Coach Rob Keys is entering his third season at the helm of the University of Findlay Oilers, and he is excited about the opportunity to improve upon last year’s 7-3 mark. To do that, he must first figure out who will replace multi-year starting quarterback Clay Belton and Findlay’s all-time leading rusher Monterae Williams. The task will be slightly less daunting, thanks to having the Gordy Lockbaum-esque Seth White back for one more go-round. The senior wideout led the team in receiving last year and moonlit in other offensive positions as well. If that weren’t enough, he handled all of the punting duties and even took the reins as a kicker, connecting on all but one of his 35 combined PAT/FG attempts. White was the team’s second-leading scorer in 2012, and he has a chance this year to become UF’s all-time leading pass catcher.
Nineteen players who started games last year are back this year. The defense should once again be solid, and senior Ray Ballard looks to continue to shore up the secondary as he did from his safety spot a year ago. The defense generated a +9 turnover margin last season, and Ballard and his mates will look to continue that trend in 2013.
The Oilers open the slate with three of their first four games at home. The one road game in that group is a week two trip to Marquette to face an NMU team that was much improved last season and is followed by back-to-back home dates against Saginaw Valley State University and Michigan Technological University. That opening set will certainly season UF prior to its national television date at Ohio Dominican University in week seven and its early November tilt against Ashland University.