The Game
Findlay is 4-0 to start a season for just the third time since the program joined NCAA Division II and has climbed to #21 in the country in the latest AFCA Poll. Saturday is a battle of the only two remaining unbeatens in the G-MAC as the Oilers take their perfect record to North Canton for a game against the 4-0 Walsh Cavaliers. Kickoff is set for 1:00 pm.
 
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Tickets
Tickets for Game at Walsh
 
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Video streaming of the contest will be produced by Walsh and streamed on FloCollege.
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#21 Findlay Oilers (4-0, 2-0 G-MAC)
2025 Findlay Football Coaching Staff

The  #21 Oilers enter week five an impressive 4-0, the second year in a row they have reached this mark and just the third time since joining the NCAA.  The Oilers will be traveling to North Canton to take on Walsh University, another 4-0 team.  For the Cavaliers, this is the first time they have opened up a season 4-0 since 2010.

Making his first collegiate start at quarterback last week was Andrew Leonard.  The true freshman was solid, going 13-22 through the air with 176 yards and three touchdowns.  Leonard was also able to use his legs, gaining 46 yards on the ground including a long of 22 yards.

The Oilers would have a strong day rushing, averaging five yards per carry.  Junior Dominic Bennett would lead the way, rushing for 60 yards on 13 carries.  Freshman Adam Nunes made the most of his opportunities, picking up 42 yards on just five carries.

In his first game back from injury, Delon Hurt would shine.  The graduate student would end the game with two touchdown receptions.  He would finish with 55 reception yards on eight catches.  Denny Furlong would continue his impressive start to the season, finishing with four catches for 104 yards and a touchdown.

Like he has his whole career, Sam Weihrauch was stout on defense.  The senior would lead the team with six tackles, including one TFL.  Weihrauch now has 28 total tackles on the year including 4.5 TFLs.  Junior Braden Watson would have his best game of the year, recording a sack to go along with a season high four tackles in the game against Thomas More.

Kicker Zachary Barzd was a perfect 3-3 in his field goal attempts last week, including a long of 37 yards in the second quarter.  The freshman is now 6-7 in his attempts this season.

About the Opponent – Walsh (4-0, 2-0 G-MAC) Steady improvement has become the defining trait of the John Fankhauser era at Walsh, and in 2025, that progress is more evident than ever. Since joining NCAA Division II in 2010, the Cavaliers have endured 14 consecutive losing seasons, but this fall, they've flipped the script. For the first time since that inaugural DII campaign, Walsh is off to a perfect 4-0 start and stands as one of just two unbeaten teams in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC). With a top-two offense and defense in the league, the Cavaliers are not a team to overlook. This year's squad is built to compete, and every time they take the field, they're proving they belong among the conference's elite.

Walsh leads the conference in rushing offense, averaging 172.3 yards per game, and ranks third in rushing defense, giving up only 61.8 yards per contest. The Cavaliers have outscored opponents 114-39 through four games and have posted 15 total touchdowns. Their 38-point performance against West Liberty in Week 0 is tied for the second-highest single-game scoring output by any G-MAC team this season.

Quarterback Hayden Wickard has been a driving force behind the offensive surge, currently holding the second-best efficiency rating in the league at 151.5. He's thrown for 647 yards and 8 touchdowns without an interception. Running back Jake Gill ranks second in the G-MAC with 353 rushing yards on 64 carries, averaging 88.3 yards per game and 5.5 yards per attempt. Gill also leads the team in total touchdowns with three and posted a season-high 116 rushing yards against Wheeling.

Defensively, senior safety Marvin Conkle has emerged as a leader in the secondary. A G-MAC Second Team selection in 2024, Conkle has already recorded 21 tackles (14 solo), 1 tackle for loss, 2 pass breakups, and a quarterback hurry through four games. His nine-tackle performance against Ohio Dominican helped seal a 14-7 win and showcased his ability to anchor a defense that has allowed just five touchdowns all season.

Walsh's defense has also tallied 8 sacks, 5 interceptions, and 18 pass breakups, while holding opponents to just 303.8 total yards per game. The Cavaliers have been efficient on third down (46%) and have controlled possession with an average time of 30:34 per game. Special teams have contributed as well, with a kickoff return average of 29.7 yards and a perfect 15-for-15 mark on extra points.

Looking ahead, Walsh faces a challenging slate of G-MAC match ups, beginning with a home showdown against Findlay on October 4. The Cavaliers will then travel to Tiffin and Lake Erie before returning home for Homecoming against Thomas More on October 25.

The regular season wraps up with games against Ashland, Hillsdale, and Northwood—each with potential playoff implications. With a balanced offense, a disciplined defense, and standout performers like Wickard, Gill, and Conkle, the 2025 Walsh Cavaliers are no longer a rebuilding story, they're a rising force in the G-MAC and a team to watch as the season unfolds.
 
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