October 15th, 2026 9:00am
From findlayoilers.com
Coming off a hard-fought 7-6 victory over rival Ashland, the University of Findlay football team faces another tough test this weekend as they travel to Michigan to take on the red-hot Hillsdale College Chargers. Both teams enter the matchup with just one loss on the season, with each falling to No. 10-ranked Northwood, and currently sit tied for second in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) standings. Hillsdale has been making noise this season, earning votes in this week's AFCA Division II Coaches Poll for the first time in five years. With both teams looking to strengthen their position in the conference race, Saturday's matchup carries significant weight. The two teams will square off at Hillsdale on Saturday, Oct. 17, with kickoff set for 1 pm.
The Series
Findlay holds a slight advantage in the all-time series against Hillsdale, leading the Chargers with a 17-16-1 record. The Oilers have dominated the matchup in recent years, posting an 8-2 record over the last 10 meetings and winning each of the last four contests. Hillsdale's most recent victory over Findlay came on Oct. 23, 2021, when the Chargers edged the Oilers 34-29.
#16 Findlay Oilers (3-0, 1-0 G-MAC)
Coming off a hard-fought defensive battle, the Oilers escaped with a 7-6 victory over rival Ashland last Saturday. In a game where points were hard to come by, Findlay found the end zone in the fourth quarter on a receiving touchdown from Jakar Williams to secure the win. The Oilers struggled to get their passing game going and instead leaned on running back Dominic Bennett, who led the team with 119 rushing yards on 18 carries while adding a team-high 56 receiving yards on three catches.
Findlay's offense averages 31.7 points per game this season and will look to get back on track this week against Hillsdale. The Oilers have relied heavily on their ground game, averaging 169.2 rushing yards per contest, the second-highest mark in the G-MAC behind the Chargers. Leading the way is the tandem of Bennett and Christian Davis. Bennett is averaging 7.4 yards per carry and has totaled 393 rushing yards on the season, while Davis has added 382 yards on the ground at an average of 5.4 yards per carry.
On the defensive side, Findlay continues to excel at shutting down opposing rushing attacks. The Oilers limited Ashland to just 78 rushing yards on 2.8 yards per carry and rank second in all of Division II, allowing just 2.01 yards per rush this season. Leading the way for the Oilers are linebackers Josh Woods and Jon Slaper, who have been instrumental in the team's defensive success. Woods was all over the field against the Eagles, recording a team-high 12 tackles, including one tackle for loss. He ranks second on the team with 37 tackles and third with 6.5 tackles for loss. Slaper continues to anchor the defense, recording his first collegiate interception against Ashland while leading the Oilers with 45 tackles and ranking second on the team with seven tackles for loss.
About the Opponent - (Hillsdale 5-1, 3-1 G-MAC)
The Hillsdale College Chargers are hitting their stride at the right time, entering Saturday's matchup against Findlay riding a three-game winning streak. The Chargers are 4-0 at home this season and are receiving votes in the AFCA Division II Coaches Poll for the first time in five years. With momentum on their side and a chance to make a statement in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) race, Hillsdale will look to continue its strong stretch against the Oilers.
On offense, the Chargers are led by junior dual-threat quarterback Eli Boyce, who is coming off the first G-MAC Offensive Athlete of the Week award of his career. In last week's victory over Walsh, Boyce completed 20-of-35 passes for 267 yards and two touchdowns while adding 133 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground. His ability to make plays with both his arm and legs has made him one of the conference's most dangerous offensive weapons.
Wide receiver and kick returner Shea Ruddy provides another explosive threat for the Chargers. The All-American has recorded 29 receptions for 418 yards and four touchdowns, leading the team in all three categories. Ruddy is also a proven game-changer on special teams, owning six career kickoff return touchdowns, a school and conference record, while also holding the conference's all-time record for kickoff return yards. The combination of Boyce and Ruddy has helped fuel a Hillsdale offense that leads the G-MAC with 29 touchdowns and averages 433.5 yards per game.
Defensively, the Chargers are anchored by edge rusher Drake Badger, who has recorded 23 career sacks, the seventh-most in program history. Badger has totaled 26 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss this season, continuing to be a disruptive presence along the defensive front. In the secondary, fifth-year defensive back Ryan Niksa has also made an impact, recording five pass breakups and a forced fumble this season.