Tiffin University (5-2, 2-1 GMAC) used a 9:00 advantage in possession time, a huge performance from Darius Pinnix, and clutch defensive stands to hold off Ashland 27-21.
TU controlled the ball for 34:30 while AU had possession for 25:30, with the Dragons totaling 23 first downs during that span to the Eagles' 17. TU put together 20 first-half points to lead at halftime 20-7, and ultimately held AU to just 4 for 15 on third down conversions.
Ashland kept the pressure up throughout the second half. With TU up 13 points at halftime, the Eagles took the first possession of the second half and promptly drove 77 yards in 4 plays before scoring a touchdown to make it 20-14, Tiffin.
The Dragons responded immediately with their own 75 yard drive, with Vince Ringland hauling in a big 22 yard pass before Pinnix crashed into the end zone from 2 yards out to put TU back up 27-14 with 9:35 left in the third quarter.
The Dragons continued to hold Ashland off the board for the rest of the third quarter, with Cameron Fox coming up with a big sack on third down to end Ashland's final drive of the third quarter.
The Dragons had chances to expand their lead but a missed extra point in the first half and two missed field goals in the fourth quarter kept the Eagles close.
With 7:01 to play, Ashland hit on a 29-yard TD pass play that brought the Eagles to within 27-21 with 4:25 left on the clock.
After a missed 38 yard field goal, the Eagles had one last chance to take the lead when they started a drive with 2:09 left. Driving to their own 46 yard line, the drive stalled when Hunter Waits and Jacob Mertus put back to back hurries together to force two incompletions and give TU the victory.
In the first half, TU used good field position opportunities to put its points on the board. They first scored at 6:47 in the first quarter when Pinnix banged in from 5 yards out to make it 7-0.
Anthony Lowe caught a 7 yard TD pass from Nick Watson at 2:13 of the first quarter as TU jumped ahead 13-0. After Ashland drove 88 yards for its first score at 13:25 of the second quarter, TU responded with a brilliant 39 yard catch by Lowe in the corner of the end zone to make it 20-7.
The two teams matched each other offensively, with Ashland outgaining TU 381-370. Pinnix was a huge factor for the Dragons, as he totaled 102 rushing yards on 22 physical carries with 2 TDs while also amassing 104 yards in kick returns. His 212 all purpose yards combined with 147 all purpose yards from Lowe to carry much of the offensive load for the Dragons.
Lowe finished with 93 receiving yards on 6 catches and 2 TDs, while James Dean also had 48 yards receiving. Nick Watson completed 19 of 30 passes with no interceptions for 215 yards and only one sack. Watson's 215 yards makes him the career passing yard leader, eclipsing the 10, 940 yards of Antonio Pipkin, while his 2 passing TDs ties him with Pipkin for the career passing touchdowns mark of 88.
Defensively Jermaine Wimpye had 8 tackles with 2 tackles for loss and 2 deflections, while Patrick Tueimeh had 7 stops with an interception and tackle for loss.
Tyler Richardson and Marshawn Mankins had 5 tackles each, while Cameron Fox also had a sack.