ALLENDALE, Mich. - The Tiffin University football team (0-3, 0-2 GLIAC) set five series highs as they fell 42-17 to #10 Grand Valley State (3-0, 1-0 GLIAC), Saturday night at Lubbers Stadium.
Tiffin hung tough in the first quarter, trailing just 14-0. Starting out the second quarter, the Dragons got a 16-yard run by Antonio Pipkin. That made it first and 10 at the Grand Valley State 15-yard line. The Lakers forced a fumble and recovered with 13:34 to go.
GVSU then drove 84 yards in six plays to get in the end zone at the 11:45 mark. However, Grand Valley State picked off a pass, leading to another touchdown just 17 seconds later to make it 28-0. TU got on the board as Pipkin hit Jeremy Armstrong for a six-yard touchdown pass with 2:13 to go in the first half. The score was 35-6, GVSU at the half.
In the third quarter, Tiffin outgained the Lakers 167 to 88. Seth Pekoe hit a field goal from 34 yards to make it 35-9. With 1:09 left in the third, Jerry Brown scored his first collegiate touchdown on a 25-yard pass from Pipkin. On the 2-point conversion attempt, Tyler Jones found Joseph Collard in the end zone to make it 35-17.
In the fourth quarter, GVSU got the ball with 11:09 to go. They proceeded to keep the ball on the ground for nearly five minutes. That resulted in a touchdown with 6:11 to go to seal the game.
Tiffin had 391 yards in total offense, the most against the Laker defense this season. The Dragons ran for 87 yards and were 31-of-43 for 304 yards in the air. The total offense and passing yards were series bests.
Individually, Pipkin was 24-of-31 for 236 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 62 yards, accumulating 298 yards in total offense. His passing and total offense yards were the most in the series history. Brown caught six passes for 82 yards (a series high) and a touchdown while Jacob Schneider had six catches for 41 yards. Armstrong finished the night with four catches for 46 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Brandon Person led the way with 10 tackles. Judes Amilcar and Collard each had a sack, resulting in losses of 15 yards.
Grand Valley State ran for 291 yards, threw for 266 to total 557 yards in offense. Isiah Grimes was 11-of-23 for 266 yards and two touchdowns. Michael Ratay had a strong night, rushing for 174 yards and three touchdowns and averaging over 12.5 yards a carry. Jamie Potts had just two catches, both for touchdowns.
Defensively, Matt Mosley had two of GVSU's seven sacks on the night. David Talley had nine tackles and Branden Delk recorded eight.
