The Tiffin University football team kept the theme of breaking records going on Tuesday, earning a program high 11 All-GLIAC selections including Antonio Pipkin being named GLIAC Player of the Year, Coach Gary Goff being named GLIAC Coach of the Year, and the programs' first-ever multiple First Team All-GLIAC selections.
Coach Gary Goff led the Dragons to their most wins in the GLIAC ever, and their most overall in a decade. Tiffin finished 8-3 overall and 7-3 in GLIAC play, finishing 2nd in the GLIAC South, the highest finish in program history. This is the first GLIAC Coach of the Year award for both Goff and Tiffin. Coach Goff is the first coach since 2006 to win a postseason coaching award. Goff's team not only improved record wise, but made leaps forward statistically. Defensively, Tiffin allowed 67 less points than a year ago, allowing teams only 22 points per game. Offensively, the Dragons averaged over 31 points per game, committing only 11 turnovers, the fewest Tiffin has ever committed in its 30 year history.
Antonio Pipkin has accomplished almost everything in his Tiffin career, earning a 1st team All-GLIAC selection and GLIAC Player of the Year award. The Dragons' quarterback holds seven Tiffin University career records, and is the GLIAC all-time leader in completions, passing attempts, passing yards, and plays. Pipkin has thrown for 9671 yards in his GLIAC career, completing 870 passes on 1369 attempts. Pipkin also cleared 2000-yards rushing this past season, being only the 3rd quarterback in NCAA Division II history to throw for at least 10,000 yards and rush for 2000 yards. He is 2nd all-time in GLIAC history in total offense, amassing 11,749 yards on 1851 career plays. In the NCAA Division II record book, Pipkin is 13th all-time in total offense with 13,147 yards, 27th all-time in passing yards with 10,940, and is 19th all-time in total offense per game with a 298.79 yard average. This is the 4th All-GLIAC selection for Antonio, which included last seasons' GLIAC Back of the Year Award.
Junior wide receiver Charles Holland also earned a 1st team All-GLIAC selection, hauling in 77 passes for 1129 yards and 11 touchdowns. Charles led the Dragons in all receiving categories, averaging 102.6 yards per game. Holland finished the season 12th at the NCAA Division II level with 1129 receiving yards, 17th in yards per game, 13th in receptions per game, and 25th in receiving touchdowns. In the Tiffin University record book Holland trails only one former player in most receiving categories - Nate Washington, who spent 12 seasons in the NFL. In the GLIAC record book, Charles needs 515 more yards to climb inside the career top 10 list. This is the second All-GLIAC honor for Charles, as he was a 2nd team selection last year.
Mason Butler, a two time All-GLIAC Honorable Mention selection, took a step to the next level this season in earning a 2nd team selection. Mason led an offensive line that helped the Dragons' ground game improve by 439 yards. The offensive line protected their valuables as well, allowing ten less sacks this season than in 2015. Staying in the trenches, just flipping to the other side, defensive end Willie Mays III earned an All-GLIAC 2nd team selection. The defensive lineman led Tiffin in sacks (6.5), tackles for loss (14.5), and led all defensive lineman in tackles (50). Stefan Willis was also a 2nd team selection, leading the Dragons in passes defended and pass breakups. Willis finishes his TU career with 13 interceptions, the 3rd highest total in Tiffin history.
Tiffin had six All-GLIAC Honorable Mention selections, starting with Ridge Tarwacki. The young offensive lineman was a mainstay up front, grading the road for the Dragons to rush for 915 yards in their final three games. For the first time in his career, Jerry Brown earned a GLIAC postseason award. Brown has carried the ball 371 times in his career, gaining 1833 yards. Jerry ranks 5th all-time in carries and yards in the Tiffin record book.
Linebacker Morgan Loyd collected his second honorable mention selection in as many seasons. Loyd finished this season with 57 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, and an interception. Jacob Mertus led Tiffin in total tackles with 85 and assisted tackles with 47. Mertus, earning his first GLIAC award, played in all 11 games, recovering a fumble and snagging 3.0 tackles for loss.
Tiffin had two in the defensive secondary earn honorable mention citations, Shawn Scott and DeJvion Edwards-Steward. Scott led the Dragons with three interceptions, and finished with a combined 11 passes defended. Edwards-Steward was a battering ram in the defensive secondary, collecting 77 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and a team high 43 solo tackles. It is the first GLIAC award for both Scott and Edwards-Steward.