September 6th, 2025 7:00pm
Findlay, Ohio – The University of Findlay football team opened up the 2025 campaign with a statement 38-35 victory over the No. 17 University of Indianapolis Greyhounds on Saturday, Sep. 6 in Donnell Stadium. That win is the second consecutive season-opening win for UF which starts the year 1-0 while UIndy, which defeated NAIA Marian University in Week 0, falls to 1-1.
Saturday is the first win against a top-25 team since 2018 and the first home win against a ranked opponent since 2009.
"I'm just so proud of our guys. We wanted to come out and prove it today and we did. It didn't go our way all the time but we just kept fighting", said head coach Kory Allen following the win.
Scoreless through one quarter, Saturday's contest, the first between the two schools on the gridiron since 2011, was a slugfest early with the teams combining for just 105 yards of offense through the first 15 minutes.
UIndy's second offensive series resulted in the game's first score. An interception led to a field goal, putting the visitors ahead 10-0 with 6:32 to play in the first half.
An end around to senior Bryan Hunt would produce the first score of the year for the Oilers as the standout wide receiver took off for a 34-yard rushing touchdown. But, managing the clock well, the Greyhounds used nearly two minutes and found the endzone to take a 17-7 lead with just 53 seconds left in the half.
Then the momentum completely flipped.
On third and eight from the UF 37, junior Dominic Bennett broke free for a 53-yard rush all the way to the UIndy ten. A couple of plays later, senior Jayden Farmer punched it in from a yard out, scoring a touchdown with 18 seconds remaining.
The ensuing kickoff resulted in a forced fumble by junior Justin Finkbine which was recovered by freshman Elijah Engleman at the 38-yard line of Indianapolis. With eight seconds to play, junior quarterback Chase Harrison tossed the ball to the right corner of the endzone and Bryan Hunt made the contested catch, ultimately leading to a 21-17 halftime lead for the Oilers which, less than a minute earlier, faced a ten-point deficit.
After a field goal to begin the second half, UIndy forced a quick three-and-out. Its' next possession would come up fruitless thanks to an errant snap that sailed 22 yards downfield.
Findlay took advantage, capping the next possession with a touchdown to senior Tristan Cross, who now has three combined touchdown receptions in his previous two season-openers.
Leading 28-20, the game was far from decided, a critical possession change came when senior Sam Weihrauch tipped a pass that was then intercepted by sophomore Kevin Henderson. That turnover led to a field goal and an 11-point lead for UF.
UIndy scored a touchdown to stay in the game and, with less than three minutes to play, had the Oilers in a third and 11 situation deep in UF territory. Harrison, making his first start for the Orange and Black, scrambled around and found junior Denny Furlong who made a tremendous leaping catch to pick up 29 yards and a first down.
The first play after the two-minute timeout was the icing on the cake, 65-yard touchdown run by sophomore Christian Davis. That score put the Oilers ahead 38-28 and, despite a late touchdown by UIndy, this Saturday belonged to Findlay.
Findlay outgained UIndy 427-to-341 and dominated on the ground, rushing for 272 yards while holding the Hounds to just 86.