CARLISLE, Pa. - The Dickinson football team put up the first 21 points of the game and then got a massive goaline stand from its defense with just over three minutes left to hold off a late charge from the visiting Kean University by a score of 21-14 on Saturday afternoon at Biddle Field.
- After a three-and-out stop by the defense on the opening drive of the game, the DC offense began at their own 35. An air attack led by Presley Egbers with chunk plays to Rocco DiRico and Bobby of 15, 22 and 22 had the rock down to the KU2. Three plays later the Red and White were staring down a short field goal looking for the first points, but Kieran O'Neill went just wide from 25-yards.
- With just over four minutes remaining Kean would start at the KU35 and using a good combination of pass and run advanced down to the DC26 facing fourth-and-six. The Cougars would send out George Chrissafis for a 43-yard kick, but Chuk Uwechue broke through the line and knocked down the ball.
- Kean would once again use a balanced attack to get into the redzone, but the march would stall out to force another field goal try. However, a bobbled snap resulted in the holder Robbie Nungesser rolling out to his right and trying to find lineman Zamar Grove in the endzone, but the launch came up empty.
- After an empty drive for the Devils, Kean was forced to punt from their own 32. That was when a high snap to Chrissafis allowed Alex Merrifield to practically take the ball off the kickers foot as Jason Genilello fell on the rock.
- Dickinson then just needed one play for Egbers to find a wide open Diante Ball down the left sideline for the 7-0 lead with just under two minutes to go (Justin Worobel kick).
- Following another strong defensive series for the Devils the home side went back to work with just 51-seconds remaining. Egbers sprinted up the left-side for 12 yards, before he found Markey on the opposite sideline for 69 down to the KU3. Three plays later Egbers ran around in the pocket for a few seconds prior to hitting Ball in the endzone making it 14-0 at half (Worobel kick).
- Dickinson received the opening kickoff and used receptions by Frederik Fjeldseth, Ball and DiRico to setup first down on the midfield stripe. Egbers continued to rely on that trio to move the ball down the field with passes of 5, 10, 8 and 6 pushing it up to the KU27. Following an unnecessary roughness penalty (KU13), a pair of Ball carries got it down to the KU3 before Egbers hit Kellen Boyer for six (Worobel kick).
- Kean immediately responded with a seven-play march ending with Aly Marzouk taking a handoff for a 25-yard touchdown (Chrissafis kick).
- The Cougars had the final possession of the third carry into the fourth as they began the frame on the DC34. Three consecutive rushes for Julian Jones capped a nine-play, 64-yard drive to cut the deficit down to 21-14 (Chrissafis kick).
- Neither side was able to get much going offensively over the ensuing few drives as Kean went to work on their own 40 with 8:15 left. Four passes and four runs had the visitors inside the DC5 facing second down. An incomplete pass and run for Nick Medina made it 4th-and-goal on the 1. Pellegrini would hand off to Medina again, but Justin Rocha met him right in the hole to cause the turnover on downs.
- Kean had one final chance in the last 30-seconds, but Jeremy Reid broke up a pass and Alex Sulin picked off the last gasp.Â
- Passing - Egbers 20-29, 234yds, 3tds, 0ints
- Rushing - Ball (47yds, 0td),
- Receiving - Markey (123yds, 0td), Ball (53yds, 2tds), DiRico (35 yds)
- Tackles - Brendan Walker (16), John Prochniak (9), Jeremy Reid and Justin Rocha (6)
- Passing - Pellegrini 24-37, 177yds, 0tds, 1ints
- Rushing - Jones (97yds, 1td), Marzouk (82yds, 1td)
- Receiving - Bujno (93yds)
- Tackles - Pittman (8)
- Dickinson (2-1) will take a week off, before heading to Lancaster for the Centennial Conference opener against Franklin & Marshall College in the Battle for the Conestoga Wagon. Kickoff is set for 1pm.
