Dragons prepare for season opener at Walsh

Anthony Lowe and the Dragons travel to Walsh in their season opener.

Posted: Aug 31, 2022

Tiffin University opens its 2022 season with a road trip to Walsh at 2 pm on Sept. 3.

Tiffin is 8-8 overall against the Cavaliers but has won six in a row coming into this contest. TU has not lost to Walsh since 2014. In the Cris Reisert era, TU has a 129-30 scoring advantage over Walsh, including a 52-0 shutout back in 2019 and a 56-16 mark last season. TU has outscored Walsh during this 5-game winning streak 225-70.

In their last meeting, it was all over in the first half for the Dragons, as TU blasted past Walsh 56-16 last November. The Dragons posted 42 first-half points against the Cavaliers, including 28 points in the opening quarter. TU outgained Walsh in the half 352-83, including 297-89 through the air. TU posted 2 sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble while holding Walsh to -6 yards rushing.

Walsh Offense

- Walsh is returning their starting quarterback from last season. Thomas Vatter put up respectable numbers, throwing for 1390 yards and six touchdowns through seven game played.

- The Cavaliers return three of their top four receivers. Jaden Gresham led the group as he had 39 catches for 441 yards and three touchdowns, Keyshawn Johnson caught 21 passes for 299 yards, and Tyre Gray tallied 23 catches for 404.

- In the backfield, Tai Carter gets the nod as he played in 11 games last year, rushing seven times for 18 yards.

Walsh Defense

- The Cavaliers are returning 9 of their 11 starters on the defensive side.

- Strong safety Diego Bremer leads the group as a returner as he registered 65 tackles last season and two broken up passes, Robbie Page recorded 38 tackles, 1.0 tackle for loss, one interception, two pass breakups, and one quarterback hurry, and Marcus Shellenbarger on the defensive line tallied 42 total tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, two pass breakups, and two quarterback hurries.

Tiffin Offense

- Last season the Dragons led the conference in offense scoring 357 points through eleven games and averaging a conference high 32.5 points per game.

- In the backfield for Tiffin is Darius Pinnix who rushed 148 times for 668 yards, had 20 catches for 237 yards, and scored 12 touchdowns (nine rushing). Devin Nelson rushed 49 times for 286 yards and one touchdown.

- The Dragons return four of their best five receivers led by Anthony Lowe with 70 receptions for 919 yards and nine touchdowns. Lowe was named First Team All-Conference as he led the GMAC in all-purpose yards, receptions, yards, touchdowns, receptions per game, and yards per game. As a returner, Lowe was a dual threat, finishing fifth in kick return yardage and second in punt return average, and led the conference in punt return yards.

- Jalen Thomas had 29 catches for 477 yards and five touchdowns, James Dean recorded 22 receptions for 332 yards and two touchdowns, and Darius Pinnix registered 20 catches for 237 yards and three touchdowns.

- Christian Carter will get the start at quarterback for the Dragons. He came from Merrimack where he was named 2018 NE10 Rookie of the Year and two-time New England Football Writers' Gold Helmet Award winner.

- TU is returning three key players on the offensive line in Zack Richardson, Jordan Speller, and Jacob Oglesby, and two new additions in Shane Bumgardner and Nehemiah Bing.

Tiffin Defense

- On the defensive side of the ball, TU led the GMAC as it held their opponents to 20.4 points per game and only allowed 224 points scored all season through eleven games.

- The Dragons are returning many key starters. Charlie Cleveland was named the GMAC Defensive Lineman of the Year as he currently sits second in Tiffin's record book in career sacks with 25 and third in tackles for loss with 43. Latrell Robinson returns as last year he registered 42 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 9.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and one interception returned for a touchdown.

- Jermaine Wimpye leads the secondary as he tallied the most tackles last season with 62, forced the most fumbles with three, had one interception, and led the team with six pass breakups, and teammate Tyler Richardson last year had 46 tackles, 0.5 sack, one tackle for loss, and four pass breakups.