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...And The Beat Goes on at Oil City...
Kelly Malek photo
District 10 champs!!!
Oilers score by safety, fumble recovery, QB sneak
to take out previously invincible McLane, 16-14
Nursing that two-point lead, Cole Findlay's 26-yard scramble on third-and-25 from his own 38 with 1:23 left sealed the deal. And he was just trying to get a couple for a decent punt. But plans change.
“I found a lane and kept running. I got a good block from my receiver on the outside and was just able to keep getting more yards," Findlay told The Derrick's Joe Sager. “Once I realized I got the first down, I knew we’d win the game, for sure.”
Four plays later, including two victory formations, the Oilers were posing for pictures and celebrating their first district title since 2020 and their fifth overall. They were greeted on their return to town with a hero's welcome. Since that game on Nov. 1, the Oilers have been prepping for an interdistrict game, which is set for 7 p.m. Friday against Punxsutawney at the Oil Field. (Photo and video by Jeff Uveino of the Erie Times News. )
OILERS
The Oilers have scored 48 touchdowns this season, and Cole Findlay and Steven Heise have had a hand in 39 of them. Plus, seven different receivers have been the recipients of Findlay's 15 TD passes, Landon Baker (9) leading the way with six.
Blues Brothers...
All-Time Total Offense
the Unsung héroes...photo by Kelly Malek
These are the Oiler linemen who have labored in obscurity all season -- never, for the most part, "getting their names in the paper," as the saying goes.
54 Ashton Wagner, 5-11, 233 Sr.
61 Lucas Wolfe, 5-8, 265, Jr.
57 Carson Foster "centering the trophy," 5-10, 230, Sr.
76 Deryk DeLong, 6-0, 197 Jr.
67 Dominic Carson, 5-11, 330 Jr.
83 Caleb Sparks, 6-2, 234, Sr.
defense rose to the occasion against Lancers
(Photos by Kelly Malek)
Caleb Sparks (83), Tycen Sindlinger (44) and My'Saun Mills (partially hidden) react to the action, presumably a pass; Brayden Buzard ready just in case.
After making some big plays his last two home games, senior linebacker Brayden Buzard (43) kept it up against General McLane with a 42-yard fumble return for a touchdown to go with eight tackles, 3 TFLs and a blocked field goal. He returned an interception 43 yards for a TD against Warren on Oct. 10, and then made two sacks totaling 18 yards against Franklin on Oct. 17.
There were a lot of tackles to be made against McLane and My'Saun Mills, Spence Singleton and Blake Stevens (middle) led the way. Mills and Stevens made 12 apiece (100 on the season) and Singleton added 10. Stevens was credited with the safety. He pressured the QB on the throw that was called intentional grounding. And in addition to his interception, Steven Heise made nine tackles and defended four passes. (Findlay slapped away three). Tycen Sindlinger (44) matched Buzard with eight stops. Other stat sheet tidbits: Abdul Stanton the only sack plus seven tackles and a TFL, Noah Lucarelli (26) and Caleb Sparks two tipped passes apiece. Lucarelli had the other of the six TFLs. Sparks' turnover was listed as a pick, not a fumble recovery. (Photos by Kelly Malek)
The kicking game has been solid with sophomore Landon Riley who handles kickoffs and has nailed 25 extra points and junior Logan Heath, who is averaging 35.1 yards per punt.
Oilers in the playoffs
4A state playoffs: The big picture
Oil City Football Parents Facebook page
This is not your father's Punxsutawney. The Chucks are 10-1 for their first 10-win season since 2011. In fact, they've endured losing seasons in 11 of the last 14 campaigns before this one, including an 0-10 in 2019.
Their victory Friday night ended a 1-16 drought against Clearfield, a team they hadn't beaten since 1998. The average score during that time was 37-9 in favor of the Bison.
Oddly, though, Punxsy does lead the all-time series -- which dates back to 1924 -- 46-43-3.
Anyhow, the Oilers will take on Punxsy Friday for the right to move on in the PIAA Class 4A playoffs against the WPIAL champion, either McKeesport or Aliquippa.
This is the tuba the late Jim Self gifted the Oil City Music Dept. May he rest in peace.
The Dope on the Chucks
QB -- Maddox Hetrick (5-9, 175, Sr.) 106/169 passing 1,649 yards 17 TDs, 5 INTs; 76/500 rushing
RB -- Jordan Rutan (5-8, 170, Sr.) 172/1,071 rushing, 15 TDs, long 81
Receivers -- Logan Moore (5-10, 180), 57/762; Beau Thomas (6-2, 225, TE, Sr.) 38/570, 12.3 tackles per game, 336 career tackles
Kicker -- Sophomore Owen Roken booted a school record 44-yard field goal.
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Thomas is a two-time, two-way D-9 Football League All-Region 1 selection. He was named at fullback in 2024, tight end this season and linebacker both years.
Other first teamers this season: T Adam Muth (5-11, 265), WR/DB Moore, RB Rutan, PK/P Roken
Honorable mentions to Hetrick (QB) and DT Breydon Trithart (6-1, 230).
Rutan (RB), Moore (WR-S), Trithart (DL) and Hetrick (CB) were first team in 2024. Roken was honorable mention punter as a freshman.
Punxsutawney
OIl City vs. Punxsutawney
2001 -- Oil City 21, Punxsutawney 14 (Jon McGraw's fourth-down, 13-yard pass to Tim Reinsel snapped a 14-14 tie...Chucks were on the 6 when the game ended.
2000 -- Oil City 27, Punxsutawney 0 (Senior first team All-Conference OG/DE Doug Hutchinson was a four-year starter for the Oilers)
1999 -- Oil City 57, Punxsutawney 13 coming off their first D-10 title, game marked season opener for the Oilers; Adam Best two picks 6s, Kevin Kresinski also had one
1983 -- Punxsutawney 14, Oil City 6 (Oilers were 1-9 that season, scoring only five TDs; only first team All-Conference player was punter Matt Socha
(Background photo by Kelly Malek)
MEANWHILE, IN OHIO...
Kirtland 41, Wickliffe 3
John Silvestro scored five touchdowns in Kirtland's 41-3 victory over Wickliffe on Nov 7 to reach Ohio's Class VI Region 21 semifinals.
Silvestro was named offensive Player of the Year and was one of 13 Hornets -- including Jake LaVerde -- picked to the Northeast Lakes All-District team.
KNIGHTS
(File photo Tammy Curry)
Caden Mincer ran for 249 yards on 35 carries in Franklin's 34-12 decision over Lakeview on Oct. 24 and was named Jim Kelly Player of the Week by D9and10sports. com. The junior is the fourth Franklin player to run for more than 2,000 yards. He finished the season with 1,065 yards. Mincer scored three touchdowns. Seniors took care of the rest of the scoring: Jayden Wilmoth returned a kickoff for a touchdown, blocking back Evan Steigerwald scored on a 22-yard run and Connor Ritchey kicked four extra points during the Senior Night game. The big linemen in the picture are senior (78) Jake Riddle (6-2, 285) and junior (76) Aaron Moore (6-6, 340.)
200-Yard Rushing Games
(File photo by Tammy Curry)
Jayden Wilmoth returned a kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown in the Knights' victory over Lakeview. The 5-7 senior, listed at 5-4 in 2024, caught 30 passes for 419 yards the last two years.
Senior Evan Steigerwald's duties mainly are blocking back, but against Lakeview he broke loose for a 22-yard TD once he got one of his rare carries. This photo from earlier in the season shows him protecting then quarterback Freddie Blackhurst. Blackhurst had an interception and stopped a two-point conversion Friday. (File photo Richard Sayer)
(File photo Tammy Curry)
Although stats are not available for the North East and Erie games this season, Connor Ritchey otherwise punted an astounding 80 times the last two years for a 36.5-yard average.