For Tiffin University and their football fans, it may be just as well to avoid double overtime games against Malone at Canton.
For the second consecutive year, TU battled Malone on the road and fell in a double overtime thriller, this time by a 33-27 score. In 2011, the Dragons lost 40-34.
The game was a back and forth affair that saw 7 lead changes and the Dragons stage a comeback from 10 points down with less than 5:00 to play to force overtime. But missed opportunities throughout the game and the Dragons' inability to stop Malone's ground game ultimately proved too much to overcome.
Four times in the game, the Dragons managed drives that brought them inside Malone's 38 yard line but came away with no points on the board. The most frustrating drive was at the stat of the second quarter when the Dragons brought the ball down to the Malone 2 yard line but failed to convert on a fourth and one and turned the ball over on downs.
The Dragons were also outgained on the ground 289-103, allowing Malone to hold over a 6:00 edge in time of possession (33:05-26:55). Overall Malone outgained the Dragons 479-380 and had 28 first downs to TU's 21.
After Malone kicked a 35 yard field goal to open scoring, the Dragons responded on their first drive of the game, driving 77 yards in 9 plays and scoring on a 16 yard TD pass from James Capello to Pedro Correa at the 7:07 mark.
Malone recaptured the lead on a short 2 yard run at 2:35 of the first quarter, but TU finished the second quarter with a 81 yard drive that ended with a nice 32 yard TD catch by Obadiah Dykes from Capello with 1:43 left in the half. Score at the half - TU 14, Malone 10.
Malone retook the lead at 5:17 of the third quarter on a 25 yard TD pass, then pushed their lead to 10 points on another score on a 16 yard pass with 11:27 to go.
TU started their comeback when Theron Carter blocked a Malone punt. Backup quarterback Dan Pitts came out and finished off the drive with a 16 yard pass to Tyler Jones with 2:52 to play that made the score Malone 24, TU 21.
After failing to recover the onside kick, TU eventually got the ball back as the defense held and started their final drive with 1:14 to play. The Dragons drove 47 yards in 7 plays, setting up Seth Pekoe's 34 yard field goal with just 6 seconds left to force overtime.
In the first overtime period, Malone opened with a 27 yard field goal before TU took their shot. The Dragons then moved the ball down to the Malone 6 yard line and looked poised to get the win with a touchdown. But the Dragons failed to get in the end zone and Pekoe booted a 24 yard field goal that sent the game to its second overtime.
This time the Dragons got the ball first and once again moved down field, reaching the Pioneers' 8 yard line. But a Pitts sack and a blocked field goal attempt gave Malone the ball with a chance to put the game away. Three plays later, the Pioneers scored on a 12 yard run for the victory.
Capello completed 17 of 24 passes for 183 yards and 2 touchdowns with 2 interceptions while Pitts also completed 9 of 15 passes for 85 yards and a score. Eleven different receivers caught passes, led by Dykes with 69 yards and a score, Jeremy Armstrong with 53 receiving yards, and Jones with 33 yards. Dominique White was TU's leading rusher with 58 yards.
Keith Butts led the defense with 11 tackles including a sack, 2 tackles for loss, and a forced fumble. Antonio Etter had 9 tackles with a tackle for loss, while Bryon McCorkle also had 8 tackles. Mike Virgin, Cortez Fleming, and Kyle Finch also had 6 tackles apiece, with Fleming adding a fumble recovery.
