Leonard connects with Furlong on 3 TD passes, UF downs Walsh

NORTH CANTON – Quarterback Andrew Leonard and wide receiver Denny Furlong were quite a combination Saturday for the University of Findlay football team against Walsh.The Oilers – ranked No. 21 in Division II – improved to 5-0 with an impressive 31-10 win over the previously-undefeated Cavaliers.Leonard and Furlong were big reasons why.Leonard – who made his first start in last week's win over Thomas Moore – didn't start against Walsh; he replaced Chase Harrison late in the first quarter.The freshman from Olentangy Liberty went on to connect on 11 of 12 passes for 172 yards and three touchdowns.All three of those TD throws went to Furlong, and two came in the second quarter.The Cavaliers scored first.Walsh took the lead after a fumble by UF running back Jayden Farmer. The Cavaliers' Chris Jones recovered at the Oilers 28 and returned the ball to the 13.The Cavaliers cashed that miscue in for points on the first play of the second quarter, when quarterback Cole Norris ran seven yards for a score and a 7-0 lead.The Oilers answered with a 7 ½ minute, 75-yard march. On the drive's 12th play, and facing a fourth down and 7 at the Cavaliers' 23, Leonard found Furlong deep over the middle for a 23-yard score. That tied the game at about the halfway point of the second quarter.The Oilers defense then forced a punt, and Leonard and the UF offense went back to work, driving inside the Cavaliers 30 as the clock hit two minutes.After the timeout, Leonard hit Furlong again, this time deep down the left side for a 29-yard touchdown.Findlay went to the break up 14-7.UF then took the third quarter kickoff, and used a big play from Leonard and Furlong. This time it was a deep pass down the right side for a 51-yard touchdown, putting UF up 21-7.Furlong finished with eight catches for 156 yards. He also had an 18-yard run.The Oilers added to the lead late in the third after Walsh muffed a punt. Christian Davis took a handoff from the shotgun and ran 15 yards to the end zone.That was more than enough for the Findlay defense, which allowed the Cavaliers just 37 rushing yards. The Oilers forced a pair of fumbles, recovering one, and UF's Johnny Harris intercepted Norris, returning his pick 47 yards.Londyn Claxton had a sack for the Oilers.In the final 11 minutes of regulation, the team's traded field goals: The Cavaliers Jarrad Kerekes connected from 30 yards, and the Oilers' Zachary Barzd converted a 35 yarder.Norris finished 20 of 37 passing for 181 yards. Hayden Wickard – and Elmwood High graduate who played in all four of the Cavaliers' game at quarterback, did not play.Findlay High graduate Sam Weihrauch made a team-high six tackles for UF, one for a loss. Harrison went 4 of 6 passing for the Oilers, and was intercepted once.The Oilers will be back home next Saturday for homecoming, when play Hillsdale at Donnell Stadium.Kickoff is at 2 p.m.