Tiffin stays perfect with 28-7 showing at Hillsdale

Anthony Lowe and the Dragons knocked off Hillsdale 28-7.
Anthony Lowe and the Dragons knocked off Hillsdale 28-7.

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Tiffin University (3-0) used its strongest offensive showing of the year thus far to stay perfect and beat Hillsdale on the road 28-7.

The Dragons racked up 539 yards of total offense, controlling the tempo and scoring all 28 points over the final three quarters.

The defense was also rock solid, allowing just 212 yards of offense to the Chargers and allowing only one score.

The Dragons were especially lethal through the air, with Nick Watson connecting on 22 of 37 passes for 371 yards and 2 touchdowns while also rushing for 55 yards on 9 carries and another TD. Overall TU outgained Hillsdale through the air 371-110.

The Dragons averaged 7.1 yards per play and had 22 first downs to Hillsdale's 14. The defense also posted three takeaways, with two interceptions and a fumble forced.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Dragons got on the scoreboard at the 14:18 mark of the second quarter. A big 28 yard pass play from Watson to Anthony Lowe highlighted a drive that ended when Watson rushed in from 7 yards out to put TU ahead 7-0.

On TU's next drive it posted another touchdown. Watson hit three big pass plays to move TU down the field, with Lowe hauling in passes covering 28 and 35 yards, and Conner Muldowney also had a catch covering 20 yards. Watson then hit Devin Nelson on a one-yard pass play to score and put TU up 14-0 at halftime.

Hillsdale came out after halftime and showed some fire, marching down the field and scoring on a sustained drive that made the score 14-7, but the Dragons immediately responded in the quick-strike fashion.

Watson connected with Lowe on a 24 yard pass play, then nailed Datrin Guyton Jr. on a massive 45 yard pass that got TU down to the Hillsdale 3 yard line. Marcus Davis then rushed in from 3 yards out to make it 21-7, Tiffin.

Tiffin started its final scoring drive on its own 4 yard line. Watson hit Guyton on a 14 yard pass play to end the third quarter, and continued into the fourth quarter with a 12 yard Guyton rush. Watson then hit James Dean on a 20 yard pass, Muldowney on a 14 yard play, then finally Dean again on a big 27 yard TD pass with 12:35 left in the game.

TU's defense was more than up to the task of holding that lead, as Justice Waller and Kevin Hyde both had interceptions to kill Hillsdale drives, while TU also forced a fumble. Barry Brown led the way with 10 tackles, while Marshawn Mankins had 6 stops and a sack with 2 tackles for loss. Charlie Cleveland also had 5 tackles.

Offensively Lowe had a huge game, hauling in 11 passes for 170 yards. Guyton had 85 yards receiving on 5 catches, and Dean finished with 81 yards on 3 catches.

Davis rushed for 80 yards on 21 rushes to lead the TU ground game.

TU now takes on Kentucky Wesleyan on April 10 at 1 pm at Frost Kalnow Stadium.