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By: Dylan DeWitt
Twitter: @dd_witt
Coming into the contest in Big Rapids, Michigan, the Oilers were coming off a victory against Kentucky Wesleyan which saw a defense only allow less than 100 yards of offense to the Kentucky Wesleyan football club. They were hoping to take that aggressive play style into the game this last Saturday. However, it was a different team they would go up against, and would need their “A” game to take down Ferris State on their home turf where they have continued to be successful when playing there over the years.
The game began just where they had left off with stellar defense to hold the Bulldogs to a three and out drive resulting in a punt. The punt went up and away, but the Oilers were unable to successfully recover the punt. Upon the turnover, the Bulldogs were able to capitalize on the mistake to take the first score of the game and go up 7-0 early in the first quarter.
The first half was where the home team would show their strengths on offense against a tough defensive opponent in the Findlay Oilers team. The half would come to a close with the Oilers going into the locker room down 24-0.
The Oilers would see their first points in the game come in the third quarter after a Richard Wilson touchdown run. The Oilers would need a big fourth quarter in order to pull off the come from behind victory over the Bulldogs.
However, the Bulldogs continued to show their teeth and tack on more touchdowns. As the clock began to come to a close, the Oilers were able to close the deficit a little bit with a touchdown pass from Adam Bertke to Peter Norris. It would not be enough to make up the 45-point deficit when the clock ended. The final score ending in a 59-13 victory for the #9 Ferris State Bulldogs.
Although, another high yardage performance from the offense, the Oilers were outmatched in this column in a difference of 545 to 340 in favor of the Bulldogs. On the offensive side of the ball, the Oilers saw yards from the grounds crew in Demondre Blanks and Michael Campbell and through the air from Rhys Gervais and Adam Bertke.
On the defensive side, the Chiebuka Chukwuneke led the defense of the Oilers in tackles with 12, and right behind him fellow seniors Justice Jenkins, and Francis Cutchember tallied 11, while Myles Ross, and Isaac Miles were able to record 10 a piece. Tyler Lee had the lone takeaway for the Oilers defense.
The Oilers will look to prepare for their home opener this upcoming Saturday, Sept. 15 against William Jewell College. The contest is set to begin at 1:00 p.m. at Donnell Stadium. The William Jewell team are coming off a contest against the defending National Champions in Texas A&M Commerce in which the game ended in a 27-17 contest favoring the #1 team in the nation, the Texas A&M Commerce Lions. Both teams will look to shake off loses against top 10 teams in the nation and return to their winning ways.
