Nick Watson and the Dragons take on Ohio Dominican on Oct. 30.
Posted: Oct 27, 2021
Tiffin University (6-2, 3-1 GMAC) will take on Ohio Dominican (6-2, 3-1) on Senior Day in a big conference first-place showdown at Frost Kalnow Stadium on Oct. 30.
TU, ODU, Findlay, and Hillsdale all sit atop the GMAC with three weeks remaining with identical 3-1 records. TU will take on Findlay in their regular season finale on the road on Nov. 13, so the Dragons control their own destiny in the chase for the GMAC title.
Tiffin is 5-7 overall against the Panthers, but have won the last three meetings during the GMAC era. Those three contests, though, were decided by an average of less than 9 points per game. Last spring TU won 31-16 on its way to the GMAC title. TU has not lost to ODU since 2015 when they fell 22-7.
It certainly wasn't pretty, but in the end Tiffin University did what it had to and beat Kentucky Wesleyan 34-28 in overtime last week. Tiffin was forced to battle from behind throughout the day, falling behind 14-0 early, 21-7 at the half, and 28-21 late in the fourth quarter. They turned the ball over 5 times, while KWC also had 3 turnovers. The two teams also combined for 153 yards in penalties.
ODU Offense
- Through eight games the Panthers' offense is averaging 378.8 total yards, 139.0 rushing yards, 239.8 passing yards, and 28.8 points per game.
- The play caller for the Panther offense is Evan Ernst who has thrown for 1897 yards (3rd in the GMAC), completed 63.8 percent of his throws (2nd in the GMAC), thrown 13 touchdowns (5th in the GMAC), and has a 137.8 efficiency rating (2nd in the GMAC)
- David Turner is the lead receiver for the Panthers, with 47 catches (3rd in the GMAC) for 474 yards (7th in the GMAC) with three touchdowns, and averaging 10.1 yards per catch, and teammate James Morgan has nabbed 30 catches (11th in the GMAC) for 478 yards (6th in the GMAC), and three touchdowns, and Austin Davis registered 30 catches for 418 yards (12th in the GMAC), two touchdowns, and averages 13.9 yards per catch.
- The Panthers have a dual threat in the backfield as Fred Pitts has rushed 103 times for 537 yards (5th in the GMAC), scored five touchdowns (T-3rd in the GMAC), and averages 67.1 yards per game (7th in the GMAC). Last week he topped 100 yards for the second time this fall as well as moved to fifth on ODU's all-time rushing list (1,631 yards) and tied for sixth in touchdowns (16). Travis Whittaker has rushed 108 times for 439 yards (6th in the GMAC), scored five touchdowns (T-3rd in the GMAC), and averages 54.9 yards per game (8th in the GMAC).
ODU Defense
- Ohio Dominican's defense is second in the GMAC in yards allowed at 346.3 yards a game, sixth in the conference in passing yards allowed per game at 234.8 yards, first in rushing yards allowed per game at 111.5 yards, and second in the GMAC in points allowed per game at 21.9.
- The Panthers are tied for second in the conference in sacks with 18 and tied for third in the GMAC in interceptions at eight.
- Dauson Dales leads the defense with 93 tackles (1st in the GMAC), 6.5 tackles for loss (T--9th in the GMAC), and three pass breakups, Jayden Hill with 51 tackles (T-11th in the GMAC), 1.5 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups, one fumble recovery, and one interception.
- The Defensive line is led by Aarin Smoot-Baker with 41 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss (T-5th in the GMAC), 4.0 sacks (T-3rd in the GMAC), and two force fumbles T-1st in the GMAC), Eddie Miller-Garrett with 37 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss (3rd in the GMAC), 4.0 sacks (T-3rd in the GMAC), and one forced fumble, and Chance Canady with 18 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 4.0 sacks (T-3rd in the GMAC), and one blocked kick.
TU Offense
- The Dragons offense continues to impress as they average 30.8 points per game (2nd in the GMAC), 250.1 passing yards (3rd in the GMAC) with 20 passing touchdowns (1st in the GMAC), and 155.4 rushing yards (3rd in the GMAC) with 13 rushing touchdowns (T-3rd in the GMAC).
- Nick Watson has thrown for 1878 yards (4th in the GMAC) with a 56.2 completion percentage, 18 passing touchdowns (1st in the GMAC), and a 131.4 efficiency rating.
- With Watson's 215 yards against Ashland he eclipsed Antonio Pipkin in career passing yards to claim the No. 1 spot in program history for passing yards. Watson's four passing touchdowns against Kentucky Wesleyan also passed Pipkin in career passing touchdowns at 92.
- Watson's main weapons are Anthony Lowe with 50 catches (1st in the GMAC) for 617 yards (2nd in the GMAC), and seven touchdown catches (T-1st in the GMAC). Lowe leads the conference in All-Purpose yards with 617 receiving, 268 kick return, and 205 punt return yards, for a total of 1089 yards averaging 136.1 per game.
- Jalen Thomas has 25 catches (19th in the GMAC) for 419 yards (11th in the GMAC) and five receiving touchdowns (T-3rd in the GMAC).
- Tiffin has a three pronged rushing attach with Darius Pinnix leading the way with 116 rushes (3rd in the GMAC) for 540 yards (4th in the GMAC) averaging 67.5 per game (6th in the GMAC) and five rushing touchdowns (T-2nd in the GMAC), Nick Watson rushing 52 times for 167 yards and three rushing touchdowns, and Baden Pinson rushing 40 times for 214 yards averaging 42.8 yards per game.
TU Defense
- Tiffin's defense has dominated the opposition, only allowing 311.5 yards of total offense (1st in the GMAC), 123.0 rushing yards allowed (2nd in the GMAC), 188.5 passing yards (2nd in the GMAC) and holding opponents to 20.1 points per game (1st in the GMAC).
- Tiffin has registered a conference leading 19 sacks (1st in the GMAC), 11 interceptions (3rd in the GMAC), 51 tackles for loss, and eight forced fumbles.
- The D-line is led the GMAC Defensive Lineman of the Year Charlie Cleveland with 41 tackles, 6 sacks (2nd in the GMAC), and 6.0 tackles for loss, Landon Hall with 51 tackles (12th in the GMAC), 5.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one pass breakup, and Latrell Robinson with 32 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and one pick six.
- Tiffin's secondary is led by Jermaine Wimpye who has 48 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, one interception, and six pass breakups, reigning GMAC Defenseive Player of the Week Kevin Hyde with 30 tackles, five interceptions, and three pass breakups, and Tyler Richardson with 28 tackles, one tackle for loss, one fumble recovery and 0.5 sacks.