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Tiffin University (4-0, 3-0 GMAC) used a strong defensive effort to shut out Kentucky Wesleyan 21-0 and stay unbeaten this season.
In a game that was not pretty for either team, the Dragons' defense proved the difference. The team held the Panthers to just 149 yards of total offense, including 69 yards through the air. They had 2 sacks, a forced fumble, and an interception while allowing just 2.6 yards per play. They also held KWC to just 2.2 yards per rush.
The defensive effort was critical as Tiffin's offense could not seem to find its rhythm. Overall TU edged KWC in first downs 13-11 but amassed just 199 yards of offense. They went 1 for 12 on third down conversions, and also fought their way through 105 yards in penalties.
Still, the Dragons found a way to win. They got on the board midway through the first quarter. After the defense forced a KWC punt from their own 4 yard line, Anthony Lowe took the punt return and brought it back 20 yards to give TU starting field position on the Panthers' 12 yard line. TU banged its way down to the 1 yard line before Nick Watson jumped over the middle on fourth down to give TU its lone score of the first half at the 8:49 mark.
At the half, KWC had outgained TU 87-77 yet had few chances to score as TU's defense stood tall. The Panthers only moved beyond their own 33 yard line twice in the first half, with KWC's best drive resulting in a 40 yard field goal attempt that TU blocked at the 6:48 mark of the second quarter.
TU finally got its second score at the 6:19 mark of the third quarter, with Watson rushing 13 yards over left end to make it 14-0. Watson connected on four passes during the drive.
The Panthers again struggled to get into TU territory throughout the second half. Their ensuing drive after Tiffin's second score got them down to the TU 41 yard line, but a 4-yard tackle for loss by Chase Abel and Barry Brown along with a 7-yard sack by Landon Hall and Cameron Fox pushed them back into their own territory and led to another punt.
Tiffin's final score came with 13:04 left in the game, as Watson hit Devin Butler on a slick 25 yard TD pass to push TU's lead to 21-0.
Overall Marcus Davis, Watson, and Devin Nelson all rushed for 29 yards to lead TU's ground game. Watson connected on 15 of 28 passes for 116 yards, with Anthony Lowe getting 59 yards receiving on 8 catches. Butler had 44 yards on 4 receptions.
Defensively Barry Brown led the team with 10 tackles and 2 for loss. Justice Waller, Chrystian Watkins, and Marshawn Mankins had 6 tackles each, with Mankins and Watkins also totaling 1.5 tackles for loss. Jermaine Wimpye also had 5 stops with a tackle for loss and deflection.
Patrick Tueimeh had an interception with a 29 yard return, while Fox, Hall, and Hunter Waits were in on sacks.