#13 Bulldogs Bite Oilers
The University of Findlay football team fell 49-21 to 13th-ranked Ferris State University on Saturday, Oct. 4 in Big Rapids, Mich. The loss gives the Oilers a 3-2 record on the season with a 2-2 mark in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).
After a scoreless first quarter, senior quarterback Verlon Reed hit red-shirt freshman tight end Anthony Federico for a 4-yard touchdown pass and catch to give the Oilers a 7-0 lead with 12:48 remaining in the half.
The Bulldogs would then answer on the ensuing possession to tie the game before taking a 14-7 lead at the break.
Ferris State opened the second half with a 99-yard kick return for a touchdown, but the Oilers answered the score with a touchdown of their own when senior quarterback Jesse Slone found red-shirt sophomore linebacker Dylan Hirzel for a 2-yard score on a fake field goal play. The touchdown closed the gap to seven at 21-14 with 9:17 to play in the third quarter.
The Bulldogs would extend their lead back to 14 when James Vander Laan plunged in for a 1-yard touchdown and added another score early in the fourth quarter to make the score 35-14 with 11:34 remaining in the game.
Trailing by a 35-14 margin, the Oilers went 73 yards down the field and capitalized when Reed scored on a 1-yard run. Senior defensive back Feraris Golden then forced a fumble on the Bulldogs next possession, but Reed threw an interception that was returned 90 yards for a score.
The Bulldogs would tack on another score late in the fourth quarter for the final margin.
Reed completed 18-of-28 passing attempts for 191 yards and a score while sophomore wide receiver Luke Hampton hauled in two passes for 83 yards.
Sophomore wide receiver Dylan Blunk had five catches for 45 yards, senior wide receiver Lloyd Henry caught five balls for 43 yards and freshman running back Chauncey Bridges accumulated 58 rushing yards on 12 attempts.
Senior safety Harold Jones-Quartey led the defense with 17 tackles and a forced fumble while senior linebacker Eric Palmore-Lett made ten stops.
Senior defensive end Kevin Brewton pounced on two fumbles while senior linebacker Zach Matracia made eight tackles.
The Oilers will return home to host Walsh University next Saturday at noon in Donnell Stadium.