Tiffin University kicks off its 2021 football season at Marian.
Posted: Sep 03, 2021
Tiffin University opens its 2021 football season with a trip to Marian University on Sept. 4 at 1 pm.
On April 24, 2021, Tiffin University (6-0, 5-0 GMAC) won its second consecutive GMAC Championship with a convincing 23-8 victory over Findlay. The win culminated a perfect season for the Dragons and improved their two-year record to 15-2, 12-0 in conference play. The season was played in spring of 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, making this fall the first time in two years TU will compete during the normal fall season.
Tiffin has never played Marian University. Marian competes in the Mid-States Football Alliance, a conference that Tiffin played in from 1994-2001. This will be a powerhouse initial meeting, as Marian is ranked 5th in the NAIA national preseason poll and the Dragons are 19th in the AFCA NCAA Division II preseason standings.
Marian Notes
- The Knights have won two of the last three MSFA Mideast League titles and now sit atop the 2021 MSFA Mideast League Preseason Coaches Poll.
- No. 9 Marian sits in first place after receiving five first-place votes out of a possible eight among the Mideast League Coaches and have qualified for the NAIA Football Championship Series for the third season in a row.
- The Knights finished with a 5-2 record overall and 3-1 in Mideast League Play.
Marian Offense
- Marian's offense led the Mideast League averaging 35.5 points per game, scoring 28 touchdowns last season, averaging 411.5 yards per game, 1581 passing yards, 171.2 efficiency, and was second in the conference in rushing yards with 888.
- The Knights are turning to a freshman quarterback for the first time since 2016, when Luke Johnston won the starting position in camp over fellow freshman Ethan Darter. In 2021, Zach Bundalo will get his chance as the starter, with the third year freshman earning the job in camp. Bundalo went 15-22 in the spring as a backup, tossing four touchdowns and 350 yards.
- Two of their top three receivers are back with Johnny Williams leading the pack. He had 26 receptions for 486 yards, 18.7 yards per catch, and scored six touchdowns. With those six touchdowns Williams became the all-time leader in touchdown receptions. Jacob Pressler had a great spring season recording 21 catches for 286 yards, 13.6 yards per catch, and scored three touchdowns.
- Two elder members of the team have a chance to break records as Johnny Williams needs 861 yards to move past Krishawn Hogan for the program's receiving record and 64 receptions to move to No. 1 in career receptions. Tristen Tonte needs just three yards to move to No. 8 all-time on the rushing list and he is one rushing touchdown away from tying Hogan and Robert Gibson for third all-time with 25 career rushing TD's.
Marian Defense
- The Knights defense ranked fourth in the league, allowing 21.3 points per game, third in yards allowed at 275.7 per game, third in rushing defense allowing 105.7 yards per game, fifth in pass defense allowing 170 yards per game, and led the league with 26 sacks last season.
- Marion's star linebacker Logan Blake is returning to the field as he led the league in sacks with 7.0 total on the year while also leading the team in tackles with 50, registered 11.5 tackles for loss, and had two interceptions on the year. Sir'Zion Dance was second on the team with 40.5 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and two interceptions.
Tiffin Notes
- The Dragons are coming off an unprecedented season in the GMAC going 6-0 on the season and capturing back-to-back GMAC Championships for the first time in conference history.
- Tiffin has gone 15-2 over the last two seasons and look to capture their third consecutive Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championship.
- Tiffin was selected first in the 2021 Preseason Coaches Poll receiving, 48 points with 6 first-place votes followed by Findlay, Ohio Dominican and GMAC newcomer Ashland.
- Tiffin University's football team is ranked 19th in the annual AFCA Division II preseason poll. Tiffin, which went 9-2 in 2019 and 6-0 in spring of 2021, was the highest-ranked GMAC school.
Tiffin Offense
- The Dragons are returning with GMAC Player of the Year Nick Watson, Offensive Lineman of the Year Trent Clark, the conference's leading rusher Marcus Davis, and First Team All-Conference Anthony Lowe.
- TU led the Conference in multiple offensive categories including points per game (27.7), yards per game (423.7), passing yards (1513), and efficiency (133.9).
- In the fall of 2021 the Tiffin offense will look to continue to produce numbers but with a few new faces. Darius Pinnix, a 6-1 running back transfer from Eastern Carolina, will lead a deep backfield with Baden Pinson, Marcus Davis, and Devin Nelson.
- First Team All-Conference selection Anthony Lowe returns and will look to build on his breakout season with the team. He will lead a deep receiving corps that includes transfer Reggie Colson, James Dean, and Mason Gray all averaging more than 11.4 yards per catch.
Tiffin Defense
- Tiffin's Defense will look to pick right up where they left off in the spring of 2021, as the Dragons led the conference with 208.2 yards allowed per game, 8.7 points allowed per game, 109 passing yards allowed per game, second in the conference in rushing yards allowed per game at 99.8, 15 total sacks, and six interceptions last season.
- TU returns with the GMAC Defensive Lineman of the Year Charlie Cleveland, First Team All-Conference DL Latrell Robinson, LB Brandon Burks, LB Marshawn Mankins, and DB Kevin Hyde along with four other All-Conference selections on the defensive side.
- Charlie Cleveland has been named D2Football.com 2021 Preseason All American. Cleveland was the lone GMAC player on the preseason team and was a First Team selection on the defensive line. Over the last two seasons, Cleveland has been an unstoppable force up front for the Dragons. He has twice been named GMAC Defensive Lineman of the Year. Cleveland tied for the league lead in sacks with 5 and was second in tackles for a loss with 8.
- Combined with his strong showing in 2019 (8.5 sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 61 tackles), Cleveland is moving up the Dragons record books. He is currently 8th in career tackles for loss with 36 and fifth in career sacks with 18.
Tiffin Special Teams
- Tiffin's kicking duties will be handled by David Orlando to open the 2021 campaign. Orlando was a First-Team All-Conference selection for the squad, converting 4-of-5 field goals and 19-for-19 on extra point attempts.
- Orlando will also handle the punting for the Dragons. He averaged 38.3 yards per punt last season with 13 inside the 20 yard line.