A late rally by Indianapolis proved lethal for Tiffin University (2-1), as the Greyhounds scored 20 fourth-quarter points to beat TU 27-20.
The Dragons had appeared in control for over three quarters, leading 20-7 well into the fourth quarter.
After UIndy returned the opening kickoff 98 yards to take a sudden 7-0 lead, TU returned the favor when Anthony Lowe returned the ensuing kickoff 91 yards to tie the score 7-7 after just 26 seconds of action.
TU methodically ran their offense, using a bruising ground game from Darius Pinnix and five third-down conversions culminating in a 47-yard field goal by Nick Basile that made the score 10-7, Dragons.
The Dragons' defense continued to hold UIndy out of the end zone throughout the second quarter. After the Greyhounds missed a 20-yard field goal late in the quarter, the Dragons took advantage when Pinnix rushed around right end on an 80-yard TD burst that put TU ahead 17-7 at the 2:22 mark.
Indianapolis tried to respond before halftime with another drive that brought them to a 31-yard field goal attempt, but this kick also missed as the Dragons took the 10-point lead into halftime.
The Dragons got the ball first in the third quarter and they capitalized with more points, as Basile drilled a field goal from 34 yards out to push TU's lead to 20-7.
Things took a sudden turn with UIndy's drive in the fourth quarter starting at the 12:08 mark. Quarterback Connor Kinnett completed two big pass plays and ran for 22 more yards, capping an 86-yard drive with a 30-yard TD strike that suddenly had the Greyhounds narrowing the gap to 20-14 with 9:31 on the clock.
TU tried to run time off the clock but its next two possessions failed to produce lengthy drives as they gained just one first down in that stretch.
UIndy got the ball one last time with 4:18 left in the game. Kinnett and running back Toriano Clinton drove the Greyhounds down the field, converting a fourth-and-five with a 12-yard pass play to keep the drive alive. Finally, on fourth-and-9 from TU's 12-yard line, Kinnett completed a TD pass over the middle to give UIndy the lead with just 6 seconds left.
TU tried to complete a last-ditch pass play featuring numerous laterals but a subsequent fumble on the attempt led to KJ Roudebush scooping the ball up and rambling into the end zone as time expired for a 9-yard score that ended the game.
Statistically the game was as close as the score. UIndy outgained TU 408-357 and had 20 first downs to TU's 19. The Greyhounds went 7 for 18 on third-down conversions while TU was 8 for 17.
Pinnix led TU with 123 yards rushing on 14 carries (8.8 per rush), while TU's defense held UIndy's Harlon Hill nominee running back Clinton to 81 yards on 18 carries. However, Kinnett ended up rushing for 128 yards on 10 carries as Indianapolis outgained TU on the ground 218-149.
Christian Carter completed 22 of 41 passes for 208 yards and one interception, with Anthony Lowe catching 18 passes for 100 yards. Jalen Thomas also had 14 catches for 63 yards.
Lowe totaled 204 yards in all-purpose yards (104 kick return yards, 100 receiving yards) while Pinnix had 143 all-purpose yards.
Defensively Sir Zion Dance had 11 tackles with 1.5 for loss and a half sack. Barry Brown had 8 stops with 2 tackles for loss.
Montez Kelley, Charlie Cleveland, and Latrell Robinson also had half sacks whle Patrick Tueimmeh also had 1.5 tackles for loss.