Listen Here
By Andrea Hoffman
hoffmana1@findlay.edu
Fresh off one of the most significant victories in the NCAA era of the program, the University of Findlay football team turns its attention to a rivalry matchup with major postseason implications. The Oilers are ranked No. 8 in the nation, No. 2 in the region, and the season stands, so far, at 10-0 overall and 8-0 in conference. But the numbers don’t mean that much to a coach who is just looking at what is front of him.
“Tiffin is an outstanding football team,” UF head coach Kory Allen said on Oiler Outlook. “We understand that. We know that.”
The Battle of 224 marks the last home match-up for the final regular season game when the Oilers square off with the University of Tiffin Dragons. Coach Allen thinks the key to finishing off the season is doing what the team has done all year.
“The message to the team is just to prepare,” Allen said. “As we’ve watched them (Tiffin) and prepared all week on film, you know – this is a very good football team. We need to be ready to play our style of football on Saturday in Donnell.”
The season for the Oilers started facing a nationally ranked team in the opener, No. 17 University of Indianapolis, and a 38-35 win. They’ve never looked back. Each week has brought new challenges; injured quarterbacks, a freshman QB that stepped in and shook up the opponents, the return of QB1, a hard-core running game, and stout defense.
Last week, Findlay went on the road and took down then-No. 15 Ashland University 14-3, a win that clinched at least a share of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference title and secured the league’s automatic berth into the NCAA Division II Playoffs. It marked the Oilers’ first victory at Ashland in 19 years and their first Top-25 win in the American Football Coaches’ Association (AFCA) Coaches Poll era.
“I think the thing that impressed me most is that we didn’t get rattled in certain moments,” Allen said. “That we played together. Things didn’t always go our way, but the fight and the grit that our guys showed was impressive.”
There have been a few key words floating around the team this year according to some of the players. One is “underdog.” A term sure to inspire some push-back. And the phrase “prove it,” every week challenged to prove they earned their new ranking.
“Ashland was a huge win for us players and coaches and an even bigger win for the program,” said Stokes. “We still have something to prove.”
The win pushed Findlay up one spot to No. 8 in the latest AFCA Poll and kept the Oilers at No. 2 in the Super Region III rankings, positioning the team for a potential home playoff game if it maintains a top-four finish. Findlay is one of only five undefeated teams remaining in Division II.
Saturday’s victory was powered by a dominant defensive effort. The Oilers forced four turnovers, held Ashland to just 84 rushing yards, and didn’t allow a touchdown. Sophomore safety Jayon Harvey sealed the game with a red-zone interception in the final minutes, while senior leaders Johnny Harris and Christion Stokes combined for two forced fumbles.
“We talked about what travels well, you know, when you play big games on the road. And we said what travels well is physicality,” Allen said. “What plays well in November is a physical style of play, and that’s what they brought.”
Offensively, Findlay relied on a heavy ground attack, rushing the ball 49 times and controlling the clock for more than 35 minutes. Senior running back Jayden Farmer punched in a one-yard score early in the second quarter, and junior quarterback Chase Harrison connected with Brennan Remy for another touchdown to build a 14-0 lead.
The play of the game came on special teams, when junior punter Owen Clevenger blasted a conference-record 86-yard punt from his own endzone, shifting the momentum and flipping the field late in the first half.
Now, the Oilers look to carry that momentum into their most emotionally charged game of the season. Tiffin enters the finale fighting to improve its position in the regional picture and spoil Findlay’s perfect season. The Dragons have historically played the Oilers tough, and the rivalry routinely brings out high energy on both sidelines.
“Our biggest challenge is not getting complacent; we can’t go into this game thinking we’re just better,” Stokes said. “We have been prepping for this game like we do every other game. We can’t get comfortable just because of our win last week.”
For Findlay, a win would secure the program’s first undefeated regular season since 1997 and strengthen its case to host a first-round playoff game.
“We have another opportunity to prove it. Proving it’s not about getting a piece of hardware or anything like that. Proving it as a physical style of play, a mindset, and that’s something that we need to carry into this Saturday,” Allen said.
Kickoff is scheduled for noon at Donnell Stadium. The NCAA Division II playoff bracket will be announced Sunday, Nov. 16.
*Correction: This story was updated on Nov. 14 to correct the kickoff time from 1 p.m. to noon and to correct the team record.
