It had been a long time - 43 games, to be exact - since Tiffin University had last won a GLIAC football game. But that all changed in TU's 27-22 win over visiting Notre Dame College, as the Dragons kept the offense moving and the defense kept the Falcons 13 points below their per game average to pick up the win.


Things got off on the right foot for Tiffin early, as they put 10 unanswered points on the board in the first quarter. Seth Pekoe booted a 27 yard field goal at the 1:55 mark to put TU up 3-0, then after Logan Kaminski picked up a ND fumble after Bryon McCorkle's sack of quarterback Ray Russ, the Dragons scored on their first play when Dan Pitts hit Jeremy Ortiz on a 32 yard touchdown pass as TU led 10-0.

The score seemed to wake up the Falcons, as they took the next possession at their own 25 and marched down field. With time winding down on the quarter, they reached the Dragons' 1 yard line. But two shots on third and fourth down from the 1-yard line were stuffed by TU's Keith Butts and Kaminski as the Dragons got the ball back.

After a three-and-out by the Dragons, the Falcons showed their own quick strike offense, as Russ hit Jack Foy on a 22 yard touchdown catch to make it 10-7, TU.

Notre Dame's Jordan Colson then tied the game at 10-10 with a 41 yard field goal at the 6:57 mark of the second quarter.

With time running out in the half, the Dragons faced a first and 17 from the Falcons' 40 yard line. But with 1:16 left in the half, Pitts found Obadiah Dykes over the middle and Dykes took off for a 40 yard score that gave TU the halftime lead 17-10.

It was the second big play of the first half for Dykes, who also hauled in a 69 yard completion from Pedro Correa that set up Pekoe's field goal in the first quarter.

The Falcons kept the game close, scoring at the 7:38 mark of the third quarter on a 1-yard run by Pedro Powell that looked to tie the score at 17-17. But Kaminski blocked the extra point kick, leaving the Falcons a point shy of a tie at 17-16.

The Dragons responded immediately, driving 70 yards in 6 plays and capping it off with a 14 yard TD reception by Ortiz from Pitts that put the score at 24-16. Marcus Beaurem was the star of that drive, hauling in three straight passes for 46 yards as TU marched down field.

Again, Notre Dame would not fold, as they took the next possession and drove 75 yards and scored with 1:40 left in the third quarter on a 2-yard run by Foy. The pass conversion failed, however, making the score 24-22, TU.

Tiffin's defense stepped up in the fourth quarter, allowing no points, blocking a punt, registering a sack, and forcing 8 incompletions on three possessions. The Dragons got a 35 yard field goal from Pekoe with 5:26 left in the game to make the score 27-22.

After another three-and-out by the Falcons, TU took over the ball with 4:13 to play and looked to run out the clock. Facing a fourth-and-one from the Notre Dame 33 yard line, the Dragons went for it and Pitts found Mark Rogers for a 5 yard game that gave TU the first down and effectively ended the game.

Dykes had a monster game, posting the sixth-highest yardage game at receiver in school history with 194 yards on 10 catches. It was the highest total by any TU receiver in history not named Nate Washington, as Washington (currently playing with the Tennessee Titans) had five games with over 200 yards receiving in his career.

Pitts finished with 294 yards passing on 25 of 40 attempts with just one interception and 3 TDs. Beaurem had 67 yards on 5 catches and Ortiz had 61 yards on his 4 receptions. Dominique White was TU's leading rusher with 54 yards on 11 rushes (4.9 yards per rush).

Pekoe hit two field goals and averaged 34.7 yards per punt, while Tomislav Derezic had 4 touchbacks on kickoffs and averaged 63.5 yards per kick.

Defensively the Dragons had numerous standouts. Keith Butts led the defense with 11 tackles while Logan Snell had 8 stops with 2 tackles for loss. McCorkle had 8 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble while Joseph Collard added 8 tackles with a sack, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble.

Will Cook also had 8 stops, Brandon Person had 7 tackles with an interception, and Kaminski had 7 tackles, a tackle for loss, a fumble recovery, and a blocked kick. Kyle Finch and Theron Carter also had blocks.

Overall the Dragons outgained the Falcons 422-342 despite running 13 fewer overall plays (82-69). TU did most of their damage through the air, outgaining ND 363-237 passing. TU's defense also forced a fumble, interception, and posted 3 sacks.