Tiffin University (5-3, 4-2 G-MAC) lost a hard fought overtime thriller 30-27 to 20th-ranked Ashland on Homecoming.

The Dragons spotted the Eagles 14 points to open the game, as Ashland scored twice in the first seven minutes. Tiffin picked up a 33-yard field goal from Ben Rudolph at the end of the first quarter to get on the board, trailing 14-3.

With the first half winding down, the Dragons mounted a 94-yard drive that ended with a 5-yard TD toss from Alex Johnson to Jaedyn McKinstry with 2:19 left as Tiffin pulled to within 14-10.

Ashland responded by executing its 2:00 offense, ending with a 44-yard field goal with 32 seconds left to take a 17-10 lead into halftime.

Tiffin opened the second half with a 71-yard drive that tied the score when Ronald Blackman hauled in a 37-yard touchdown pass from Johnson at the 11:34 mark.

Ashland posted its own 70-yard drive to score with 3:57 left in the third quarter and pull back ahead 24-17.

Tiffin narrowed the gap with 8:58 left in the fourth quarter when Rudolph hit a 28-yard field goal to make it 24-20.

TU dramatically took the lead with 4:56 left in the game when it finished a 2-play, 84-yard drive with a 47-yard touchdown reception by Ethan Holbrook from Johnson that was set up by a 37-yard catch and run by Joey Zalewski.

A 30-yard field goal by Ashland with 1:01 to play tied the score 27-27 and sent it to overtime. The Eagles attempted a 31-yard field goal in overtime which was blocked by the Dragons but an offsides penalty gave Ashland second life. The Eagles then kicked a 27-yard field goal on their overtime possession to go ahead 27-24.

On their overtime possession, the Dragons attempted a pass on 3rd-and-7 into the end zone which was intercepted to end the game. 

Overall Tiffin outgained Ashland 412-377 with 414 of those yards coming through the air. Tiffin managed just -2 yards net rushing, however, as Ashland held a 172 to -2 yards edge in rushing. Tiffin also converted just 5 of 14 third-down conversions.

Johnson's 414 yards passing was the third-highest total in TU history, as he went 30 for 41 with only interception coming on the game's final play. 

Emari White was the prime beneficiary of the passing yards, catching 5 passes for 100 yards. Zalewski had 4 catches for 73 yards, Holbrook had 64 yards, Will Jackson-Linkhart had 62 yards, and Blackman had 58 yards. White also had 90 yards in kick returns.

Defensively Jacob Tueimeh had 10 tackles with a forced fumble, while Danny Mason had 8 stops. Isaiah Funches-Foster and Jalen Coles had 7 tackles each , while Malik Baker, Gio Albanese, and Khris Walton had 6 tackles apiece.