Tiffin's defense will take on the Hillsdale offense in the annual Homecoming game.
Posted: Sep 29, 2021
Tiffin University (3-1) takes on Hillsdale (1-3) in the 2021 Homecoming game Oct. 2 at 4 pm at Frost Kalnow Stadium.
TU suffered its first setback of the season last Saturday. For 59 minutes and 34 seconds against Truman State, Tiffin University never trailed and actually led by as many as 18 points. But it was the final 26 seconds that mattered most, as the Bulldogs closed out the game scoring 21 unanswered points to defeat 12th-ranked Tiffin 38-35 for its first loss of the season. Nick Watson finished with 367 passing yards on 30 of 39 completions while Jalen Thomas had 190 receiving yards on 12 catches.
Tiffin holds a 6-8 record against Hillsdale but has won the last two meetings, winning in 2019 35-24 and winning last spring 28-7. In 2018 the Dragons fell on the road 48-26. Overall TU has won four of the last six contests. They have been outscored over the 14-game series 412-325.
Hillsdale Notes
- The Chargers nabbed their first win of the season last week against Missouri S&T, winning 38-31. The Chargers overcame a 17-point first half deficit on their Homecoming day.
- Hillsdale was ranked fifth in the Preseason poll with 27 points.
- Hillsdale has had a tough couple games to start the season, facing Michigan Tech in the low scoring 14-10 loss, hosting an AFCA ranked University of Indianapolis in a narrow 35-31 loss, and falling to AFCA ranked Truman State 38-24.
Hillsdale Offense
- Through four games the Charger offense is averaging 290 total yards, 102.3 rushing yards, 188.3 passing yards, and 25.8 points per game.
- Despite an injury last week, Luke Keller gets the nod at QB. This season he has passed for 437 yards, with a 51.6 completion percentage, with four passing touchdowns, 119 rushing yards, and two rushing touchdowns.
- Isaac TeSlaa has been a breakout star for the Chargers in the last three weeks, accounting for 166 receiving yards and a touchdown against Indianapolis, then adding 90 receiving yards and another score against Truman, and four catches for 58 yards and a score against Missouri S&T. The son of former Charger receiver Mark TeSlaa, who led Hillsdale in receiving yards in 1996, TeSlaa's 256 receiving yards in two games are the most by a Charger receiver since teammate Konnor Maloney had 260 receiving yards against Indianapolis and Lake Erie in back-to-back weeks in September of 2019.
- Jack Robinson leads the backfield for Hillsdale as he has 44 rushes for 135 yards, and one touchdown along with starting quarterback Keller who has 119 yards and two touchdowns.
Hillsdale Defense
- Hillsdale's defense is fifth in the GMAC in points allowed at 29.5 points a game. However the defense is second in the conference with 11 sacks and third in the conference with four interceptions, giving them a +2 turnover margin.
- Hillsdale returns 18 starters from the Spring 2021 season, including all three of Hillsdale's first team All-G-MAC honorees – offensive lineman Cole Johnson, defensive tackle Nate Chambers, and safety Zach Herzog – as well as 10 of the Chargers' 11 All-Conference players overall.
- A standout for the previous three seasons for the Chargers, Alex Anschutz is making his final season his best yet. Hillsdale's STAR, a linebacker/safety hybrid position, currently leads the entire G-MAC in tackles (42) and tackles per game (10.5). Anschutz is not the only Charger defender standing out – Zach Herzog, his teammate, is close behind in the G-MAC with 35 total tackles.
Tiffin Notes
- The Dragons have had a hot start to the 2021 Fall Season going 3-1 with a win against ranked UIndy.
- This week the Dragons start conference action against Hillsdale College.
- 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 hosted No. 18 Truman State and lost by a narrow 38-35 score line.
Tiffin Offense
- The Dragons offense looks impressive as they average 32.3 points per game (2nd in the GMAC), 274.0 passing yards (2nd in the GMAC) with 11 passing touchdowns (T-2nd in the GMAC), and 151.3 rushing yards (3rd in the GMAC) with six rushing touchdowns (3rd in the GMAC).
- Nick Watson the reigning GMAC Player of the Year has thrown for 978 yards (3rd in the GMAC) with a 60.7 completion percentage, nine passing touchdowns (2nd in the GMAC), and a 147.4 efficiency rating.
- Watson's main weapons are Anthony Lowe with 27 catches (T-1st in the GMAC) for 317 yards (2nd in the GMAC), and two touchdown catches, teammate Jalen Thomas who has 21 catches (4th in the GMAC) for 321 yards (2nd in the GMAC) and five receiving touchdowns (T-1st in the GMAC).
- Tiffin has a three pronged rushing attack with Darius Pinnix leading the way with 37 rushes for 214 yards, averaging 53.5 per game and two rushing touchdowns, Nick Watson rushing 21 times for 128 yards and three rushing touchdowns, and Baden Pinson rushing 37 times for 198 yards, averaging 49.5 yards per game.
- 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 290 yards of total offense (1st in the GMAC), 104.8 rushing yards allowed (1st in the GMAC), 185.3 passing yards (3rd in the GMAC) and holding opponents to 17.8 points per game (1st in the GMAC).
- Tiffin has registered a conference leading 12 sacks (1st in the GMAC), five interceptions (2nd in the GMAC), 29 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles, giving Tiffin a +3 turnover margin.
- The D-line is led by the GMAC Defensive Lineman of the Year Charlie Cleveland with 29 tackles, 4.5 sacks (T-1st in the GMAC), and 4.5 tackles for loss, Landon Hall with 34 tackles (6th in the GMAC), 2.5 sacks, and one forced fumble, and Hunter Waits with 12 tackles, 2 sacks, and 2.0 tackles for loss.