Tiffin University (1-2, 0-2 GLIAC) had never held Grand Valley State to less than 47 points in any of their four games in their history. And over the last two seasons, the Lakers had managed to score 70 and 71 points.
So when the Dragons welcomed the Lakers, ranked 4th in NCAA Division II, to Frost Kalnow Stadium for their third game of the season, expectations could have been understandably low. Especially after the Dragons lost three starters on their offensive line to injury the previous week against Michigan Tech.
But the Dragons responded with their best defensive effort ever against the Lakers, falling 28-0 while also getting a superb rushing effort from Dominique White.
White, a 5-9, 205 pound junior, pounded out 164 yards on 23 carries, averaging 7.1 yards per rush in the best rushing game of the season so far for TU. The strong rushing effort helped the Dragons finish within 50 yards (363-313) of the Lakers in total offense.
The Dragons allowed just one score in the first quarter, as the Lakers took advantage of a big 58 yard pass play to set up a 1-yard pass from Heath Parling to Charles Johnson at the 5:25 mark to make it 7-0.
Grand Valley scored on its next possession as well, culminating its only sustained drive of the day with a 8 yard run by Michael Ratay at the 12:24 mark of the second quarter. It capped a 9 play, 63 yard drive.
Another long pass play, this one 58 yards from Isiah Grimes to Johnson, led to another GV score when Ratay grabbed a 5 yard toss from Grimes to make it 21-0 at the half.
The Lakers opened the second half with a 77 yard kickoff return by Kirk Spencer, giving GV the ball on the TU 9 yard line. Johnson hauled in a 1-yard pass from Grimes to make it 28-0 and finish the scoring.
The Dragons' best drive of the day came in the fourth quarter, when they took the ball on their own 13 yard line and drove down to the Lakers' 11 yard line. But TU could not put points on the board, as a fourth down pass from James Capello went in and out of Pedro Correa's hands.
Overall Tiffin had 21 first downs to Grand Valley's 12. The Lakers held edges in rushing 157-144 and passing 206-169. The biggest difference came in the efficiency of the Lakers' attack. They averaged 7.1 yards per play, running 51 plays to TU's 77. Despite 26 fewer plays, they outgained TU overall 363-313.
White's 164 yards was the most yards gained rushing in a game for TU since Austin Clopton's 168 gained against Lincoln on Nov. 4, 2006. Capello finished with 169 yards passing on 24 of 40 passes and one interception. He was also sacked twice.
Obadiah Dykes had 4 catches for 51 yards while Marcus Beaurem had 5 for 50 yards. Ten different Dragons caught passes.
Logan Kaminski led the team with 7 tackles and a tackle for loss, while Josh Pribble also had 7 tackles including one for a loss. Kyle Finch had 5 tackles with a sack while Mike Virgin had 5 stops and Brandon Person had 4 tackles with an interception and a tackle for loss.
