HOBART, Ind. – The Truman State defense made one last stop to halt a two-point conversion attempt by the Tiffin Dragons and claimed the America's Crossroads Bowl by a 28-27 final score on Saturday at Brickyard Stadium in Hobart, Ind. Additionally, Shamar Griffith was named the game's most valuable offensive player, scoring a 51-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter and finishing with 92 yards on the ground.
The Dragons turned away the Bulldogs after Truman State recovered a muffed kick on the opening possession of the game but then swept down the field to take a 7-0 lead on a 13-yard run by Devin Nelson at the 9:16 mark of the first quarter.
Collin Sutton scored on a two-yard run on the first play of the second quarter to tie the game then busted up the middle for a 69-yard score on Truman's next drive to give the Bulldogs the lead. Sutton's first score was set up by an interception and 20-yard return by Zach Jacobson.
Tate Crane made a circus catch in the corner of the end zone from Nolan Hair to put Truman up 21-7 with 7:46 to go in half.
Disaster struck just before the quarter ended as Zion Farmer picked up a fumble and scored to pull Tiffin to within seven with 1:22 to go.
Griffith's 51-yard run came after both teams had exchanged the ball with little movement.
The Dragon's clawed closer on a 14-yard pass from Drew Zaubi to Jack Stultz with 5:08 left in the third.
On the second play of the fourth quarter, Hair completed a pass to Matt Hall, who was stripped of the ball at the Truman 11, on the ensuing return, Denim Cook poked the ball free, which Hair recovered to give the Bulldogs a new set of downs at their own two.
Facing a third and eight from their own 27, Hair whipped a pass out to Chris Kerr and he rumbled 38-yards to the Dragon's 18, however after picked up some additional yardage, the field goal attempt missed the left upright to keep the game a seven-point Truman State lead.
Tiffin began the drive with 4:26 left on their own 20. They converted on a fourth and short near midfield. With 46 seconds left, Zaubi aired a deep pass left and on the jump ball, Stultz was able to wrestle it away from the Bulldog defender for a 33-yard touchdown.
Having lost to the Bulldogs late by a score of 38-35 in 2021 and again on a made two-point conversion at Stokes Stadium in September, Tiffin went for the win.
Following a timeout, Zaubi tried to hit a receiver at the goal line but the ball hit the turf incomplete.
The ensuing onside kick saw the ball loose for a moment before Peyton Carr was credited with the recovery.
The teams were separated by just 13 total yards on offense (288-275).
Truman State concludes the 2022 season with a 9-2 record, which is the program's ninth time and third straight of winning nine or more games in a season. Head Coach Gregg Nesbitt also reached the 80-win mark at his alma mater.