ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The Dickinson football team closed to within 10-7 early in the second quarter, but then allowed 17 straight points to No. 18 Muhlenberg College as the Mules built up a 27-7 lead en route to a 34-21 win on Saturday afternoon in the Centennial Conference opener for both teams at Scotty Wood Stadium.
After Dickinson kicked to Muhlenberg to start the game the home side went on a 10-play 64-yard drive with big two big plays keying the possession. First, the Red and White gave a free 15 yards after an unsportsmanlike penalty and a pass from quarterback Joe Repetti who hooked up with Zach Deldin for 16 yards down to the DC3. Two plays later Repetti did it himself from two yards out. The Devils would go three-and-out on their opening chance and gave the ball back to the Mules on their own 18. Rushes of 15 and 11 by Seth Paluck aided the drive as they moved down to the DC12. From there the defense stood tall and only allowed a 21-yard field goal by Nick Stannard.
Matt Maiona making the start under center for the Devils began a nice drive with three minutes lef in the first on passes to
Devlin McCool (12 yds),
Bobby Markey (15 yds), and
Princeton Douglass (12 yds) bringing the rock all the way from the DC35 to the MC14 to end the first quarter. The drive continued with a four-yard carry by Maiona, before
Diante Ball plunged in on the next play. A
Matt Moroz kick pulled DC to within 10-7. Muhlenberg would then open their advantage up to 20-7 on their next two possessions with Repetti finding Aaron Daniels for a 22-yard score and Stannard adding a 19-yard field goal with 4:35 left in the half. Dickinson tried to stem the tide with their next drive, but it would net a -13 yards leading to a punt. On the ensuing Mules drive they would march eight plays in 2:24 going 40 yards ending in a Repetti 12-yard TD pass stretching the advantage to 27-7 at half.
The Devils got the ball coming out of the break and began at their own 40 after a solid return by Douglass. Maiona then found Markey for six, before scampering for nine down to the MC45. Two plays later the Red and White got back on the board as Ball rushed home from 45-yards (Moroz kick) away to make it 27-14 still with 12:26 left in the third. Unfortunately, for Dickinson the hosts answered right back as four rushes by Ethan Brader brought the rock to the DC22. On the next play the visitors had a chance to flip momentum as Brader put the ball on the ground, however, it was recovered by the offense's Jack Kinerney. Five plays later Brader found the endzone from a yard out to push the margin out to 34-14 after three.
The opening drive of the fourth saw the Mules advance inside the redzone all the way to the DC17 setting up a 4th-and-14. Muhlenberg decided to keep the offense on the field with Repetti keeping for three yards before being stopped by
Andre Eversley for the turnover. After carried for one yard Maiona took off racking up 65 yards to the MC19. He then found Douglass twice to move it to the MC5. A pass for no gain brought up fourth-and-goal, but unfortunately for DC Maiona was thrown down for a ten-yard loss by Keshon Davila. Dickinson got it back on more time with 2:41 left as
Rocco DiRico took over under center. First,
Adam Smith lost six yards on the ground. Then, DiRico got that yardage back on third down, prior to hitting
Nikkos Kovanes for a 36-yard touchdown on fourth-and-nine to set the 34-21 final.
Up Next
Dickinson (0-2) will make the short trip down to Gettysburg next Saturday to take on the Bullets of Gettysburg College in the Battle for the Bucket at 1 pm.
