TIFFIN, Ohio – The Tiffin University football team nearly erased a 14-point fourth-quarter deficit but came up one point short in a 24-23 loss to No. 12 Northwood University Saturday afternoon at Frost-Kalnow Stadium. The loss snapped the Dragons' four-game winning streak and moved Tiffin to 4-2 overall and 3-1 in G-MAC play.
Tiffin controlled possession for much of the afternoon, holding the ball for 35 minutes and finishing with 22 first downs, but the Timberwolves capitalized on key opportunities to remain unbeaten.
The Dragons struck first as
Ben Rudolph connected on a 38-yard field goal midway through the opening quarter. Northwood answered with 17 consecutive points, including a 38-yard touchdown pass from Ethan Hamby to Case Boos, a one-yard scoring pass to Gerry Hanson, and a 33-yard field goal to take a 17-3 lead into halftime.
Coming out of the halftime break, Tiffin mounted an impressive 13-play, 75-yard drive that consumed nearly eight minutes of the third quarter.
Kyle Antoine capped the possession with a 24-yard touchdown strike to
Josiah Raber, cutting the deficit to 17-10. The Dragons' defense then appeared poised for another stop when
Jeremiah Moore intercepted Hamby in the end zone, but Tiffin turned the ball over on the next possession and Northwood capitalized with a short touchdown drive to regain a two-score advantage at 24-10 early in the fourth quarter.
Refusing to go away, the Dragons answered immediately. Antoine found
Joey Zalewski for a 25-yard touchdown pass to pull Tiffin within seven at 24-17. After forcing a punt, the offense marched 78 yards on a 10-play drive, highlighted by a 19-yard completion to Raber and a 42-yard strike to
Tyrik Bryant. Antoine then connected with
Jaedyn McKinstry on a nine-yard touchdown pass with 4:14 remaining. The extra point attempt was unsuccessful, leaving Tiffin one point shy at 24-23.
The Dragons' defense gave the offense one final chance after Northwood missed a 56-yard field goal with 40 seconds left, but the Timberwolves recorded a late sack and fourth-down stop to secure the victory.
Antoine finished 19-of-34 passing for 237 yards and three touchdowns, while adding 27 yards on the ground.
Ronald Blackman led the rushing attack with 57 yards and also hauled in five receptions for 51 yards. Raber paced the receiving corps with five catches for 58 yards and a touchdown, while Bryant totaled 55 receiving yards. Zalewski and McKinstry each caught touchdown passes in the fourth-quarter comeback effort.
Defensively,
Lennox Williams led the Dragons with 13 tackles, while
Jacob Tueimeh added eight stops. Moore's end-zone interception highlighted a defensive effort that also forced two Northwood fumbles.
Northwood was led by Hamby, who threw for 211 yards and two touchdowns, while Case Boos finished with seven receptions for 99 yards and a score. The Timberwolves improved to 6-0 overall and 4-0 in conference play with the win.
The Dragons will look to bounce back next Saturday when they return to G-MAC action on the road at Walsh University. Kickoff from Larry Staudt Field is slated from 12 p.m.
