Tiffin University (7-2, 4-1 GMAC) took another step towards successfully defending their GMAC championship, winning a first-place matchup against Ohio Dominican 34-21.
TU and ODU started the day tied for first in the GMAC along with Findlay and Hillsdale. With TU's victory and Hillsdale's loss at Ashland, the Dragons are now tied with Findlay for first place, as the Oilers won big at Walsh.
For the Dragons, a low-scoring first half was followed by a second half that saw their offense put up 24 points. The Dragons also benefited from quick-strike possessions, as they overcame a 9:00 minute time of possession advantage by the Panthers with big play drives and great second-half field position as a result of strong kick returns on special teams.
TU averaged 35.0 yards per kick return in the game, with Franklin Steward accounting for 105 of those yards on 3 kick returns.
Nick Watson also had one of his best games of the season, leading the team with 74 rushing yards while connecting on 18 of 32 passes with no interceptions for 353 yards. He passed for 2 touchdowns and rushed for another. Reggie Colson had his best game of the year as well, hauling in 6 passes for 161 yards as TU amassed 512 yards of offense.
The first half looked like it would be slim pickings for both offenses, as TU held a slim 10-7 lead at halftime. The only score in the first quarter came from a 23 yard field goal from TU's David Orlando.
A wild final minute of the first half saw two scores. ODU scored in 5 plays covering 1:40, taking a 7-3 lead after a 34 yard TD pass with 52 seconds remaining.
The Dragons, however, stole the momentum right back heading to the locker room, running 3 plays covering 52 yards in just 19 seconds. Watson rushed it in from 3 yards out with 24 seconds left after hitting Colson on 2 passes covering 49 yards.
TU's offense kept the momentum going to start the second half, taking the opening possession after a 46 yard kick return by Steward and putting together a 6 play drive in 2:01 that finished with a 23 yard TD catch from Anthony Lowe from Watson to make the score 17-7 at the 12:51 mark.
ODU responded immediately, taking the next possession and driving 88 yards before running it in from 1 yard out to make it 17-14, Tiffin with 7:54 left in the third quarter.
The Dragons pushed the lead back to 10 points on their next possession. TU drove 70 yards highlighted by a 39 yard pass completion to Lowe before Will Thomas ran in the ball from 6 yards out with 5:02 on the third quarter clock.
ODU opened the final quarter with a 28 yard TD strike that brought them to within 24-21 with 11:53 to play, but again the Dragons had an immediate response, as Watson connected with Vince Ringland on a sensational 32 yard TD catch in the corner of the end zone capping a 75 yard drive in just 1:50 and push the score to 31-21 at the 10:03 mark.
TU got its final points on its possession, with Orlando booting a 28 yard field goal with 5:28 to play. TU's defense shut down ODU the rest of the way for the victory.
Joining Watson, Colson, and Steward with strong offensive games was Lowe with 86 receiving yards, while Darius Pinnix also had 52 rushing yards and 27 receiving yards.
Defensively Jacob Mertus had 9 stops to lead the way, while Patrick Tueimeh had 8 stops with a breakup and half tackle for loss.
Tyler Richardson also had 7 tackles, while Jermaine Wimpye, Caleb Streat, and Brandon Burks had 6 tackles each. Latrell Robinson also had 5 stops with a sack.