Leonard, Oilers sail to 4-0

FINDLAY – Putting all the pieces together. For the first time since 2021, The University of Findlay would have the feel of a Friday night football game, as they played at night and under the lights. UF remains undefeated; they took down Thomas More University 37-7 at Donnell Stadium Saturday in Great Midwest Athletic Conference play. "It's pretty easy when you put all the pieces together," freshman quarterback Andrew Leonard said. "We had one of our other key players back tonight and we have so many pieces that we can move around on the line and you have to utilize the guys." "I am just proud of the next man up mentality," Oilers coach Kory Allen said. "They were playing for the name on the front of the jersey and the back. I am proud of the team effort tonight." UF (4-0, 2-0) took the early lead when Leonard found Delon Hurt in the end zone on a 12-yard pass six minutes into the game. Zachary Barzd's 19-yard field goal put the Oilers up 10-0, but Thomas More answered, pulling within 10-7 on a 10-yard pass from Chase Crone to Cameron Williams on the first play of the second quarter.The rest of the game belonged to the Oilers.Barzd kicked two more field goals – from 37 and 21 yards – and Hurt's second TD reception from Leonard, an 11-yarder with 1:08 on the clock, put UF up 23-7 at the half."That's a belief in our kicker and a belief in our defense," said Allen on the decision for the field goals. "We needed to put points on the board and that was more important than trying to go for a touchdown at that point. We didn't want to get selfish. We knew he could knock it through and he stood tall."Jayden Farmer, one of five UF backs with five or more carries and 20 or yards rushing, capped a six-play, 46-yard drive with a 5-yard TD run in the third quarter.Leonard, who would complete 13-of-22 passes for 176 yards, then fired his third scoring pass of the night, a 55-yard strike to Denny Furlong with 2:16 left in the third period.UF complemented Leonard's 176 passing yards with 218 yards on the ground. Dominic Bennett led the Oilers with 60 yards on 13 carries. Leonard rushed for 53 yards, Adam Nuns had 42, Farmer 35 and Walee Johnson 20."I was proud of them for establishing that ground game early," Allen said. "We challenged our running backs, tight ends, and full backs to get in rhythm and get that lead early. Anytime you can put points on the board early on, you can play free."Hurt made eight receptions for 55 yards and two scores. Furlong finished the day with 104 yards on four catches including the one score in the third quarter.Next week, the Oilers will be on the road at Walsh University and look to continue their undefeated streak. The game is set to kick off at 1 p.m.The message from Allen following Saturday's win was simple:"What we did tonight proved it, and proved we can do it," Allen said. "We will enjoy it tonight and then move on. We have to get back to work Monday and get ready to prove it next Saturday."Added Leonard"Games are won Monday through Friday, not just when we are on the field."