CARLISLE, Pa. - They say in football games can be won or lost on halftime adjustments and that thought was never more true than on Friday night at Biddle Field as the Dickinson football team went into the break trailing conference foe Johns Hopkins University 21-7. After a strong pep talk from head coach
Brad Fordyce and the rest of his staff it was all Red Devils for the final 30 minutes as they forced three turnovers and scored 28 unanswered points to rally back for an impressive 35-21 win.
First Quarter
- Dickinson opened the game using an air attack with Ben Klassen connecting with Dane Sorensen, Braden White and Mathias Young to move down to the JHU21. Two carries from Sorensen got the ball inside the ten, before Klassen found his tailback for an eight-yard touchdown pass (Hudson Reese kick).
- The ensuing Hopkins march began on their own 34 and Luke Baker used his trio of Jaeger Krauss, Josh Moore and Cooper Powell to advance up to the DC30. Baker then took matters into his own hands and rushed around the right side for a 30-yard touchdown (Kaleb Wayt kick).Â
- The Red and White saw their next possession come to an end just across the midfield line with a 46-yard Michael Furlong punt all the way to the JHU1.Â
Second Quarter
- Completions to Robby Enright and Moore had the visitors on the 31, before a 30-yard strike to Krauss moved them to the DC39. It would take another 13 plays until Baker once again did it himself plunging home from two yards out (Wayt kick).
- After the following Devils drive resulted in no points, the Jays started backed up inside their ten at the six. Baker used receptions by Krauss of eight, 63 and eight to advance into Red and White territory at the DC12. Baker then turned and handed the rock off to Powell who raced in for the 21-7 halftime advantage (Wayt kick).
Third Quarter
- Hopkins began the period with the ball, but it would not be that way for long as three plays later Baker was picked off by Juan Pablo Garcia setting up the home side at the JHU37. Passes from Klassen to Kevin Schmidt and Sorensen helped the Red and White to get to the JHU5. Sorensen then capped off the five-play march with a five-yard carry right up the middle of the defense to close the margin to 21-14 (Reese kick).
- Dickinson then immediately got the ball right back as a pooch kick for Caleb Crawley led to Dan Echeverri falling on the loose ball at the JHU40. Gains of 14 and 12 for Sorensen coupled with a short grab by Schmidt sent DC inside the ten yardline. Jake Williams then got in on the action finding the endzone from five out knotting the score at 21-21 (Reese kick).
- Two plays later the Devils put themselves back in great position when Marco Kaufman stepped in the way of the Baker pass after pressure was applied by Joaquin Acuna. However, the Dickinson drive was short-lived as Colin Sullivan hauled in a pass from Klassen, but the hit by Tyler Dasilva jarred the ball loose giving it back to the Jays on the JHU20. The turnover string continued three plays after that with Acuna causing Baker to put the ball on the carpet allowing Nathan Govan II to scoop it up and hustle up to the JHU13.Â
- Sullivan made amends for his previous touch with a seven-yard reception to the six, before Sorensen was once again in the endzone making it 28-21 with just under six minutes left.
- A three-and-out for Hopkins gave the rock back to the Devils on their own 41. On third and short Klassen raced away for 11, followed by 15 on the ground for Sorensen (JHU26). Two plays later on third-and-one Klassen found a wide open Frederik Fjeldseth for a touchdown and a 35-21 advantage (Reese kick).
Fourth Quarter
- The Red Devils only had one possession in the period getting it with 12:14 left and used a 17-play, 93-yard march to use up 9:47 to basically take the air out of the ball and allow Johns Hopkins absolutely no chance to find a way back into the game.
Special Notes
- Friday's win marked the first time since 2006 that the Red and White defeated the Jays winning 21-13 at Homewood Field in Baltimore.
- It was also the first victory for the Devils in the series at Biddle Field since a 17-14 overtime win during 2001 season.
Dickinson Leaders
- Passing - Klassen (23-29, 213yds, 2td, 0ints)
- Rushing - Sorensen (122yds, 6.4ypc, 2tds), Williams (41yds, 6.8ypc, 1td), Klassen (24yds, 2.7ypc)
- Receiving - Sorensen (74yds, 1td), Schmidt (35yds), Fjeldseth (30yds, 1td), Sullivan (30yds)
- Tackles - Ellington Roane, Acuna and Kaufman (8), Jimmy Mulholland (5), Garcia (4)
Opponent Top Performers
- Passing - Baker (22-39, 259yds, 2ints, 4sacks)
- Rushing - Baker (53yds, 4.8ypc, 2tds), Powell (52yds, 3.3ypc, 1td)
- Receiving - Krauss (157yds)
- Tackles - Seibert (9), Anderson, Olson and Stup (8)
Up Next
- Dickinson (3-1, 1-0 Centennial) returns to action on Saturday, October 10th when they head to Gettysburg for the annual Battle for the Bucket. Kickoff is set for 1pm at the battlefield.
