(Carlisle, Pa.) – The Dickinson football team put together one of its best overall performances of the season, but suffered a heartbreaking setback in overtime, falling 30-24, to visiting Susquehanna University. The game marked the third straight overtime affair for Susquehanna as they came up short the past two weekends.

The Red Devils had a great start, holding the River Hawks on the opening possession before going 65 yards on their first drive to take a 7-0 lead. Senior quarterback Billy Burger (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle) broke free for 27 yards and sophomore Phillip Butler (Ambler, Pa./Upper Dublin) had a 28-yard run on the drive.

Junior Jeremy Walsh (Shickshinny, Pa./Northwest Area) bulled his way into the end zone on fourth down to put the Red Devils on the board.

Susquehanna countered quickly as Michael Ruisch connected with Mitch Carsley for a 69-yard scoring strike on a pass that was almost intercepted.

Burger led the Devils on another 60-yard drive, capped by a 25-yard field-goal from junior Trystin Golowski (Columbia, N.J./Bishop Eustace) at the 7:40 mark of the first quarter.

The teams traded punts in the second before Susquehanna burned just over seven minutes of clock before taking a 14-10 lead at halftime on a one-yard run from Aaron Speight.

Burger came out on fire to start the second half, connecting with classmate Jake Walbert (Sinking Spring, Pa./Wilson) on a 30-yard pass and breaking away for a 62-yard touchdown run.

Ruisch countered once again, hitting Carsley for a 62-yard score, and again just avoided an interception on the touchdown, putting the River Hawks back on top, 21-17.

The Red Devils regained the lead at the end of the third quarter, capitalizing on a fumble recovery by Jordan Hollander (Dalton, Pa./Abington Heights), resulting from a sack by John Minicozzi (Media, Pa./Episcopal) and Thomas Nocka (Wellesley, Mass./Wellesley).

Butler found pay-dirt from 25 yards out to put Dickinson in front, 24-21, heading into the final quarter.

Elijah Hoffman tied the game at the midpoint of the fourth, hitting a 21-yard field-goal. Each team had a pair of possessions to close out regulation, but the score held, sending the game into overtime.

The Red Devils had possession first and were unable to convert. The River Hawks escaped with the win as back-up quarterback Nicholas Brotzman found Carsley for a 22-yard score.

Carsley finished with nine catches for 203 yards receiving and three touchdowns on the day while Ruisch completed 14-of-24 passes for 220 yards. Cole Dixon led the defense with 10 tackles, including a pair of losses and 1.5 sacks.

Butler rushed for 164 yards while Burger ran for 89 yards and went 10-for-24, covering 114 yards. Jack Porter (Rockville, Md./Landon) had two catches for 48 yards.

The defense came from all directions as four players tallied nine tackles on the day. Nocka tallied nine tackles to go with his sack and a forced fumble while Brian Snow (Media, Pa./Episcopal) added sack to his nine stops.

James Turner (Ridgefield, Conn./Suffield Academy) had nine and Johnny Knight (Warwick, Md./Bohemia Manor) added nine tackles and an interception.

The Red Devils slip to 1-4 overall and 1-3 in the Centennial Conference. They are on the road next weekend, traveling to McDaniel College for a 1:00 pm kick-off.