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Last week Tiffin University put itself in the driver's seat for the GMAC Championship with a 31-16 win over Ohio Dominican.

Now, on Senior Night, the Dragons will have to defeat the University of Findlay to secure sole claim on the title. TU (5-0, 4-0 GMAC) is the sole undefeated team left in the GMAC, with the Oilers sporting a 4-1 mark. A loss would give Findlay and Ohio Dominican a share of the GMAC Championship with 5-1 records, while Tiffin would sit at 4-1. TU has one fewer game in conference play due to Lake Erie's cancellation due to Covid on March 20. A victory gives TU its second consecutive undefeated conference season.

It's another high-stakes regular-season finale between TU and the Oilers. On Nov. 16, 2019, Tiffin University (9-1, 7-0 GMAC) realized one of its goals with a punishing offensive attack, capturing the Great Midwest Athletic Conference football championship with a 52-45 win at Findlay. The win was the first time TU defeated Findlay in 26 years, and also represented the highest point total ever scored against the Oilers. Tiffin also led for all but 3:25 of the game. A similar effort may be needed for the Dragons to beat Findlay for the second consecutive time.

Tiffin is 2-26 overall against the Oilers, with victories in 1993 and 2019. Over the last five meetings, however, Findlay's average margin of victory has only been 7.6 points, indicating a much closer recent rivalry than the overall win-loss total would indicate. 

Findlay Notes

- Offensively, the Oilers are putting up 395 yards per game with 198.6 of those yards coming through the air. Senior quarterback Matt Winzeler has an efficiency rating of 135.6 which ranks first in the conference and still leads the conference in touchdown passes with 11. He has struggled, at times, with accuracy as he has completed 76-of-133 (57.1%) of his passes and has four interceptions, but his completion percentage is still second in the GMAC. 

- Getting the bulk of the touches out of the backfield has been senior Brian Benson who has 62 carries for 324 yards and 3 touchdowns. Senior Derek Lynch has 42 carries for 276 yards while freshman Aidan Eubanks and freshman Garret Clark both have more than 100 yards, as well.

 

Findlay Defense

 

- Allowing just 7.4 points per game this season, Findlay's defense has been the story through five games this year. Not only are they keeping teams off the scoreboard, but they are scoring points, as well. Through five games, the Oilers' defense has accounted for three touchdowns as junior Christopher Jefferson has two and junior Jeremiah Jackson has one.

- Jefferson leads the Oilers with 26 tackles this season and has a fumble recovery, two interceptions, and four pass breakups. Findlay's Kyle Nunn is second on the team with who has 25 stops this season including 2.5 tackles-for-loss.

- On the defensive line, junior Reggie Micheaux has burst onto the scene in a starting role for the Oilers. This year he has 19 tackles and ranks 6th in the conference with eight tackles-for-loss. He is also fifth in the GMAC with four sacks.

- Findlay has the conference's top rushing defense, holding opponents to just 61.8 ypg, while also ranking 3rd in pass defense (143.8 ypg).

 

Tiffin Notes

 

- The Dragons are looking to repeat as sole GMAC champion after a historic 2019 season where they made their first NCAA Championships appearance after winning the GMAC Championship with a perfect 7-0 record. They finished the year ranked 23rd in the country with a 9-2 record, posting back-to-back nine-win seasons for just the second time in program history (2006-2007). 

- Tiffin was selected first in the GMAC Coaches Poll with 34 total points along with four first-place votes. They are guaranteed at least a share of the 2020-21 GMAC Championship after defeating Ohio Dominican 31-16 last week.

- The Dragons are led by Cris Reisert who is in his second year at the helm for the Dragons. Reisert led the Dragons to arguably the best season in program history finishing the regular season 9-1 in his first year.

Tiffin Offense

- Tiffin's offense has been strong so far this season, ranking second in the GMAC at 28.6 ppg. They lead the conference in passing offense with 244.4 ypg, while also sitting second in rushing at 170.2 ypg. 

- The Dragons are led by Nick Watson who started in all 11 games last season completing 210 passes for 2806 yards and 30 touchdowns with just nine interceptions. Nationally, he ranked 10th in passing touchdowns, 20th in passing yards per game, 22nd in completions per game, 19th in passing efficiency, and 30th in completion percentage. So far this season he leads the GMAC in passing yardage at 238.4 ypg, is fifth in rushing with 61.8 ypg, and has earned the last three GMAC Offensive Player of the Week honors.  

- This year TU has three of the top 7 receivers in the conference in Anthony Lowe, Devin Butler, and James Dean. Lowe is having a breakout season, leading the GMAC with 80 ypg. Butler is 4th overall with 58.5 ypg followed by Dean in 7th place (38.4). 

- Running back Marcus Davis leads the conference in rushing with 74.6 ypg rushing, while Watson is 5th with 61.8 ypg. 

 

Tiffin Defense

 

- Tiffin's defense led the GMAC in total defense and were second in scoring defense, nationally ranked 17th in interceptions with 16 on the year, and boasted a top-25 turnover margin of +82.

- The Dragons' defense this season is 2nd in the GMAC, allowing just 8.4 ppg. Their passing defense is also tops, allowing just 105.2  ypg. Barry Brown is 13th in tackles per game with 6.3. Charlie Cleveland leads the GMAC in sacks, and is also second in tackles for loss. Marshawn Mankins is 10th overall in tackles for loss.     

- The secondary is led Chrystian Watkins who started in all 11 games last year with 37 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and one forced fumble. He is currently tops on the team with 27 tackles along with 3 tackles for loss and 4 deflections. Five different Dragons have intercepted passes this season.