LANCASTER, Pa. - The Dickinson football scored a pair of defensive touchdowns, but allowed two touchdowns in the second-half to the host Franklin & Marshall College allowing the Diplomats to escape Shadek Stadium with the 28-17 conference win and Conestoga Wagon on Saturday afternoon.
After the Devils went three-and-out on their opening drive F&M went to work on their own 45-yardline. Quarterback Ty Tremba rushed for seven on first down, before
Ellis Tompkins stepped in front of his first pass of the day and took it all the way back to the house for six (
Matt Moroz kick). Another strong hold by the DC defense led to a Jack Rodenberger punt that resulted in a touchback. Three carries by
Diante Ball advanced the rock to the DC36. However, a false start penalty and an 11-yard sack taken by
Rocco DiRico forced Moroz to punt. On the ensuing Diplomats drive the running trio of Aaron Rascoe, Mitch Wagner, and Tremba each carried the ball twice with Tremba taking it in from 14 out (Laurence Miller kick) to tie things at 7-7 going to the second.
The first nine minutes of the second period saw neither offense really get on track as nobody was able to cross onto the opponent's side of the 50-yardline. The first points of the frame once again came courtesy of the Devils defense as a Moroz 65-yard punt left the ball on F&M04. Tremba tried to bring the home side out of the shadow of their own goal line, but he was thrown down for a three-yard loss by conference player of the week
Tanner Long. On the following play Lewis recorded a sack and forced a fumble which was recovered by
Neville Krueger for a touchdown (Moroz kick). The Diplomats had an immediate answer as Tremba posted runs of nine and 31 yards, prior to finding Gary Lewis for a 26-yard TD strike (Miller kick) making it 14-14 at the half.
Franklin & Marshall would take their first lead of the day on the opening possession of the third as they went nine plays and 65 yards in 4:48 leading to a one-yard plunge by Tremba (Miller kick) for a 21-14 advantage. The biggest play of that drive was a 20-yard pass from Tremba to Brady Aselton. On Dickinson's first drive of the half DiRico would complete passes to
Johnny Knight for 18,
Bryce Peterson for six, and then Knight again for 26 to advance the ball to the F&M18. After a loss of two on a carry by Ball, DiRico was intercepted two plays later to halt the march. A three-and-out for the DC defense brought out the home punt unit with the ball on the F&M16. Rodenberger stepped into the punt, but had it blocked by
Nikkos Kovanes to put the Red and White in prime field position (F&M23). Unfortunately, they would have to settle for only three as DiRico found Knight for 21 to the one-yardline, but the Diplomats defense would stop Ball once and sack the QB to force Moroz into a 32-yard kick which he stuck leaving it at 21-17 heading to the fourth.
Completions to
Princeton Douglass and Knight combined for 43 yards down to the F&M32, but a holding penalty and a sack led to a punt to the Diplomats 22. Dickinson appeared to have the home side off the field with a three-and-out, unfortunately a roughing the kicker on fourth down allowed F&M to take another 3:25 off the clock before they did eventually have to punt. DiRico hooked up with Knight for catches of eight and ten, in addition to finding Peterson for eight up to the DC36. In a game that featured strong defense it was only fitting that the scoring ended with another defensive score as Matt Scully took an interception 43 yards to paydirt (Miller kick) to set the final at 28-17.
Defensively, Long led the Devils once again with 11 tackles (1.5 for loss).
Bram Leys and Krueger combined for 17 stops (4.5 for loss) as well as two sacks.
James Basilii and
Alex Sulin each added six.
Up Next
Dickinson (2-5, 2-4 Centennial) returns to Carlisle next Saturday for a Centennial Conference matchup against Juniata College at 1pm.
