follow the Action
Video streaming of the contest will be produced by Indianapolis and streamed on the GLVC Network.
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#15 Findlay Oilers (0-0, 0-0Â G-MAC)
2026 Findlay Football Coaching Staff
It's a new era of Findlay football in 2026 as Tyler Johns has taken the reins as head coach. The Oilers are coming off of a historic season in which the team set an NCAA program record for regular-season wins with 10, won an NCAA top-25 matchup for the first time in program history, won a share of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) title, and went on to host an NCAA Playoff game for the first time.
With all that success, however, the end of the year left a sour taste in the mouth of the players who remain on the field. A gut-wrenching loss to Tiffin in the Battle of 224 ended the regular season followed by a loss in the first round of the playoffs. The team made a leap last year, gaining lots of national attention for its' record-setting regular season, but this year still plays with a chip on its' shoulder, wanting to prove it can take yet another step this season.
The Oilers are ranked 15th heading into the first game of the year and return a bevy of talent, especially on the offensive side of the ball. Senior starting quarterback Chase Harrison returns for his second year as the signal caller after throwing for 1,331 yards and nine scores last season. His backup, sophomore Andrew Leonard, is no slouch. Leonard came in when Harrison was injured last year and threw for 783 yards and nine scores in six games.
In the trenches, the Oilers offensive line returns plenty of talent as senior Anson Cox, senior Ethan Lane, junior Bryon Faith, junior Nick Bormuth, and junior Gavin Miller all return. Between them, those five have played in 111 games for UF.
On the ground, junior Christian Davis and senior Dominic Bennett will carry much of the load. Davis was the second-leading rusher last season, running for 415 yards and four touchdowns, picking up 4.0 yards per carry on the year.
All-conference and D2Football.com Preseason all-American receiver junior Denny Furlong leads a talented ground of wide receivers that includes junior Brennan Remy and fifth year Delon Hurt. Furlong broke out last season, catching 44 passes for 811 yards and eight scores while Remy was second on the team with 25 receptions for 332 yards and a touchdown.
Findlay faced a large departure of talent on the defensive side of the ball, mostly due to graduation, but does return some key pieces that will play critical rolls in 2026. A unit that was one of the best in the country last season, the Oilers' defense will be led by all-region performer, senior defensive back Christion Stokes who is the top returning tackler from last year and a D2Football.com Preseason all-American. Junior linebacker Jon Slaper and defensive lineman Carl Biddings Jr., D'Andre Wright, and Braden Watson are among the most experienced players returning and will be called on to lead that side of the ball.
About the Opponent – #9 Indianapolis Greyhounds (1-0, 0-0 GLVC)
One of the premier athletic programs in the country, the University of Indianapolis enters the 2026 season holding the #9 ranking in the national polls. Coming off a dominant 2025 campaign, the Greyhounds captured another Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) championship and broke through in the NCAA DII Super Region 3 Playoffs, winning their postseason opener for the program's first playoff victory since 2018 before falling in the second round. Now sitting comfortably inside the top 10, up from their #17 ranking when these two teams met last season, UIndy looks to build on its momentum in a high-profile matchup against Findlay.
The Greyhounds kicked off their 2026 campaign in Week 0 on August 27, hosting crosstown rival Marian University in the fourth installment of the "Monumental Matchup." UIndy controlled the contest from start to finish, cruising to a commanding 39-7 victory at Key Stadium. The 32-point blowout served as an impressive opening tune-up, showcasing a re-tooled offense and a smothering defense that surrendered just a single touchdown.
The central story for the Greyhound offense this fall is the transition at quarterback following the graduation of three-time GLVC Offensive Player of the Year and 2025 Harlon Hill runner-up Gavin Sukup. Junior transfer Nick Patterson (Saginaw Valley) earned the starting job after a competitive fall camp. A 6'2", 225-pound dual-threat playmaker from nearby Mooresville, Indiana, Patterson steps under center supported by one of the nation's most formidable ground games. The backfield features the two-headed monster of Garrett Sherrell and Juseters Fataki, who combined for over 1,500 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns last season while averaging nearly eight yards per carry. Up front, the offensive line returns proven leadership in All-GLVC selections Tyler Leopold, a D2Football.com Preseason Elite 100 First Team pick, and Keiveion Anderson, along with senior Jacob Newlin.
Patterson also has plenty of explosive weapons at his disposal in the passing game. All-conference wideouts Anthony Crowell and Kaleb Carver lead a seasoned receiving corps alongside breakout candidates Giovani Laurent and Taylor Clark. At tight end, redshirt junior Colton Wilkie leads a deep unit alongside Cole Bennett and a fully healthy Luke Chambers. Crowell double-dips as one of the country's most dynamic special teams weapons, returning as the reigning GLVC Special Teams Player of the Year after ranking third nationally in punt return average last fall. Sophomore Andrew Herron returns to handle the placekicking and punting duties.
Defensively, UIndy returns high-impact playmakers across all three levels. The unit is anchored by nickel linebacker Alvin Contreras, a D2Football.com Preseason Elite 100 selection who registered eight tackles for loss, a team-high five interceptions, and three defensive touchdowns last season. Inside linebackers Jerrell Franklin Jr. (79 tackles in '25) and TJ Cothron provide physical play in the box. The secondary features all-conference safety Eli Liapis, another Preseason Elite 100 honoree, paired with Mario Williams and Eastern Kentucky transfer Kevin Ford at corner. Up front, veteran linemen Julian Dandridge, Wrigley Franklin, and Davon Watson are joined by DuPage transfer and NJCAA All-American Dontay Fort to form a deep, disruptive front line.
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