WESTMINSTER, Md. - The Dickinson football team was unable to overcome the rain, wind, and five turnovers on Saturday afternoon as the Red and White fell short against McDaniel College by a final of 21-13 in Centennial Conference action at Gill Stadium.
After both teams went three-and-out on their opening drives the Devils took over on their own 36-yardline. Three
Diante Ball rushes and a pass from quarterback
Rocco DiRico to Ball advanced the ball to the MC37. A pair of DiRico keepers pushed the march to the MC7 setting up second-and-goal. Ball would be stopped for a one-yard loss, before DiRico hit
Johnny Knight for seven bringing up fourth down on the one. Unfortunately, for DC Ball would be bottled up by the McDaniel defense to end the drive. The rest of the first quarter went by without either side putting together another substantial drive.
Dickinson's first possession of the second looked promising as Ball carried the rock for gains of 3, 3, and 18, while DiRico scampered for six moving the drive to the MC18 bringing up third-and-seven. The Devils march would come to an end on that play as DiRico was picked off by Kori Bryant at the four-yardline. An Eric Grinwis pass to Sean Carter racked up 27 yards out to the MC31, before the possession stalled out leading to a 32-yard punt by Nicco Vargas to to the DC34 that was fair caught by
Bobby Markey. After an eight-yard sack of DiRico, Ball ripped off a pair of 20-yard rushes and the Green Terror took a 15-yard roughing the passer penalty to advance the ball up to the MC13. Three straight carries by Ball were not enough for the first which led to a 22-yard field goal by
Matt Moroz for the 3-0 edge. On the ensuing McDaniel drive a 21-yard run for Trent Gaskins brought the hosts onto the plus side of the 50 where Grinwis hooked up with Hunter Sigler for a 46-yard TD pass and a 6-3 lead after the William Looney kick was no good. The Devils next possession lasted just two plays as DiRico was stripped by Justin Morsell to give the Terror first down on the DC13 with 32-seconds left. Three plays later it was Grinwis doing it himself from two yards away making it 12-3 (kick failed) at half.
The Devils would have a short field on their opening possession of the third as
Nikkos Kovanes blocked a Vargas punt on fourth down to put DC in great shape on the MC6. After Ball was shutdown on first down, he broke through the defense on second taking it home from six out to get the visitors within 12-10 (Moroz kick). McDaniel got their second short field of the afternoon midway into the third when DiRico was intercepted by Earl Spicer to setup the Green Terror on the DC40. A 10-yard carry for Gaskins was followed by a 17-yard reception by Carter to put the ball on the DC21. They would extend their lead to 18-10 heading to the fourth when Grinwis found Sigler for a 21-yard TD (kick blocked by
Keon Eady).
McDaniel once again took advantage of DC turnover when Aiden Bell recovered a DiRico fumble on the DC9 with 14:06 to play. Two Grinwis passes and a rush by Gaskins netted negative two yards resulting in a 28-yard Looney field goal pushing it to 21-10. Dickinson advanced to the MC35 on their next possession thanks to three Ball rushes and DiRico pass completions to
Devlin McCool and Markey. However, on fourth-and-12 DiRico missed Knight with a pass to turn it over on downs. With 3:40 remaining DC started on the MC40. Receptions by Markey for 26 and Knight for six led to a 25-yard Moroz field goal two plays later trimming it down to 21-13. After Dickinson forced a three-and-out the Red and White still had a chance with a minute to go. Unfortunately, two passes inteded for
Andrew Reale and one for Markey all landed incomplete allowing the home side to kill off the game.
The Devils defense was led on the day by
Tanner Long who posted 17 tackles (nine solo), including 1.5 tackles for loss.
Justin Rocha added nine stops, while
Lewis Baer chipped in eight. The duo of James Basilli and
Bram Leys combined for a dozen tackles.
Jason Hollinger recorded one interception with a 25-yard return.
Up Next
Dickinson (1-4, 1-3 Centennial) takes next week off, before returning to action on Friday, October 14th at 6pm when they host the Greyhounds of Moravian University on the Biddle Field turf.
