Tiffin, Ohio- The University of Findlay football team, ranked #22 in the country, went on the road to play in the "Battle of 224" against the Tiffin University Dragons on Saturday, Nov. 16. TU struck early and often on the way to handing the Oilers a 37-14 defeat. With that loss, Findlay falls to 9-2 in the regular season and finish the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (G-MAC) slate with a 7-2 record. Tiffin finishes its' regular season at 8-3 overall and 7-2 in the league.
The Dragons kicked off to start the game and chose to try for an onside kick. Findlay did recover, but a quick three-and-out gave the ball back to TU which marched down the field for the first score of the game.
Another three-and-out by Findlay turned into points for the Dragons which had opened up a 14-0 lead through ten minutes of play.
At the start of the second quarter, the Dragons opened up a 21-0 advantage.
Findlay would finally respond in the middle of the quarter when junior Jayden Farmer found the endzone from a yard out.
Just before the half, the momentum shifted when Tiffin, trying to be aggressive, threw an interception with less than a minute to play before half. Defensive lineman Londyn Claxton tipped the screen pass to himself and rumbled into the endzone for a pick-six. That score sent the game into the break with the Dragons on top 21-14.
The Oilers' could not get much going in the second half and TU used a pair of big-play scores to open the game up, going on to secure a 23-point win.
Tiffin doubled up Findlay in total offense, 480-to-238, an attack that included 228 yards on the ground and 252 through the air.
Romaro Warren Jr. led Findlay with 12 tackles including one tackle-for-loss. Jayon Harvey and Isaiah each had eight stops.
Farmer finished with nine carries for 31 yards and a score.
Quarterback Matthew Rueve tossed the ball 22-for-39 for 193 yards. He did not throw a touchdown pass and had a pair of interceptions.
The Oilers, which were ranked fifth in the latest Super Region 1 rankings, will now wait to see if the committee determines their resume is worthy of a spot in the NCAA Playoffs. The selection show will air tomorrow, Nov. 17, at 6:00 pm.
