Tiffin University (3-2, 3-0 GMAC) used numerous big plays on special teams and defense to separate itself from Lake Erie, winning 52-27 on Homecoming Day.
The game started as a shootout, with both teams combining for 42 points in the first 19 minutes of action.
Things turned Tiffin's way in dramatic fashion at the 10:30 mark of the second quarter, when Anthony Lowe took a kickoff back 85 yards to put the Dragons ahead 28-21.
The big plays continued when Jermaine Wimpye picked off a Lake Erie pass and ran it back 32 yards for another score just 8 seconds later. Lowe put another big play on display after the Storm's next possession when he returned a punt 91 yards at the 8:16 mark and give TU a sudden 21-point lead without the offense scoring a single point.
Lowe scored his third touchdown of the game at the 6:47 mark of the third quarter on a 3-yard run, pushing TU's lead to 49-21. A field goal by Nick Basile from 26 yards out gave TU their biggest lead of the day 52-21 as the third quarter ended, effectively ending the game.
The game opened in dramatic fashion when the Storm scored on a three-play, 75-yard drive just 1:06 into the game. The Dragons instantly responded as Christian Carter exploded for a 41-yard QB scramble that tied the score 7-7.
Lake Erie immediately responded with a 75-yard drive that ended in a 16-yard TD rush, and again TU came right back with Devin Nelson capping off a 69-yard drive with an 8-yard rush to tie the score at 14-14.
Darius Pinnix rushed the ball in from 2 yards out at the 12:00 mark of the second quarter to give TU its first lead of the day 21-14 but this time Lake Erie responded in just 1:19 with a 48-yard TD strike to tie the score 21-21.
Tiffin's defense only allowed 6 points over the final 40 minutes of play, dominating play with 3 sacks and 2 interceptions while also holding Lake Erie to just 4 for 13 on third-down conversions.
The offense also took care of business, racking up 514 yards and averaging 6.8 yards per play.
The Dragons had numerous offensive standouts but none in Lowe's league. He totaled 336 all-purpose yards with 139 yards receiving, 106 yards in punt returns, and 88 yards in kick returns.
Carter connected on 25 of 33 passes for 304 yards and one interception while also rushing for 74 yards on 9 carries. Pinnix led the rushing with 95 yards on 17 carries. Devin Nelson had 49 yards receiving and 25 yards rushing, while 12 different Dragons caught passes.
Defensively Patrick Tueimeh and Charlie Cleveland led the way with 7 tackles, with Cleveland also getting a sack. Marshawn Mankins also had a sack while Barry Brown and Robert Holtz also had half sacks. Jermaine Wimpye and Chucky Lewis had interceptions, while Sir Zion Dance finished with 6 stops.