Tiffin University (2-0) turned up the heat on defense, forcing eight turnovers en route to a 42-7 win at St. Anselm.

The defense hit hard all day, intercepting four passes, forcing four fumbles, and posting two sacks while holding the Hawks to just 56 yards on the ground.

Tiffin made a statement on its first defensive stand, as Barry Brown registered a huge sack that forced a fumble recovered by Jesse Connell. Devin Nelson took the first snap and rumbled 30 yards for a touchdown to put TU ahead 7-0.

Tiffin also scored on its next offensive possession, with quarterback Kason Martin and the offense starting at their own 17-yard line and driving the field. Ronald Blackman had a big 32-yard run that set up a 4-yard TD pass from Martin to Jalen Thomas for another score at the 5:01 mark of the first quarter.

Following a Patrick Tueimeh interception and a fourth-down stand by TU's defense, the Dragons' offense went back to work. They got another score with 4:12 left in the half when Carson Gresock banged it in from one yard out to push the score to 21-0.

TU got the ball back quickly, as Caleb Streat got another interception, and though the subsequent possession resulted in a missed field goal, the TU defense continued to make a statement as they went into the halftime locker room up 21 points.

St. Anselm tried to change the momentum coming out of the halftime break. They scored on their opening possession to make the score 21-7 and then quickly forced a fumble defensively to get the ball back immediately and threatened to cut the lead to just one score.

However, on the Hawks' first play after the fumble, St. Anselm fumbled after a reception and Tiffin's Ramond Jackson scooped up the ball and streaked down the sideline 48 yards to grab the momentum back for TU and put them ahead 28-7.

DJ Harris got another Dragons' interception late in the third quarter, which TU converted into another score. Martin hit Will Linkhart on a 4-yard pass, finishing up a 23-yard drive and expanding the lead to 35-7.

Tiffin's Chucky Lewis got another interception early in the fourth quarter, while the Tiffin offense continued to emphasize the running game to keep the clock moving. 

Robert Holtz got another sack late in the fourth quarter to force another fumble, which Gresock ultimately rushed in for a 2-yard score on Tiffin's last score of the game.

Overall TU outgained St. Anselm 372-209 including 204-56 on the ground. Devin Nelson led all rushers with 113 yards on 15 carries (7.5 per carry). Blackman added 76 yards on 7 carries for another huge 10.9 yards per carry. Gresock also had 45 yards rushing.

Martin finished 17 for 28 for 168 yards with no interceptions and 2 touchdowns. Linkhart led the receivers with 71 yards while Cole Schnieder had 50 yards at tight end. 

Barry Brown led the defense with 7 tackles and a sack with a fumble forced and a breakup. Jackson had 5 stops and a 48-yard fumble recovery for a score. Holtz had a sack and 2 tackles for loss along with a forced fumble.

Tueimeh, Streat, Harris, and Lewis all had interceptions while Connell, Gio Albanese, and Antonio O'Berry had fumble recoveries.

The Dragons stay on the road next week in their G-MAC opener as they travel to Northwood for a 1 pm contest.