Findlay, Ohio – It took a half to get things rolling, but on Saturday, Oct. 18, the University of Findlay football team, ranked No. 16 in the country, did what it was supposed to do, earning a dominating 28-0 victory over the Kentucky Wesleyan Panthers in Donnell Stadium. The win keeps the Oilers unbeaten at 7-0 (5-0 Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC)) while KWC remains in search of its' first victory, heading back to Owensboro, Ky. with an 0-7 (0-5 G-MAC) record. Findlay improves its' record to 9-0 against the Panthers, all-time.

The first half was a slug fest as the Panthers showed some fight, forcing a punt on Findlay's first drive.

After consecutive possessions ended via interceptions, the Oilers and Panthers continued their stout defensive play, ending the next three drives with punts and a fourth with a turnover on downs.

When it looked like scoring might be a struggle, a breakthrough final came midway through the second quarter when defensive lineman Braden Watson got pressure on the quarterback, tipping a pass up the middle at the line of scrimmage. That pass was intercepted by linebacker Justin Finkbine who raced 72 yards for the first score of the game, the longest interception return for a touchdown since Christopher Jefferson went 92 yards to the house back in 2021.

Leading 7-0, Findlay's offense found its' stride in the second half, scoring on the opening drive on a four-play, 70-yard march that was capped with a 23-yard touchdown pass from Chase Harrison to Mitch Nielsen.

A quick three-and-out was forced by the Oilers defense on the next possession, one of six three-and-outs forced in the game, and the offense took advantage, using eight plays to drive 53 yards for a score, a four-yard rush by Jayden Farmer.

Following that score, Findlay's defense forced a fourth and six on which the Panthers, in desperation mode, ran a fake punt, picking up a first down. It was the first conversion allowed by the Oilers this season as they were one of just two teams in the country to have not allowed a fourth down conversion.

Early in the fourth quarter, a two-yard touchdown run by Farmer made the score 28-0 and put things out of reach for KWC, which has now not scored a touchdown in four consecutive games.

While the offense executed efficiently, it was Findlay's defense that defined the day. The Oilers held Kentucky Wesleyan to just 13 net rushing yards, the fewest allowed in a game by Findlay in two years, and just 151 total yards. It marked the fourth time this season the defense, which ranked third in the country in rushing defense coming into the game, has held an opponent under 50 rushing yards.

Senior Johnny Harris and Sam Weihrauch led the defense with five tackles each. Harris had an interception while Weihrauch recorded a tackle-for-loss. Sophomore Kevin Henderson, sophomore Jon Slaper, and senior Londyn Claxton each had two TFL for Findlay which recorded 13 as a team in the game, the most this season.

Jayden Farmer was the leading rusher for UF, carrying the ball 13 times for 57 yards and two scores. Sophomore Christian Davis had 41 yards on 11 carries while sophomore Cameron Wright had one carry for 45 yards, the first carry of the second half that sparked the Oilers' offense.

Findlay's schedule starts to ramp up on Saturday, Oct. 18 when the Ohio Dominican Panthers come to town. Kickoff for that game is set for 12:00 pm.