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| #27 Oilers Head To #24 Cardinals This Saturday |
 Senior Melvin Jackson The University of Findlay football team (7-2, 6-2), sitting outside the top-25 poll at 27th, will be on the road this Saturday, October 31 to face 24th ranked Saginaw Valley State University (7-2, 6-2). The Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) contest is scheduled to begin at 12:00 p.m. in University Center, Michigan. Sights and Sounds All Oilers football games can be heard on 100.5 FM “WKXA” or on the internet via their web site. A link to this process can be retrieved by clicking on the listen live icon on the WKXA site at www.wkxa.com. In addition, all Oilers football games can be heard on 88.3 FM “WLFC”. For more information about WKXA, please click on the following link: 88.3 FM “WLFC” will also carry games on the internet. You can listen to the broadcast by clicking on the following link: The University of Findlay will also broadcast all of their home football games on B2 Networks. The games can be viewed on your computer for a small fee by visiting B2’s website at the following address: UF athletics will also offer live stats for all home games. A link to this process can be retrieved by clicking on the live stats window located on the left side of the Oilers athletic website. The Series The Oilers currently trail in the all-time series against Saginaw Valley State 7-2 dating back to the 2000 campaign when the Cardinals defeated Findlay 31-6. The Oilers two wins over Saginaw Valley State came via forfeit during the 2005 and 2007 seasons. Last season, the Cardinals defeated Findlay 17-9 at Donnell Stadium. Anthony Lanzara threw for 241 yards, completing 22-of-49 passes while Mike Chambers hauled in seven receptions for 95 yards. Defensively, Joe Knopick led the team with 14 tackles Jesse Kontras chipped in eight. Head Coach Jon Wauford Jon Wauford is currently in his third season as the head coach of The University of Findlay football team and has his squad off to a 7-2 start in 2009. Last year, Wauford guided Findlay to a 2-9 record with a 1-9 mark in the GLIAC. Six of the nine losses came by eight points or less. In his first season as a head coach, Wauford led the Oilers to a 5-6 record with a 4-6 mark in the GLIAC. A forfeit by Saginaw Valley State University gave Wauford the fifth win on the season and the fourth in the GLIAC. In 2006, Wauford served as the Oilers assistant head coach and defensive coordinator under Dan Simrell. A native of Findlay, who did his undergraduate studies at Miami University and graduate studies at UF, Wauford became the 27th head coach in the history of Findlay football with his new appointment. Wauford began his coaching career at UF when he served as the outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator from 1995-98. While at Findlay, he helped guide the Oilers to the NAIA Division II national championship in 1995 and the NAIA national title in 1997. In 1999, Wauford headed to Miami University where he served as the defensive line coach and special teams coordinator before being promoted to defensive coordinator at the start of the 2000 season. He helped guide the Red Hawks to a four-year record of 27-19, including a Mid-American Conference mark of 22-10 and two second place finishes in the East Division. In addition, Wauford was responsible for recruiting Findlay High School and current Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, the 2003 Mid American Conference Player of the Year, NFL Rookie of the Year and two-time NFL Super Bowl champion , to Oxford in 2000. After his stop in Oxford, Wauford gained valuable experience coaching and teaching at the high school level as the offensive and special teams coordinator at Clinton (Iowa) High School in 2003. He also was a special education teacher during his time in the Clinton City Schools. From there, he went to Kent State University, where he served as the defensive line coach and defensive run-game coordinator during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. For Findlay's 2009 coaching staff, please click on the following link: The Oilers The Oilers came up with a 9-6 win at home over Northern Michigan University last Saturday. Junior kicker Cameron Stevens booted three field goals and drilled a 44-yard attempt with just over three minutes to play to seal the victory. Senior running back Melvin Jackson led the offense with 96 yards on 18 carries while freshman running back Monterae Williams gained 69 yards on 15 carries. Defensively, senior linebacker Joe Knopick led the team with 15 tackles while Kontras added eight. Senior defensive lineman E.J. Whitlow, sophomore defensive lineman Brandon Cornell and senior defensive back Anthony Fields each had seven stops apiece. Whitlow added a sack and a forced fumble, Cornell racked up a pair of sacks, a forced fumble and three quarterback hurries while Fields made 1.5 tackles for a loss and broke up two passes. Sophomore defensive back Ikechi Emeaghara also had a great game, making six tackles to go along with a pair of sacks, a fumble recovery and a break-up. For Findlay's 2009 season statistics, please click on the following link: For Findlay’s 2009 roster, please click on the following link: Saginaw Valley State Head Coach Head coach Jim Collins is currently in his second year at the helm of the Cardinals football program and has his team off to a 7-2 start. Collins spent 11 seasons at the helm of Capital University, turning around a football program that had not enjoyed a winning season since 1991 prior to a 7-3 finish by the Crusaders under Collins in 2001. He finished with an overall record of 66-51, setting school marks for victories in 2005 (10) and again in 2006 (11), and concluded the 2005-07 seasons ranked 5th, 3rd, and 15th nationally. His teams were eliminated from the playoffs by the eventual national champion each time. Collins has ties to the state of Michigan, having served as a graduate assistant at Central Michigan University from 1989 to 1990. In 1991, Collins took over as the offensive coordinator at Illinois Wesleyan University, where he helped lead the team to its first ever birth in the NCAA playoffs. From there, Collins took his first head coaching job at the University of Dubuque (Iowa), where he coached from 1994 to 1996 before taking over at Capital. The Cardinals The Cardinals defeated Michigan Technological University 38-28 last Saturday in Houghton, Michigan. Xavier Walker became the first Cardinal running back to have over 100 rushing yards in one game this season. Walker would end the game with 111 rushing yards and one touchdown. Charles Dowdell completed 8-of-19 passes for 146 yards and a score while also rushing nine times for 60 yards and two touchdowns. Galen Stone added three receptions for 74 yards. The SVSU defense was led by John Jacobs, who racked up 13 total tackles and 2.5 tackles for a total loss of nine yards. Mike LeVand added nine tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss of one yard while Carlton Downs tallied seven tackles and broke up one Michigan Tech pass. For Saginaw Valley State’s 2009 season statistics, please click on the following link For Saginaw Valley State’s 2009 roster, please click on the following link: GLIAC Special Teams Player Of The Week Junior kicker Cameron Stevens was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday, October 26 after accounting for all nine points in the Oilers’ 9-6 win over Northern Michigan on Saturday, October 24. Stevens hit on field goals of 19, 24 and 44 yards in the game. His 44-yard blast came with just over three minutes remaining in the game, giving the Oilers the victory. Defense...Defense...Defense The Oilers have been tough to score on in 2009 as they are only giving up 15.8 points per game to their opponents. The mark ranks third in the GLIAC and 13th in the nation. In addition, the Oilers currently rank fourth in the GLIAC and 41st in the nation in total defense, allowing only 306.6 yards per game. Findlay has proven to be quite successful against passing attacks, allowing only 159.1 yards per game through the air thus far. The total ranks third in the conference and 22nd in the nation. Picking Off Passes The Oilers currently rank first in the GLIAC in interceptions, forcing 12 so far. The total is also the 36th best nationally. Senior defensive back Anthony Fields and sophomore defensive back Ikechi Emeaghara have each accumulated three picks on the season, a total which ranks second in the GLIAC. Racking Up Receiving Yards Senior wide receiver Mike Chambers is off to quite a start for the Oilers and leads the GLIAC in receiving yards per game at 97.3. His yards per game is also the 15th best mark in all of NCAA Division II football. On the season, Chambers has caught 47 passes for 876 yards and seven touchdowns. His 5.2 receptions per game is also the fourth best mark in the GLIAC. The school record for receiving yards in a season at Findlay is 1,018 set by Derek Hutchinson during the 1986 campaign. Last season, Chambers finished with a school record 74 receptions, racking up 915 yards in the process. Tough In The Red Zone The Oilers currently rank first in the GLIAC in red zone defense, allowing only 16 scores in 25 chances. They have also forced four turnovers in the red zone and have five lost possessions to their credit. Forcing Turnovers Overall, the Oilers +15 advantage in the turnover column is the top mark in the conference and the third best in NCAA Division II football. Grinding Away The Oilers are averaging 173.2 rushing yards per game, good for sixth in the GLIAC and 44th in the nation. They are being led by freshman running back Monterae Williams who currently ranks fourth in the GLIAC and 33rd in the nation in rushing yardage per game at 88.6. On the season, Williams has rushed 183 times for 797 yards and six touchdowns. Airing It Out The Oilers currently ranked fifth in the GLIAC in passing yardage per game at 198.8. They are being led by senior quarterback Andrew Beam who ranks fifth in the GLIAC at 187.1 passing yards per game. Beam has thrown for 1,684 yards and ten touchdowns this season and his efficiency rating of 136.0 ranks fifth in the conference and 43rd in the nation. Tackling Machine Senior linebacker Joe Knopick currently ranks third in the GLIAC and 12th in the nation in tackles per game at 10.8 and has registered a team-high 97 stops on the year. 3 Points Junior kicker Cameron Stevens has made 11 field goals on the season, the second highest total in the GLIAC as well as the 18th best in the nation. His 31 career field goals at Findlay is the best in school history. Dominating The Ball The Oilers currently rank second in the GLIAC and 15th in the nation in time of possession, controlling the ball for 32:36 per game. Fumble Party Senior linebacker Joe Knopick has pounced on five fumbles this season which ranks first in the GLIAC and third in the nation. In addition, sophomore defensive lineman Brandon Cornell has forced three fumbles, also the best mark in the GLIAC. The total ranks 27th nationally. Getting After The Quarterback Sophomore defensive lineman Brandon Cornell currently leads the team and ranks fifth in the GLIAC with 5.0 sacks on the season. Senior linebacker John Williams checks in ninth in the conference with 4.0 sacks. Batting Down Passes Senior defensive back Anthony Fields currently ranks second in the conference and 24th in the nation with 12 passes defended. In addition, sophomore defensive back Ikechi Emeaghara ranks fifth with eight deflections while sophomore defensive lineman Brandon Cornell is tied with Emeaghara, playing one more game to go along with his nine pass deflections. Booming Punts Freshman punter Brian Schmeidebusch currently ranks second in the GLIAC in punting, averaging 41.1 yards per attempt. GLIAC Defensive Player Of The Week Senior linebacker Joe Knopick was named the GLIAC Defensive Player of the Week for the first time in his career on Monday, September 28. Knopick earned the honor with 17 tackles and one fumble recovery in the Oilers 14-0 win at home over Northwood University on Saturday, September 26. AFCA/NCAA Division II Poll 1. North Alabama - 9-0 Others Receiving Votes: Shippensburg (Pa.), 43; Findlay (Ohio), 41; Washburn (Kan.), 35; Colorado School of Mines, 14; Wingate (N.C.), 14; Mars Hill (N.C.), 9; Shaw (N.C.), 3; Arkansas Tech, 1; Wayne St. (Mich.), 1. Super Regional 3 Overall Record, NCAA Division II Record 1. Minnesota Mankato - 9-0, 9-0 The top six teams in the regional poll at the end of the season will qualify for the NCAA Division II playoffs. For complete NCAA Division II football statistics, please click on the following link: For information about the American Football Coaches Association, please click on the following link: For more information about NCAA Division II football, please click on the following link: For more information on the GLIAC, please click on the following link: |
