Associate Sports Editorzbaker@advertiser-tribune.com

Tiffin University's football team won one game last season, but probably would have had more wins if it had a kicking game.

The Dragons struggled (and that's putting it mildly) with field goals, extra points, kickoffs and punts.

It appears the problem has been solved.

Boris Bede was set to be on the roster last season, but the French-born kicker was unable to play due to academic issues. He's expected to play next fall, and if Saturday's spring game is any indication, TU will go from having one of the worst kicking games in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference to one of the best.

Bede was the star of the spring game even before it started. While the Dragons were warming up on one side of the field, Bede was kicking field goals. After he made one, he'd move further back. He nailed a kick from 56 yards during pregame.

Dragons coach Dave Walkosky, who was coaching his first spring game, predicted the team's fortunes on special teams will change dramatically in 2009.

"He gives us an opportunity to change field position, and give our defense a chance," Walkosky said.

Bede also showed what he could do during the game itself, when he drilled a 52-yard field goal.

"Into the crosswind, and it still had eight, nine yards to go," Walkosky said.

If everyone else was impressed, Bede didn't seem to be.

"I've made probably 60 [yards]; it would probably be in the 60s," Bede said when asked about the longest field goal he's made.

DEFENSE RULES: The defense won the actual game, 33-6. Points were determined by things such as three-and-outs and turnovers, as well as actual points scored by the offense.

Jackson Davis, a senior defensive back, picked off a pair of passes and led a defense that looked quicker than in previous seasons.

"We came out and did what we came to do. That's make plays," Davis said.

The speed difference was apparent, especially on screen plays, which gave TU some problems last season.

Walkosky had lauded the strength of the linebackers, particularly transfer Moses Kato, a senior from San Bruno, Calif.

"Our speed increased at the linebacker play, which helps our blitzing," he said

Even though it was one team on the field, Davis said he took pride in what the defense was able to do.

"All spring we had to be competitive," Davis said. "We wanted to just come out and show what we could do as a defense."

QUARTERBACK QUESTION: The majority of quarterbacking was done by senior Steve Feeman and David Singleton, a junior transfer from Oakland, Calif.

Neither was happy with his performance, as they weren't able to get the offense into the end zone.

"Going through this battle right now with Dave, trying to just compete, the offense needed to play better today if we want to change what happened last year," Feeman said. "But I think we're on the right track and we'll get there by August."

Singleton's assessment of the offense wasn't much better.

"We just didn't have any energy, have any offensive firepower," he said. "We just kept working hard."

Walkosky was more positive than his quarterbacks.

"David Singleton's been in this offense 15 days,"Walkosky said. "It'll take him a while. Steve Feeman's a great leader. He's gonna be a great coach some day. ... I'm excited about the competition."

DYSHAUN IS BACK: Dyshaun Edwards, TU's All American receiver who finished his career last fall, received a plaque from Walkosky during a break in play Saturday.

The plaque listed Edwards' accomplishments, which are numerous.

"It was a real nice moment," Edwards said. "I didn't expect it."

Edwards says he thinks the program is making strides as it prepares for its second season in the GLIAC.

"The team is really progressing," Edwards said. "They're gonna keep on working to put everything together."