Listen HereBy: Dylan DeWitt
Email: Dewittd@findlay.edu
Twitter: @dd_witt
Every year, the NCAA Divisional II Don Hansen Football Committee decides who will be on the list for their efforts on the field. The list is made up of the “small college” football teams and the players of those that have demonstrated their excellent efforts on the gridiron. For the Findlay Oilers, this year the list contained five individuals on the team. Sophomore Brian Benson, sophomore Kyle Gibson, junior Neal Davis, junior Logan Bailey, and senior Cyle Skidmore were named to the list.
Brian Benson was a second team region honoree playing out of the backfield, but was named an All-American as well for his outstanding efforts. He helped the Oilers own the top rushing attack in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference. Benson had a total of 963 yards on the ground, and an average of 107 yards per game rushing while sprinkling in 16 touchdowns throughout the season. His biggest games came in the games against Walsh, Malone, and Alderson Broaddus. In these games, he went on to average 205 yards and score an average of over three touchdowns in these. One of his biggest accomplishments was his record breaking average of yards per carry that was previously set by teammate Daouda Sylla last season. Benson averaged 7.4 yards per carry.
Kyle Gibson, the Newark, Ohio native and defensive end starter for the Oilers this season was able to have a total of 51 tackles to go along with his 7.5 sacks on the year. A Defensive Player of the Week honoree will look to take this honor and get ready for the next season with another expected outstanding performance.
The final three recipients of the all-region honors came with Neal Davis, Logan Bailey, and Cyle Skidmore. The lineman up front that helped lead the offense to 494.2 yards per game in total offense and almost 3,000 yards on the ground were both named to the second-team all-region team. These two, Davis at Center and Bailey at left tackle, were a part of the ninth ranked best line as they only allowed seven sacks total all season. This accumulated to 0.63 sacks a game. Davis was also an Academic All-American. Lastly, Skidmore rounded out the award winners on the year for his performance at defensive end. The senior from Bucyrus. Ohio tied Gibson for second in the conference with 7.5 sacks on the season and had a total of 13.5 tackles for a loss.
The five recipients helped lead the Oilers to an 8-3 year with one of the best offenses in the nation. The Oilers will look to take the offseason by storm and prepare for another exciting and honoree filled list next season.
