When trying to upset the 5th-ranked team in the nation, it is advisable not to spot them 21 points to start the game.
Yet, even though Tiffin University (2-9, 1-8 GLIAC) did just that against Ashland (10-0, 9-0), they still found themselves battling, down by just 2 touchdowns midway through the third quarter.
In the end, it wasn't enough, as Ashland wrapped up the GLIAC Championship with a 49-21 victory at Frost Kalnow Stadium.
Ashland, off to their best start in 40 years, came in to the game red hot and scored 21 points in the first quarter in what appeared to be shaping up as a rout. A 9 play, 75 yard drive ended with an 8 yard TD toss to open the game. A bad Tiffin punt snap gave Ashland great field position at the TU 28 yard line, which they capitalized on with a 2 yard TD pass after five plays to make it 14-0. The Eagles then wrapped up the first quarter with a 33 yard touchdown pass that ended a 4 play, 64 yard drive.
Just like that, it was 21-0.
The Dragons responded in the new quarter by putting together a 12 play, 80 yard drive that ended with a 1 yard run by Kevin Humphrey that got TU on the board 21-6.
Then momentum started to shift Tiffin's way, as Ashland quarterback Taylor Housewright's streak of 377 consecutive passes without an interception was snapped by Kyle Finch's interception that gave TU the ball on the Ashland 16 yard line.
The Dragons moved the ball down to the 2 yard line and looked ready to climb to within one touchdown of the Eagles when an errant snap sailed over quarterback Dan Pitts's head and was recovered by Ashland's Tyler McFarlin to kill the Dragons' drive.
Tiffin never threatened the rest of the half and headed to the halftime lockerroom down 21-6.
The Eagles scored at 8:13 of the third quarter to expand on their lead, but the Dragons answered with Jeremy Armstrong hauled in a 25 yard pass from Pitts to make it 28-14 at the 6:53 mark of the third quarter.
Needing a stop defensively, the Dragons could not come through, as Ashland drove 60 yards and connected on a 21 yard TD pass that made it 35-14.
Ashland added another score on a 15 yard run to put TU in the hole 42-14. Humphrey scored on a 3 yard run to cap a 10 play, 79 yard drive to make it 42-21, but it was too little, too late, as Ashland fielded an onside kick attempt and returned it 46 yards to cap the scoring at 49-21.
Ashland held Tiffin to -27 yards rushing, in large part due to 23 yards lost on a botched punt and 50 yards lost on 5 sacks. Humphrey finished with 32 yards on 14 carries. Ashland rushed for 183 yards.
Overall AU outgained TU 440-295 and had 26 first downs to Tiffin's 17. Dan Pitts battled throughout the game, connecting on 29 of 43 passes with no interceptions for 322 yards. Marcus Beaurem was the top recipient, hauling in 8 passes for 110 yards while Armstrong had 6 catches for 93 yards.
Defensively Antonio Etter had 10 tackles while Brandon Person had 7 tackles with a forced fumble. Josh Pribble also had 7 stops with a tackle for loss, and Bryon McCorkle also had 6 tackles.
