All facets of the Tiffin University football team were tested in the Spring Game, with the Green side edging the Gold team 31-17.
Special teams were up first, as Owen Courtright booted field goals for both sides to start the scoring, kicking a 25-yarder for the Green team and a 35-yarder for the Gold team.
The first turnover of the game resulted in immediate points, as defensive back Robert Williams picked off Jihad Vercher's deflected pass and raced 47 yards to pay dirt, giving Gold a 10-7 lead. The Green team responded with a lengthy drive that saw two Brock Fargus passes find Brandon 
Patterson for a 30-yard gain and a 28-yard gain to put Green in the red zone. Kyle Brunson finished the job, slamming it in from 2 yards out to tie the score 10-10 just before halftime.
The Green team's offense kept the heat on Gold's defense, taking the lead a few minutes into the 3rd quarter. Jihad Vercher connected with Khiyani Harris for a 19-yard touchdown pass to give Green a 17-10 lead. A long methodical drive by the Gold team followed, as they marched down the field and punched the ball over the goal line with Troy Clay's 2-yard touchdown run to knot the game at 17-17.
It was all Green after that, as Brock Fargus found Ryan Rios for a 7-yard TD catch to make it a 24-17 Green lead. Jihad Vercher logged his second touchdown pass of the day a short time later, finding Al Haynes on a check down, and letting Haynes rumble into the end zone from 9 yards out to make it a 31-17 final score.
Head Coach Gary Goff was pleased with his teams' play on the field, but was quick to point out that "Coming out of this game healthy is always the main goal, and we did that today". Goff's defensive line had an impact on the game from the start, and Coach Goff is equally excited.
"Our defensive line was great today. Vinny Jones, Austin Jasper, and Victor Cave all had sacks, and the depth of this unit will pay dividends this coming season," said Goff.
The competition for the starting quarterback
position has Coach Goff intrigued as well, saying, "Our quarterbacks threw the ball well today, and they made good decisions. The competition only helps those trying for the open spot. They're making sure the guy next to them isn't outworking them."
Tiffin will begin the 2017 season at home on Thursday, August 31, at 7:00 pm against the University of Findlay.
