'This season has been a dream come true'

When the 2023 season started, Keegan Ray getting on the field for Tiffin University didn't seem like much of a possibility. But when starting quarterback Kason Martin went down with an injury against Kentucky Wesleyan, Ray stepped right in."Keegan has been amazing," Tiffin coach Cris Reisert said. "He started the year off as the fourth guy and has worked his way up. He came in unheralded and has gotten better every offseason and has gotten better at every turn. Our players love him. He's such a cool part of our football program." Not much has changed since as the Dragons are 11-0, No. 9 in the country, and host No. 15 Slippery Rock (11-1) on Saturday in the school's first home playoff game since 1994. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. at Frost-Kalnow Stadium. "It is really exciting," Ray said. "The main goal is to be the most excited team Saturday. It is really cool to be able to do this. It is awesome for the town. We've been setting school records this season and it really is a dream come true. I'm really just living a fantasy." Ray has been quarterback No. 1 for the last four games. He is 47-of-73 for 651 yards with six touchdowns and just one interception in those games. He was 3-of-3 for 80 yards in the first seven games, appearing in just two contests in mop-up time. "When Kason went down against Kentucky Wesleyan, Keegan had a chance to step in during a driving rainstorm and played really well," Reisert said. "He threw a touchdown at the end to ice it. It was such a cool thing. We didn't know what Kason's situation would be, but to see the pure joy and energy our players had for Keegan and his success was really cool for me as a coach. "For him to go out week in and week out and perform – he understands the gravity of it," he added. "He understands that he has to and that it is his time. I've just been really proud of him." Ray has had to be patient and wait his turn. He didn't play in either of his first two seasons for the Dragons. After a highly successful career at Bellevue, that can be hard. But, Ray has stayed the course and is now the leader of a high-powered, potent offense that is averaging 44.5 points and 482 yards per game this season. "This season has been a dream come true," Ray said. "The first two years not being able to play was tough. I wanted to stick it out. I never thought about quitting and now it is all paying off. This has been a blessing. God has really blessed me this year. We have such an amazing team. I'm grateful." Ray's best performance thus far came in a 44-10 win at Ohio Dominican on Nov. 4. He completed 16-of-24 passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns. "Being quarterback of this offense has been awesome," Ray said. "I feel like we have a bunch of all-stars and this is something I will definitely always remember. I've just been learning so much. I do have to give it up for the big boys up front. They've been dominating and they've allowed us to be so great on offense. When they dominate, the offense opens up. They always perform." Ray said being from down the road in Bellevue didn't affect his college choice. What Reisert and the Dragons offered was the key. "That is an exciting aspect, yes," Ray said. "Tiffin was the only college that gave me a shot at being a quarterback. Being local is cool because my family and friends can come watch me anytime." Martin will graduate this season, so the quarterback spot will certainly be up for the taking next year. True freshman Tywuan Clark has gotten a few snaps this year, but it could be Ray's team next year. "What makes Keegan a tremendous leader is he's selfless. He's the ultimate energy encourager," Reisert said. "He always has something positive to say to each guy that he is around. Sometimes it is small ways – a high-five, a joke, or a little tidbit here or there. He's always finding ways to interact with his teammates. "He is tough. He takes shots. He puts his body on the line," he added. "He is 165 pounds soaking wet, but you wouldn't know it by how hard he plays. I think he understands that for our football team to be tough, your quarterback has to be the toughest guy there is. He has certainly showcased that."