HOUGHTON, Mich. - As if it wasn't going to be difficult enough for Tiffin University Saturday, things got much harder once its game at Michigan Tech started.
Early on, the Dragons lost three cogs in their offensive blocking scheme to leg injuries.
Left tackle and team captain Gage Gorman, left guard Lorenzo Lepe and tight end Colin Boone all went down and didn't return.
Tiffin coach Gary Goff was forced to insert a pair of true freshman on the line. The Dragons were unable to get any kind of ground game going. They ran 26 times and had only seven net yards to show for it. They also lost three fumbles, and fell to the Huskies, 51-15.
"You lose half your offensive line in first half, and you've got some problems," Goff said.
While Tiffin struggled on the ground the Huskies piled up 218 yards. Charlie Leffingwell was Michigan Tech's top rusher, with 81 yards on the ground. Cedric Barber, Cole Welch and Akeem Cason all scored a rushing touchdown for Michigan Tech.
TU quarterback James Capello finished with 262 yards passing and two touchdowns, but was sacked seven times. Jeremy Armstrong had four catches for 82 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.
"We've gotta learn how to overcome long trips," Goff said. "We just gotta overcome adversity."
Bertram Marks also had a touchdown catch for TU, which slipped to 1-1, 0-1 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
It was Michigan Tech's first game of the season.
Heidelberg caps strong weekend in Cincy
CINCINNATI - Heidelberg's volleyball team gave a dominating performance at the Charlie Wrublewski Tournament in Cincinnati, beating Maryville 25-18, 25-14, 25-15, then topping host Mount St. Joseph, 25-22, 26-24, 25-15.
Marian Bevington led the Student Princes with a combined 28 kills, while Amber Welfe had nine kills against Maryville, while Jacki Street had eight kills against Mount St. Joseph.
Tessa Benanzer had 29 digs for HU in Saturday's matches.
The Student Princes went 4-0 overall at the tournament.
TU tennis falls in Ashland
ASHLAND - Tiffin University's women's tennis team won twice at Ashland, but that wasn't enough in a 7-2 loss to the Eagles.
It was the first match of the year for both teams.
The Dragons' Malaika Bora Messi and Anna Scherting each picked up wins for TU.
Smith scores twice, HU soccer wins
WOOSTER - Ryan Smith scored a pair goals,and Heidelberg edged Wooster for the Student Princes' first win of the season.
Matthew Stevens had six saves in goal for HU, while the Student Princes outshot the Scots, 15-9. Matt Ehrenburg scored Wooster's lone goal.
HU women shut out
HANOVER, Ind. - Tricia Walsh and Anne Spicer-Adams each scored Saturday, and Hanover knocked off Heidelberg's women's soccer team, 2-0.
Heidelberg goalkeeper Julie Cross made 11 saves.
Heidelberg fell to 0-3.
