The Oilers return some real firepower on the offensive side of the ball, bringing back their top passer, rusher, and receiver. Quarterback Rhys Gervais returns for his final season as an Oiler, compiling 2,835 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and 236 completions. Gervais averaged 257.7 passing yards per game and completed 62.4 percent of his passes. In two games against the Dragons, Gervais has completed 46 passes for 683 yards and eight touchdowns. Gervais has never thrown an interception against Tiffin, and has completed 57% of his passes. Alongside Rhys, he will have senior running back Chauncey Bridges. Last season Bridges led the Oilers in carries with 218, rushing yards with 1,229, and touchdowns with eight. Chauncey carried the ball 20 times against Tiffin last year, rushing for 174 yards. Another running back to keep an eye on is Daouda Sylla. In 2016, Sylla rushed for 592 yards on 113 carries, and scored five touchdowns. On the perimeter lurks one of the most explosive wideouts in the nation. Jason Moore, a preseason All-American, hauled in 71 passes for 1,115 yards and 15 touchdowns. Moore averaged 101.4 yards per game, and last season against Tiffin he caught six balls for 108 yards and a touchdown. Airon Kosak is another wide receiver the Oilers will rely on. Kosak caught 36 balls for 472 yards and a touchdown. As a team, Findlay was one of the most prolific offensive teams in the nation, averaging 456.5 yards per game. On a per game average, the Oilers outgained the opposition by 70 yards.

 

Findlay surrendered 26 points per game last season, ranking 8th in the GLIAC. The Oilers rush defense was 5th best in the GLIAC last year, allowing 149.5 yards per game. Opponents scored 39 total touchdowns last season, with 59% coming on the ground. In the air, Findlay's defense surrendered 236.8 yards per game and 16 touchdowns. The Oilers accumulated only 13 turnovers last year, recovering seven fumbles and picking off six passes. Chiebuka Chukwuneke is the top returning tackler for Findlay, collecting 55 stops in 2016. On the defensive line Justin Ellis is a threat to both ball carriers and quarterbacks. The sophomore collected 6.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in only seven games. At linebacker, Isaac Miles is the top returner for Findlay. The 230- pounder finished with 45 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. Opponents had success in the red zone, scoring 78% of the time when entering. The majority of those scores were touchdowns, with 63% of red zone trips ending with a touchdown.

 

Coming off their best season in a decade, the Tiffin University football team will have to replace one of the most decorated players in program history in signal caller Antonio Pipkin. Tiffin, posting an 8-3 mark in 2016, returns a large contingent of players on the offensive side of the ball, including a pair of running backs that combined for 1,079 yards and seven rushing touchdowns. The offensive line remains intact for Tiffin, needing to replace only one man up front. The offensive line, plagued by injuries last season, allowed 10 less sacks than in 2015. At receiver, the Dragons are loaded with talent and experience. Don Hansen All-American Charles Holland returns for his final season after hauling in 77 balls for 1,129 yards and 11 touchdowns a year ago. Davon Johnson, Jalen Santoro, and Tyler Denton accompany Holland on the outside, a group that accounted for 19 of Tiffin's 25 receiving touchdowns last year. The quarterback competition is one to keep an eye on. Senior Jihad Vercher and redshirt freshman Nick Watson are two contenders for the spot. Vercher was the second string quarterback last year, with Watson learning from the sidelines.

 

On the defensive side, the Dragons will have to replace some talent up front. With the departure of Willie Mays III and Jalen Randolph, Tiffin will have to replace a combined 88 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks from last season. Tiffin brings back a combination of youth and experience in the trenches, leaning heavily on seniors Vinny Jones, Austin Jasper, and Victor Cave. Tiffin's main focus on the recruiting trail was depth in the defensive trenches, and they believe they've got it. The Dragons have some work to do at linebacker, returning only one player that registered 20 or more tackles. Jacob Mertus is that one player, leading Tiffin with 85 stops. Mertus, a sophomore, registered 3.0 tackles for loss, broke up and defended three passes, and forced a fumble on his way to an All-GLIAC recognition. In the defensive secondary, Tiffin lost a combined 51 tackles and five interceptions in the form of Stefan Willis and Shawn Scott. The Dragons have ample amounts of depth to recoup what graduated. Carrington Contee is a ball hawk for the Dragons, hauling in a team high three interceptions last year. Ross Moore is an interesting piece to the puzzle for Tiffin, playing a hybrid linebacker and defensive back position. Moore logged 26 tackles, 2.5 TFL's, 2.0 sacks, and intercepted two passes, and Jawan Nelson recorded 45 tackles and an interception.

 

 

 

Tiffin University Career Top 10

Receptions – 170 - 4th all-time – needs 57 to be the all-time leader

Yards – 2343 – 3rd all-time

Touchdowns – 27 – 2nd all-time

Scoring – 27 - touchdowns 5th all-time

Points – 162 – 8th all-time

 

GLIAC Career Records within reach

Receiving Yards – 2177 – Needs 515 to move into 10th all-time

 

 

Receptions – 162 – 5th

Yards – 1810 – 5th

Kickoff Returns – 55 – 4th

Kickoff Return Yards – 1237 – 5th

All Purpose Yards – 3137 – 9th