Tiffin University played a solid game on Senior Day against visiting Michigan Tech University, but fell just short in a 21-14 loss in a Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference game.
The Dragons got a good start after forcing a three and out to start the game. Michigan Tech's Marvin Atkins rushed three times, but the Dragons defense would hold him to eight yards and force a Huskies' punt. The Dragons would be rewarded with good field position when the 11 yard punt sailed out of bounds at the TU 49 yard line.
TU took advantage of the short field as quarterback Nate Scully rushed for four yards. On the next play Alvin McKnight rushed for three more. Facing a third and three, Scully threw a 37 yard pass to Greg Raspberry to set up a first and goal from the MTU seven yard line. On third and goal, Scully threw a touchdown to David Singleton from four yards out to put the Dragons ahead. Boris Bede's PAT made it a 7-0 lead.
TU would get another short field after Chris Evans picked off a MTU pass to set up the Dragons' offense at the MTU 47 yard line. The Dragons picked up one first down, but faced a third and three at the 30 yard line. Bede tried to add three more points on to the Dragons lead, but his 48 yard attempt was wide left.
On the next possession, Evans again picked off Brent Heim's pass to get the ball back for the Dragons. The Dragons offense couldn't take advantage of the good field possession and would trade punts with MTU. The Dragons would punt again which set up the Huskies' first scoring drive. MTU used 11 plays to pick up 64 yards with 54 seconds left in the first half. Tech scored on a rush from one yard out.
The second half started just like the first half ended. The Dragons and Huskies traded punts, and after another Dragon punt, MTU would put together another scoring drive. This time it came on a Heim quarterback sneak from three yards out to cap a nine play 75 yard drive that lasted only 1:27.
The Dragons and MTU again traded punts and yet again after another Dragon punt, the Huskies would score their final points. This time they needed only one pass play to pick up 68 yards and take a 21-7 lead.
The Dragons looked to be out of the game after Scully threw an interception on a fourth and long on the next possession. However, the Dragons defense forced a punt, and turned the punt into seven points when it was blocked, and Rahsan Wilson scooped up the blocked kick and took it to the end zone to pull the Dragons to within seven with three minutes left.
MTU picked up a first down on the next possession that would seal the game at 21-14.
Tech Head Coach Tom Kearly gave credit to the Dragons. "They did a nice job. They stopped the run against us pretty good. They are a young team; we're a very banged up team. Both teams played hard," he said.
TU Coach Dave Walkosky gave credit to his senior class noting the two picks by Evans and the returned blocked punt from Wilson that resulted in the touchdown. "Our seniors are great leaders," he said. He, like Kearly also gave the Dragons running defense credit. "I thought our defense got after them. Their running back is playing his first game back off an injury; he was all conference last year," he added.
Ty Richardson backed up Evans' two interceptions with one of his own. David Pickeral made 12 tackles while DeJuan Graham and David Rumley each made two tackles for the Dragons' defense.
Scully had 30 passing yards to lead the offense while McKinght and Brett Koepp had 31 and 27 rushing yards respectively.
Tiffin University (0-10) will finish their season next week when they travel to Hillsdale.
