'We've still got the standard'

FINDLAY – After the University of Findlay football team completed a 37-17 win over Fairmont State at Donnell Stadium Saturday, Carl Biddings was asked how this year's defense compared to last year.In 2025, the Oilers had one of the best units in the country. This year, Findlay has a new coordinator in Mike Ridings and some new personnel.But Biddings, a fifth-year senior who had three sacks, seven tackles and a forced fumble against the Falcons Saturday, said things are essentially the same."The biggest change is nothing," he said. "We've still got the standard."That standard was on full display against Fairmont State.The Oilers – the No. 10 team in Division II – sacked Falcons quarterback Deven Sisler six times, and had three interceptions in improving to 2-0.The Falcons – who also had some unforced errors – had 10 fumbles and lost one.In spite of all that, the game was far closer than the final score may indicate.The Oilers grabbed a 14-0 first quarter lead on a 24-yard touchdown run by Christian Davis, and a 38-yard rainbow from quarterback Chase Harrison to receiver Delon Hurt.UF took a 21-3 advantage just before the half, when a 73-yard run by Dominic Bennett set up another Harrison-to- Hurt TD, this one for 8 yards.But Findlay's offense struggled to get going. Owen Clevenger – a Findlay High grad –punted seven times, and the UF defense was on the field for 78 plays in the game. "Our defense is playing too many plays right now," said UF head coach Tyler Johns. "We've got to do a better job sustaining offensively, getting them off the field."And on a muggy afternoon, the Fairmont offense was finally able to break through, with some help from its special teams.A third quarter punt from Clevenger – from his own end zone – was partially blocked, and was downed at the UF 33.With 5:32 left in the third, Sisler hit Cole Vonkaenel on a 7-yard TD pass. The extra point failed, but the Falcons were within 21-9.After another Findlay punt, Fairmont State was on the move again, going on a 10-play, 57-yard drive that continued into the fourth quarter.With 10:58 remaining in the game, Sisler connected with Vonkaenel again, this time on a 19-yard strike to the end zone.This time, the Falcons went for two, and – after a roughing the passer penalty gave them a second shot at the conversion – Elijah Tidwell carried the ball into the end zone to make it 21-17. "We had felt like the momentum had started to shift a little bit," Johns said.Biddings felt it, too."After they scored that one touchdown, I came back to the tent, gathered the guys and told them, 'We've got to win.'" Biddings said. "'It starts with us, it finishes with us.'"After the Oilers ensuing offensive drive stalled – forcing another punt – the defense had a chance to finish things.A Falcon miscue helped that cause.Starting their drive at their own 20 with 8:55 on the clock, a bad shotgun snap got behind Sisler, and forced the quarterback to fall on the ball back at the three.Facing a second and 27, Fairmont ran the ball twice and sent out their punter, Ethan Vargo-Thomas.Waiting to return the kick was Findlay's Cameron Wright, who fielded the ball at his own 42, made a couple of moves, and then took off down the near sideline, shaking off one final tackle attempt before falling into the pylon for a touchdown."It was a big momentum changer for us," Wright said. "I just saw a bunch of good blocks. Our punt return team is amazing …. I just saw an open hole and took it."The 58-yard return put Findlay back in front 28-17, and energized what had become an anxious home crowd."Good teams find a way," Johns said, "and great players certainly find a way to make the plays to put ones like this to bed."But the Oilers weren't done.After Fairmont State had another bad snap that resulted in a safety and pushed UF's lead to 30-17 with 6:10 remaining, Bennett added the exclamation point, taking a handoff and dashing 47 yards to the end zone.Bennett finished with 123 yards on 10 carries. Davis had 74 yards on 15 rushing attempts, and Hurt ended with six catches for 81 yards.The big plays were there for the UF offense, but the overall consistency was not."We were able to generate some explosive plays, and that's always good to see," Johns said. "I think for us it's going back and finding how we can be more consistent in what we do."Harrison completed 12-of-23 passes for 131 yards. He had the two touchdowns to Hurt, but was also intercepted by the Falcons Demarcus Daniels in the first half. He was sacked once.Backup QB Andrew Leonard was in for a bit and completed 1-of-2 passes for 4 yards.Findlay also had eight penalties for 67 yards.Johns said there is plenty to work on before next Saturday's Great Midwest Athletic Conference opener at Kentucky Wesleyan."We're gonna look internally first and look at the things we have to do to get better," Johns said. "We've got to find a way to run the ball more consistently. It's two weeks in a row where we've generated some big ones, but the consistency has to show up."The consistency certainly showed up on defense. Findlay's Elijah Shankle delivered two sacks, while Findlay High graduate Luke Weihrauch registered six tackles and an interception. Riley Caldwell and Da'Mon Thomas also recorded picks for the Oilers.Christion Stokes made 13 tackles, Jon Slaper had 12, and Josh Woods made eight stops, two for a loss."I love the d-line, I love the linebackers, I love the DBs," Biddings said. "We're all a unit. We're all gonna make plays, we're all gonna miss plays, but it's all about the next play. That's what we did to secure the win."That's the standard. Fairmont State 0 3 6 8 -- 17 Findlay 14 7 0 16 -- 37 FIRST QUARTER UF -- Christian Davis 24 run (Zachary Barzd kick) UF -- Delon Hurt 38 pass from Chase Harrison (Bard kick) SECOND QUARTER FAIR -- Emmanuel Richardson 34 field goal UF -- Hurt 8 pass (Barzd kick) THIRD QUARTER FAIR -- Cole Vonkaenel 7 pass from Deven Sisler (kick fails) FOURTH QUARTER UF -- Cameron Wright 58 punt return (Barzd kick) FAIR -- Cole Vonkaenel 19 pass from Deven Sisler (Elijah Tidwell run) UF -- TEAM SAFETY UF -- Dominic Bennett 47 run (Barzd kick)