Tiffin University (1-1) turned the ball over four times leading to 28 points, as 8th-ranked Lenoir-Rhyne defeated the Dragons 38-17.

The Dragons had two interceptions and two fumbles lost, including on their opening drive of the game when the Bears picked off an Alex Johnson pass at the Tiffin 33-yard line.The Bears capitalized shortly thereafter as they connected on a 23-yard touchdown pass to jump ahead 7-0.

Tiffin responded on its next possession. Starting at its own 20-yard line, TU got a big 32-yard run from Ronald Blackman before Johnson connected with Blackman on a 7-yard TD pass that tied the game 7-7.

Late in the first quarter, the Dragons started another drive and moved down to the Bears' 38-yard line. LRU intercepted another Johnson pass and returned it 68 yards for a score that put them ahead to stay 14-7.

The turnovers continued to prove costly in the first half, as TU fumbled on the first play of its next drive to give the Bears the ball on Tiffin's 32-yard line. On 4th-and-4, LRU struck again for a 26-yard touchdown pass that expanded the lead to 21-7.

The Dragons continued to fight, forcing a three-and-out on their next defensive stand and giving the offense the ball on the LRU 39-yard line. TU moved the ball down to the 11-yard line before settling for a 28-yard field goal from Ben Rudolph to make the score 21-10.

Lenoir-Rhyne got the ball back with 2:13 left in the half and drove 57 yards before scoring on a 2-yard TD pass with 23 seconds left to post a 28-10 lead at halftime.

Tiffin pulled to within 11 points on its opening drive of the second half. A 35-yard pass play from Johnson to Javier Wills led to an 18-yard TD catch from Joey Zalewski to pull TU to within 28-17.

Tiffin was poised to climb to within four points on their next possession. Starting at their 32-yard line, TU drove down the field before fumbling on the LRU 5-yard line. The Bears picked up the fumble and returned it 75 yards, setting up an eventual 1-yard run for a score that suddenly put LRU up 36-17 late in the third quarter. 

The Dragons were unable to mount a comeback after their final fumble, with the Bears kicking a field goal to finish the scoring midway through the fourth quarter.

Overall the Dragons had 17 first downs to LRU's 13, 307 yards of offense to the Bears' 235, and outgained LRU in both rushing and passing. TU's defense held LRU to just 87 yards rushing in the game. The 28 points off turnovers coupled with a 4-for-12 performance on third downs were too much for the Dragons to overcome.

Blackman led the team with 93 yards rushing while Nick Johnson added 47 yards. Johnson finished 16 for 28 passing with 174 yards, 2 TDs, and 2 interceptions. Wills led the receiving corps with 79 yards while Jalen Thomas added 49 yards.

Defensively Kenneth Byrd led the way with 12 tackles including 2 for loss. Isaiah Foster had 6 stops while Khris Walton, Danny Mason, and Jalen Coles had 5 tackles each. Walton had the game's lone sack for TU.