Tiffin opens G-MAC play at Northwood

Tiffin travels to Northwood in its conference opener.
Tiffin travels to Northwood in its conference opener.
Posted: Sep 14, 2023

 

Tiffin University (2-0) travels to Northwood (0-2) in their G-MAC opener at 1 pm Sept. 16.

The Dragons beat Northwood last season 48-3 in their most recent matchup. TU outgained Northwood 460-114 including 228-43 on the ground. They had 24 first downs to Northwood's 11, with the defense posting 7 sacks and an interception while holding the Timberwolves to just 4 for 15 on third-down conversions. Devin Nelson finished with 112 yards rushing on 10 carries (11.2 average) with 3 touchdowns.

Tiffin is 6-8 overall against the Timberwolves in its career, with the Dragons winning all six games consecutively entering this contest. TU has not lost to Northwood since 2013 and has outscored the Timberwolves over the last six games 223-97 over that stretch. Over the last two seasons TU has outscored NU 88-9.

NORTHWOOD NOTES

Northwood enters conference play with a 0-2 record after falling to both Glenville State in its season opener followed by a road loss to Saginaw Valley. The Timberwolves finished 3-8 overall in 2022 including a 2-6 record in the G-MAC, ending in 7th place. The last time Northwood came out victorious against the Dragons was September 2013, winning 26-11 at home.

NORTHWOOD OFFENSE

• The Timberwolves rank last in the conference in scoring offense, averaging just 8.5 points per game and second-to-last in offensive yards per game at 191.5.
• Quarterback Jacob Barlage has been handling the majority of snaps for Northwood, passing for 244 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions through two games.
• In the backfield, senior running back Cashual Goldsmith leads the team with 27 rushes for 87 yards. He averages 43.5 yards per game and 3.2 yards per carry.
• The two primary receivers for the Timberwolves are Mark Tocco with nine receptions for 169 yards and a touchdown and true freshman Case Boos with seven catches for 72 yards.


NORTHWOOD DEFENSE

• Defensively, Northwood ranks ninth in the G-MAC in points allowed per game (37.5) and has allowed more sacks (7) than any other team in the conference.
• A linebacker pairing of Mbaimba Tunkara and Daniel Wynn lead the team in tackles with 17 and 16 total tackles respectively. Wynn leads the way with two sacks followed by Tunkara and Jack Murray each with one.
• The secondary is led by Stevie Douglas with 14 total tackles and two pass breakups. Defensive back Drew Carpenter ranks fourth on the team in total tackles with nine.


TIFFIN NOTES

Following a 42-7 victory over St. Anselm on the road, the Dragons are receiving votes in the latest AFCA Division II national poll, coming in at 35th overall. Tiffin opens conference-play with a 2-0 record after scoring a combined 121 points through the first two weeks. The Dragons have won the last six meetings with the Timberwolves.

TIFFIN OFFENSE

• Tiffin's offense ranks third in the nation in scoring per game with 60.5, ninth in rushing offense with 248 yards, and 11th in total offense at 493.
• Kason Martin boasts a 62.3 completion percentage along with 445 yards passing and five touchdowns. He has yet to throw an interception and has a 163.9 QB efficiency rating.
• Running back Devin Nelson currently ranks third in the nation in yards per carry (9.93), fifth in rushing yards (268), and sixth in yards per game (134.0).
• Jalen Thomas leads the Dragons in receiving touchdowns with three and is tied with tight end Cole Schnieder for most receptions with six. Josh Lewis has a team-high 106 yards receiving on five catches followed by Thomas with 88 and Schnieder with 67.


TIFFIN DEFENSE

• The Dragon defense leads the nation in four statistical categories including defensive touchdowns (3), fumbles recovered (6), turnovers gained (13 – 7 interceptions, 6 fumbles recovered), and turnover margin (6.00). They are also second in the nation in interceptions with seven and ninth in scoring defense (10.5).
• Junior linebacker Zeke Brown leads the team with 12 total tackles and has added a forced fumble. He is followed by Barry Brown with 10 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble as well.
• Robert Holtz has been a terror for opposing offensive lines, recording a team-high three sacks along with nine tackles in total.
• Ramond Jackson and Patrick Tueimeh lead the secondary in tackles with eight each and have both tallied an interception. Chucky Lewis leads the team in interceptions, however, with two.