Dragons return home for battle with Chargers

Tiffin takes on Hillsdale on Oct. 7.
Tiffin takes on Hillsdale on Oct. 7.
Posted: Oct 05, 2023

 

Tiffin University (5-0, 3-0 G-MAC) takes on Hillsdale (1-4, 1-2) in another conference matchup on Oct. 7 at 12 pm at Frost Kalnow Stadium.

In their last game with Hillsdale, Tiffin University posted a dominant defensive performance in a 41-0 shutout on Oct. 8, 2022. TU amassed a 21-0 lead in the first half and totaled 41 points before the end of the third quarter. They held a 21-6 lead in first downs and outgained the Chargers 419-164 including 236 to 97 in rushing yards. They also did not allow a single third-down conversion in the game, holding Hillsdale to an 0 for 12 mark. 

Overall TU holds a 7-9 record in their history. However, the Dragons have won four of the last six meetings including three of the last four. They have outscored the Chargers over the last four games 125-55. Tiffin's only loss in the last four years was a narrow 24-21 defeat in 2021.

HILLSDALE NOTES

Hillsdale is coming off the back of its first victory of the season, 40-18, over Northwood last week. The Chargers are currently tied for seventh place in the G-MAC with an overall record of 1-4 and 1-2 in conference play.  

HILLSDALE OFFENSE

• Hillsdale ranks fifth in the G-MAC in points per game at 23.0 and fifth in total yards per game with 320.8.
• Garrit Aissen leads the Chargers with 757 passing yards on a 60% completion rate with three touchdowns and seven interceptions. He averages 189.3 yards per game.
• Senior running back Michael Herzog has rushed 115 times this season for a total of 482 yards and six touchdowns. He boasts an average of 4.2 yards per carry and 96.4 yards per game.
• Aissen's go-to receiver so far this year has been Sam Lee with 23 catches for 312 yards and two touchdown grabs. He is followed by Logan VanEnkevort with 10 receptions for 128 yards.

 

HILLSDALE DEFENSE

• Defensively, Hillsdale ranks ninth overall in both points allowed per game (34.2) and yards allowed per game (403.6), ranking only above Lake Erie in both categories.
• Defensive backs Matt Soderdahl and Sam Zemis lead the Chargers in tackles with 28 and 27 respectively. Soderdahl has recorded three tackles for loss and an interception as well.
• Riley Tolsma leads the team in both sacks with three and tackles for loss with six. He has tallied a total of 22 tackles so far this season.
• Freshman linebacker Jacob Vance leads Hillsdale in tackles per game at 7.0 and has recorded 21 tackles in total.

 

TIFFIN NOTES

 Tiffin remains 30th in the latest AFCA Division II Poll and is the only G-MAC school ranked nationally. The Dragons return home after a dominant 47-9 victory over Thomas More to improve to 5-0 and 3-0 in the G-MAC.

TIFFIN OFFENSE

• The Dragon offense ranks first in the conference in points per game with 51.4, nearly 21 more points per game than Findlay in second. Tiffin is first in yard per game as well, averaging 527.2.
• Kason Martin has already surpassed 1,000 yards passing on the year with 1,223 and an average of 244.6 passing yards per game. He has tossed for 14 touchdowns and has a QB efficiency rating of 159.3.
• Last week's G-MAC Offensive Athlete of the Week, Ronald Blackman, has surpassed Devin Nelson in rushing yards with 577 on the season and averages 9.3 yards per carry with a total of four touchdowns.
• Josh Lewis and Cole Schnieder continue to be the two most targeted receivers for Martin with 19 and 18 receptions respectively. Lewis leads in receiving yards with 357 followed by Schnieder with 183. Lewis has also recorded the most touchdown receptions with five followed by Jalen Thomas with four.

 

TIFFIN DEFENSE

• Tiffin's defense allows the fewest points per game in the G-MAC at 17.4 and the second-fewest yards per game at 271.6. As whole, the defense has forced 14 turnovers (8 interceptions and 6 forced fumbles).
• Jesse Connell leads the defense with 26 total tackles, adding five tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries. He is followed by Ramond Jackson and Barry Brown with 24 and 23 respectively. 
• Defensive lineman Robert Holtz leads the team in both sacks with 4.5 and tackles for loss with seven.
• Chucky Lewis leads the secondary with two interceptions and four pass breakups followed by Jesse Johnson and Caleb Streat each with three.