KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – The Truman State Bulldogs "walked it off" with an dramatic overtime victory over Tiffin (Ohio) as
Zach Zerwig broke the plane of the endzone on a two-point conversion pass from
Nolan Hair in the Bulldogs 18-17 win on Saturday afternoon.
Tiffin led 10-0 early in the second half before
Denim Cook scored on a two-yard toss play with 8:31 left in the second quarter to pull Truman to within three.
From that touchdown there were 11 punts, two turnovers on downs, a missed field goal and an interception by Truman's
Ryan Olivas as the two teams defenses turned up the pressure.
Trailing by the same 10-7 margin, Truman got the ball back with 2:27 left to play at their own 23. A roughing foul on Tiffin moved it out to the 38. Three straight incomplete passes brought the Bulldogs to the brink but
Nolan Hair, under pressure, scrambled free and found
Chris Kerr at midfield. Kerr rumbled down to the Dragon's 23 yardline.
The Bulldogs moved it just one more yard forcing
Grant Ross to attempt a 39-yard field goal. The kick was true and the game went to overtime.
Truman State won the toss but Tiffin swiftly went up 17-10 on a 17-yard rush by Darius Pinnix on the second play.
Kerr reeled in a 17-yard pass to push the ball to the Dragons six and on the next play,
Shamar Griffith got around the corner and scored.
Decision time for Coach
Gregg Nesbitt and he elected to go for the win.
On the first attempt, Hair rifled a pass into the back of the endzone but Tiffin was flagged for defensive holding.
On the second try, Hair rolled to the near side and found Zerwig at the goaline and the celebration began.
Hair was 19-of-33 for 156 yards with
Matt Hall catching a game-high nine passes for 68 yards. Griffith 75-yards on 15 carries.
Isaiah Estes led the defense with 10 tackles.
The Bulldogs will be idle next week before opening up conference play against Missouri S&T at home on October 8
th.
