SVSU Offense

 

The Cardinals offense is a fairly balanced attack, averaging 166.1 rushing yards and 207.1 passing yards. Saginaw Valley is averaging 25 points per game, and are coming off a hard fought 20-12 road win over Northern Michigan.  As a team, the Cardinals are 4-4 overall and 2-4 in the GLIAC. Ryan Conklin is the signal caller for Saginaw Valley, completing 62.4% of his passes for 1,647 yards for 11 touchdowns. Conklin has only thrown three interceptions so far, but he has lost two of his four fumbles. Tommy Scott Jr. leads the ground game for the Cardinals, averaging 94.7 yards per game and four touchdowns. Nate McCray averages only 37.8 yards per game, but has scored 7 of the Cardinals' 14 rushing touchdowns. Chad Gailliard leads the receivers in catches with 28, yards with 564, and touchdowns with four. The offensive line has had trouble protecting the quarterback this year, allowing 18 sacks. SVSU is converting 36% of their 3rd downs, 6th in the GLIAC. The red zone has been a no fly zone for the Cardinals, scoring only 68% of the time with 52% being touchdowns.

 

SVSU Defense

 

Saginaw Valley is 2nd in the GLIAC in total defense, allowing only 287.8 yards per game. Teams have been forced to go to the air because rushing has been a lost cause. The opposition is gaining only 97.4 rushing yards per game while posting 190.4 passing yards per game. The Cardinals have done an excellent job at getting off the field, allowing teams to convert only 33%. Maybe one of the most impressive stats about the Cardinals is the fact that they have committed the 4th fewest penalties this season. Saginaw Valley is being penalized an average of 3.75 times for 30.25 yards. Senior linebacker Bryan Jones leads the team in tackles with 53. His fellow linebacker, Michael Alexander, has logged 52 tackles. Defensive lineman Jack Jennings leads the Cardinals in sacks with four. Sophomore defensive lineman Heath Williams leads SVSU in tackles for loss with 9.5. Defensive back Ryan Verhelst is the top ball hawk in the secondary, hauling in three interceptions. 

 

SVSU Special Teams

 

The Cardinals have been a bit shaky in field goals this year, connecting on 5 of 9 attempts. A kicker change has helped the Cardinals in the last two games, turning to Drew Franklin who has hit all three of his attempts. Tyler Marcus handles the punting, averaging 39.8 yards per attempt. 

 

 

 

Tiffin offense

 

The Dragons scored 24 points their last time out, falling to the Ashland Eagles. Tiffin managed only 324 yards of total offense against the Eagles, including only 30 yards rushing. In the Dragons' last three games they've managed only 89.3 rushing yards per game. Prior to the Ferris State game, Tiffin had been averaging 198.8 rushing yards per game. Nick Watson is completing 58.3% of his passes for 1729 yards and 11 touchdowns. JaQuan Hardy has logged 722 rushing yards in his quest for 1,000. Tiffin has not had a 1,000-yard rusher since Garrion Corbin eclipsed the mark in 2005. Tony Shead leads Tiffin in receptions with 27. Tyler Denton is the clubhouse leader in receiving yards with 424 and touchdowns with four. Third downs have been troublesome for Tiffin over the last three games, converting only 32.6% (15/46). The Tiffin offensive line has been playing banged up over the past few games, allowing nine sacks including four to the Eagles last Saturday. When in the red zone, Tiffin is scoring 81% of the time with 53% being touchdowns.

 

Tiffin Defense

 

The Tiffin defense allowed their most points of the year, surrendering 38 points to Ashland. Tiffin is allowing 326.3 yards of total offense with 148.9 coming in the air and 177.4 coming on the ground. Tiffin's pass defense is 10th in the nation, but the ground game has slipped a bit. The Dragons have allowed 639 rushing yards in their last three games, 45% of their season total. Brandon Burks continues to impress at linebacker, collecting a team high 72 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and 10.5 tackles for loss.  Carrington Contee is second on the team in total tackles with 60, and is the team leader in solo tackles with 44. Jawan Nelson and Delan Wynn lead the Dragons in interceptions with two each. Tiffin's 3rd down defense continues to dominate, allowing a conversion rate of 29.6% which is 17th in the nation. 

 

Tiffin Special Teams

 

Joe Metcalf keeps adding to his impressive freshman season, connecting on 10 of 15 field goal attempts with a long of 41 yards. Metcalf is now tied for 5th all-time for most field goals made in a season in the Tiffin record book. Harry McCollum has punted 48 times for a 38.6 yard average with 16 downed inside the 20-yard line. 

 

 

 

Tiffin University Career Top 10

Receptions – 190 – 3rd all-time – needs 37 to be the all-time leader

Yards – 2627 – 2nd all-time

Touchdowns – 30 – 2nd all-time

Scoring – 30 - touchdowns 5th all-time

Points – 180 – 8th all-time

Most 100-yard receiving games – 10 – 2nd all-time

Most 200-yard receiving games – 3 – 2nd all-time

 

GLIAC Career Records within reach

Receiving Yards – 2239 – Needs 453 to move into 10th all-time

 

 

Receptions – 189 – 4th 

Yards – 2152 – 5th 

Receiving Touchdowns – 14 – T9th 

Kickoff Returns – 64 – 4th

Kickoff Return Yards – 1429 – 4th

All Purpose Yards – 3677 – 5th