Box Score
(Carlisle, Pa.) – The Dickinson football team gave the homecoming crowd something to cheer about with a thrilling, come-from-behind victory on Saturday. The Red Devils scored 20 points in the final 8:37 to overtake Susquehanna, 29-28.
Senior quarterback Cole Ahnell (Rockville, Md./Walter Johnson) found junior Anders Overhaug (Yarmouth, Maine/Yarmouth) in the flat and he dove into the end zone to tie the game, 28-28, with just 1:30 remaining in regulation. Junior Austin High (Wilmington, Del./Archmere) slipped the extra-point inside the right post for the crucial final point of the game.
Junior cornerback Mark Manganaro (Horseheads, N.Y./Horseheads) made a pair of key defensive plays to set up the Red Devils' final two scores. He broke through and blocked a punt into the hands of Overhaug, who ran 12 yards to start the drive at the Susquehanna 33 yard line.
Ahnell combined with junior Cedric Madden (Norristown, Pa./Chestnut Hill Academy), covering 33 yards in just 54 seconds to cut the deficit to six points, 28-22, with 5:58 left to play.
On the very next possession, it was Manganaro once again, intercepting a pass on the Susquehanna 35 yard line with 4:29 on the clock. The Devils took advantage of the momentum and energy of the crowd to find the end zone one last time, taking their first lead of the game.
The Crusaders looked as though they were in total control, scoring the first three touchdowns to lead, 21-0, with 6:45 remaining in the first half.
The Red Devils closed out the half with a three-yard touchdown pass from Ahnell to junior Brent Scardapane (New York, N.Y./Xavier) with 12 seconds on the clock. The extra-point was blocked, sending the game into halftime, 21-6.
High came on after senior kicker Adam Kaminski (Exton, Pa./Bishop Shanahan) left with an injury, and kicked a 25-yard field-goal to pull Dickinson within 11, at the eight minute mark of the third quarter.
Susquehanna was finally able to answer, scoring on a 16-yard pass from Nick Crusco to Denzell Walker, making the score, 28-9, with 11:15 left in the game.
It was all Red Devils from that point as defense turned up the heat to give the offense a chance to rally.
Madden had a big afternoon, rushing for 165 yards on the afternoon. He caught three passes for another 37 yards to lead the attack. Ahnell was just shy of the century mark, running for 89 yards and a touchdown. He completed 10-of-15 passes for 104 yards, throwing three touchdown passes.
Overhaug was productive on both sides of the ball, catching a pair of touchdown passes while recovering the blocked punt, recording a pair of tackles and returning two kicks for 50 yards on special teams.
Senior captain Connor Thompson (Jenkintown, Pa./Father Judge) led the defense with 11 tackles, including a pair of tackles-for-loss covering 15 yards. Jake Myers (Middletown, Del./St. Andrews) tallied seven stops and combined with Will Hornsby (Chapin, S.C./Chapin) for a sack.
Ethan Rayner (Holliston, Mass./Holliston) and Aturo Adkins (Canton, Mass./St. Sebastians) each recorded a sack while Rayner added six tackles.
Crusco threw for 160 yards and two touchdowns to lead Susquehanna while Tim Wade ran for 96 yards and a touchdown. Walker made three catches for 70 yards. Jim Barry tallied a game-high 16 tackles and Jordan Duras finished with 12 tackles and a fumble recovery.
The Red Devils improve to 1-2 on the season and 1-1 in the Centennial Conference. They travel to Moravian College next Saturday for a 1:00 pm start.
