Tiffin University prepares for another tough opponent as Truman State comes to town.
Posted: Sep 23, 2021
12th-ranked Tiffin University will take on Truman State at 3 pm at Frost Kalnow Stadium as the Dragons play another tough non-conference opponent.
TU used clutch fourth-quarter defense and a great performance off the bench to pull out a gutsy 20-17 win over 12th-ranked Indianapolis. Latrell Robinson (GMAC Def. Player of Week) had a 44 yard interception return for TD while Miles Johnson came off the bench to lead the go-ahead drive early in the fourth quarter. The defense then shut down the Greyhounds the rest of the way for the big victory.
Tiffin has never played against Truman State. This marks the second week in a row that TU is facing a nationally-ranked program, with the Bulldogs just outside the Top 25 receiving votes in the latest AFCA Division II poll.
Truman State Notes
- The Truman State Football program continues to churn out victories after handing Hillsdale (Mich.) College a 38-24 defeat in the 2021 home opener on Saturday. The Bulldogs are 3-0 on the fall season, 7-1 in games played in 2021 and 26-5 since September of 2018.
- The team is on the cusp of the American Football Coaches Association Top 25 poll as they are 26th in votes with 62. The Bulldogs were last ranked in October 2019 at #24 when they started the season 5-0 but dropped out after that week's loss to Lindenwood 28-24.
Truman State Offense
- In seven games as a starter, quarterback Nolan Hair has completed 57% of his passes for 1,294 yards and 14 touchdowns. He is 6-1 as a starter.
- Ten different Bulldogs have had receptions this year led by Dante Ruffin's 12 for 120 yards. Zach Zerwig and Jaylen Jefferson have six apiece while Cody Schrader, Matt Hall and Jake Ellis have five each. Ruffin has now gone over 1,000 receiving yards (1,036) on 92 catches while Ellis is the active leader in both catches and yards with 93 for 1,154 yards. Ellis is currently tied for the school record with 22 touchdown receptions and will hold the record outright on his next TD catch.
- The workhorse in the backfield has been Schrader with 72 carries for 470 yards this season. Hair is second in carries with 11. Schrader has averaged 6.5 yards per touch and 156.7 yards per game this year. He has gone over 100 yards in three of the four games this season and eight career 100+ yards games for his career. His single-game high was 217 yards on 35 attempts in the season opener against Davenport.
- Fullback Jacob Morris is a four-time all-GLVC performer and has been a key component of the Bulldog success in his 40 games played. Morris has five rush attempts and 42 receptions for 411 yards.
Truman State Defense
- UIndy's defense has had a strong start to the season, holding opponents to 71 rushing yards, 308 passing yards and 20.50 points per game.
- Truman boasts the top defense in the GLVC during these non-conference games by nearly 80 yards per game as the unit has allowed 266.3 yards per game with only 63 coming on the ground and 202 through the air.
- Eight players on defense have over 10 tackles in their first three games with redshirt freshman Ulysses Ross and sophomore Ben Thomas tied atop with 19 each. Ross has 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack while Thomas has 2.5 TFLs and four pass break-ups. Truman has sacked the opposing quarterback eight times and has 23 tackles for loss.
Tiffin Notes
- The Dragons have had a hot start to the 2021 Fall Season going undefeated after three weeks with wins against Marian, Northwood and No. 15 UIndy.
- Tiffin has gone 18-2 over the last 20 games and look to capture their third consecutive Great Midwest Athletic Conference Championship.
- Tiffin was selected first in the 2021 Preseason Coaches Poll, receiving 48 points with 6 first-place votes followed by Findlay, Ohio Dominican and GMAC newcomer Ashland.
- Last week, Tiffin traveled to Indianapolis to face the University of Indianapolis and won 20-17. With the win Tiffin moved up to 12th in the AFCA poll and 13th in the D2Football.com poll.
Tiffin Offense
- The Dragons' offense continues to impress as they average 31 points per game, 241 passing yards, and 184 rushing yards.
- Nick Watson, the reigning GMAC Player of the Year, has thrown for 611 yards with a 53.0 completion percentage, five passing touchdowns, and a 127.5 efficiency rating.
- Watson's main weapons are Anthony Lowe with 23 catches for 278 yards and two touchdown catches, and teammate Jalen Thomas, who has 9 catches for 131 yards and three receiving touchdowns.
- Tiffin has a three pronged rushing attach with Baden Pinson leading the way with 30 rushes for 171 yards, averaging 57.0 per game, Nick Watson rushing 21 times for 128 yards and three rushing touchdowns, and Darius Pinnix rushing 27 times for 179 yards and two rushing touchdowns.
- The Dragons' offensive line is led by reigning GMAC Offensive Lineman of the Year Trent Clark along with Caleb Pierce, Shane Bumgardner, Jacob Oglesby, and Zack Richardson.
Tiffin Defense
- Tiffin's defense picked up right where they left off in the spring of 2021, as they have dominated the opposition. Only allowing 256.7 yards of total offense, 72.7 rushing yards allowed, 184.0 passing yards and holding opponents to 11.0 points per game.
- Latrell Robinson had a crucial pick six in the second half to get Tiffin back in the game against UIndy, leading to him being named GMAC Defensive Player of the Week.
- Tiffin has registered 11 sacks, four interceptions, 25 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles through three games.
- The D-line is led by GMAC Defensive Lineman of the Year Charlie Cleveland with 26 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 3.5 tackles for loss, Landon Hall with 24 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and one forced fumble, and Hunter Waits with 12 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2.0 tackles for loss.