CARLISLE, Pa. - The Dickinson football team returned to the gridiron on Saturday afternoon looking to post their longest win streak since at least 2009. However, the task was going to be a stiff one as the 17th-ranked Mules of Muhlenberg College came calling to Biddle Field. Unfortunately, for the Red and White they were unable to dig out of a 21-0 first-half hole as the Mules picked up a 42-21 Centennial Conference win.

After Dickinson moved the ball into visiting territory with their opening drive of the game they were unable to come away with points and gave Muhlenberg the ball on their own 13. Quarterback Joe Repetti and the Mules used a solid combination of pass and run to ultimately record a seven-yard TD pass to Timothy Buda for the 7-0 lead (Alex Garrido kick). A three-and-out for the Devils left the guests taking back over in plus territory on the DC45. It would take just three plays for Repetti to hit James Nye for a 35-yard touchdown and a 14-0 advantage (Alex Garrido kick). 

The Mules would continue to carry that lead into the second period as the Dickinson offense continued to be held under control by the Muhlenberg defense. Just over a minute into the second the guests went back to work and once again went on a methodical 11-play march aided by eight runs ending in a 14-yard TD strike to Andrew Darno pushing the margin to 21-0 (Alex Garrido kick). On the ensuing Devils possession the offense finally found some footing as the rushing duo of tailback Diante Ball and quarterback Presley Egbers advanced the ball from the DC36 down to the MC25. Two more carries from Ball along with one by Princeton Douglass as well as an 11-yard pass from Egbers to Kellen Boyer brought the home side to the MC8. That was when Egbers went back to Boyer for the eight-yard TD pass to trim the gap down to 21-7 (Justin Worobel kick). Dickinson appeared to have a great chance to get right back into the game as Adam Smith jarred the rock free from return man John Sauchelli and put the DC offense back on the field at the MC30. However, two runs and two incompletions turned the ball over on downs and allowed the Mules to run out the rest of the half.

Muhlenberg got the rock to start the third riding primarily the running of Matthew Manning worked to the DC35. After Repetti hooked up with Pelton Esannason for 34 yards to the DC1, Manning plunged home two plays later to make it 28-7 (Alex Garrido kick). The Mules would not be done in the third, unfortunately, as with 6:46 remaining they went back to work on the MC35. Receptions by Ardito and Nye along with two runs by Repetti setup first-and-ten on the edge of the redzone (DC21). Repetti then went back to Nye for a 21-yard score extending the margin to 35-7 (Alex Garrido kick). On the following Devils drive completions from Egbers to Frederik Fjeldseth, Bobby Markey and Devlin McCool advanced the march to the MC15 ending the quarter. 

On the first play of the final period the Red and White got back in the endzone when Egbers linked up with Markey for the 15-yard score (Justin Worobel kick). Once again though Muhlenberg had the response as five consecutive run plays led to a 25-yard pass from Repetti to Ardito getting down to the DC3. The QB then took matters into his own hands scampering home for the 42-14 advantage (Alex Garrido kick). With eight minutes remaining the Devils began a drive on their own 31, passes to Maiona and McCool accounted for a dozen yards, before Egbers took off for 13 on his own (MC43). One play later he would hit Markey deep down the center field for a long TD pass cutting it down to the final score of 42-21.

Defensively, the Red and White were led by nine tackles (two for loss) from Brendan Walker, while the duo of James Basilii and Bram Leys added eight hits each. The quartet of Lewis Baer, Neville Krueger, John Prochniak and Jeremy Reid combined for 26 tackles.

Next on the Field
Dickinson (5-2, 2-1 Centennial) will get back at it next Saturday on the road at local rival Gettysburg College in the annual "Battle for the Bucket". Kickoff is set for 1pm at the battlefield. Read Full Article