The similarities between Tiffin University and Notre Dame College are striking, especially when one looks at the records.
Both squads enter today's game at Frost-Kalnow Stadium with 1-5 records. Both teams are winless in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference; both are carrying five-game losing streaks.
But when you look at the Falcons, who are in their first season as a GLIAC school (though just for football), something else jumps out.
They score a boatload of points.
One other thing:
They give up more.
Notre Dame comes to town scoring an average of 35 points a game.
But it gives up 56 a game.
And for all of its offensive exploits, the Falcons have been turnover prone. Through six games, the Falcons have 19 turnovers.
"A couple plays here and there kind of prevented them from winning some games," Tiffin coach Gary Goff said.
It's something Goff and his players can relate too.
An overtime loss to Malone was followed by a tough 41-17 loss at Findlay where the Dragons cut the Oiler lead to 10 early in the fourth quarter and had the ball.
The Falcons have a prolific running back in Pedro Powell, who has run for 853 yards and 10 touchdowns this season. Ray Russ, the Falcons quarterback, is averaging 228 yards a game passing and has fired 14 touchdowns.
"Their running back is a really good player," Goff said. "The quarterback makes sound decisions on that side of the ball.
"I'm really impressed with their offensive line. They've got some athletic offensive linemen that run very well."
Goff said the Falcons defense is, like TU, young, which could account for its struggles.
"I think they're trying to find their right mixture of players on the defensive side of the ball," he said.
As for Tiffin, Goff said it hasn't been decided if James Capello can go at quarterback today. Capello missed last week's game with an injury. Dan Pitts filled in, and impressed the coach.
"The two games he has been in, he's played really good," Goff said. "Dan's doing exactly what we're asking him to do."
