If Tiffin University was looking to make a statement in its 2023 season opener at Frost Kalnow Stadium, it certainly did that.
TU shattered a 16-year-old school record, racking up 79 points in a 79-14 win over McKendree to kick off its season.
It broke the old record of 73 set against Missouri-Rolla in 2007. It also eclipsed their Division II school record set last year of 72 points against Kentucky Wesleyan. Kicker Grant Woodfin's 10 extra points also was a new single-game record, breaking the old record of 9 held by four different kickers.
The game looked like a shootout early on, as the Bearcats scored twice in the first quarter to take a 14-6 lead to open the game.
TU got its first points at the 9:54 mark of the opening quarter, as Jalen Thomas hauled in a 24-yard pass from Kason Martin to cam a four-play, 70-yard drive in just 1:13 that made the score 7-6.
After the Bearcats responded to take a 14-6 lead, the Dragons adjusted, scoring the next 73 points.
Tiffin's Devin Nelson busted a huge 55-yard TD run with 4:55 left in the first quarter, ending another quick-strike attack in just 35 seconds as TU pulled to within 14-13.
TU's defense then got in on the action, with Caleb Streat picking off a McKendree pass on its next possession and returning it 79 yards to put TU ahead to stay 20-14.
Martin continued to run the TU offense like a machine, taking TU's next possession and engineering an 86-yard drive over 7 plays capped off with a 43-yard TD strike to Thomas to push TU's lead to 27-14.
After McKendree missed a 43-yard field goal attempt, TU went back to work. Martin connected with Jack Stultz on a 30-yard completion followed by a 34-yard Nelson run. Nelson punched it in the end zone from 7 yards out at the 7:36 mark of the second quarter as TU jumped ahead 34-14.
The Dragons finished off the first half in style, grinding out a 14-play, 45-yard drive ending in a 26-yard field goal by Grant Woodfin to give TU a 37-14 halftime lead.
Tiffin continued to roll in the second half. The Dragons, who did not punt once on the afternoon, got an interception by Ramond Jackson on McKendree's opening drive of the second half to set up the next TU score. Martin took one play to hit Thomas on a 35-yard TD, Thomas's third of the game, to make it 44-14.
TU put together an 11-play, 82-yard drive on its next possession, with Ronald Blackman finishing the drive with a 17-yard TD run.
Martin added a score on fourth down, pushing it across the line from one yard out to make it 58-14 to start the fourth quarter.
Tiffin's bench got in on the action with three more scores in the final quarter. After Chucky Lewis picked off another MU pass, Tyrese Banks-Dorn ran the ball three times including a final TD from 3 yards out at 13:04.
Justin Wimpye picked up a fumble caused by Khris Walton, returning it 45 yards for another defensive score at the 11:04 mark, while Tyrek Spikes and Banks-Dorn traded rushes on TU's final scoring drive before Banks-Dorn rushed in from 16 yards out to break TU's single-game scoring mark and post the final score of 79-14.
Overall Tiffin was a perfect 6-for-6 in the red zone with 5 touchdowns while also going 4-for-5 on fourth-down conversions. They outgained McKendree 614-265 in total offense, including 292-117 on the ground.
TU's defense forced three interceptions and a fumble while also posting 3 sacks and registering 28 points off turnovers.
Nelson rushed for 155 yards on 12 carries for a whopping 12.9 yards per rush with 2 touchdowns. Thomas hauled in 6 passes for 127 yards and 3 scores, while Martin finished his Dragons debut with 279 yards in three quarters on 17 of 25 passing with no interceptions and 3 touchdowns.
TU also spread the ball around through the air, with Stultz (36 yards), Cole Schnieder (25), James Dean (32), Spikes (43), and Josh Lewis (36) all accounting for 25 or more yards receiving.
Jesse Connell, Jesse Johnson, Zeke Brown, and Marshawn Mankins all led TU with 6 tackles, with Connell, Robert Holtz, and Antonio O'Berry getting sacks.