PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Hudson Reese drilled a tying 43-yard field goal as regulation expired after Jimmy Mulholland blocked a potential game-clinching kick, before Ty Bussard connected with Frederik Fjeldseth for a 19-yard overtime touchdown to give the Dickinson football team a dramatic 54-51 Centennial Conference win over Carnegie Mellon University on Saturday afternoon at Gesling Stadium. The Red and White erased a 16-point deficit over the final eight minutes of regulation to complete the comeback.
First Quarter
- Neither side could get much going on their opening possessions as the teams combined for four consecutive punts with the final one from Michael Furlong pinning the Tartans at their own one.
- Unfortunately for the Dickinson, the hosts were able to work their way out of the shadow of their own goal line as Giacomo Valente picked up 11 yards on the ground, while Jackson Salters connected with Brendan McCullough to keep the possession moving. Facing third-and-three at the CMU31, Salters found Nick McCullough for a 69-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead with 4:16 remaining (John Norell kick).
- After another Dickinson punt, the same combination struck again. Two short completions to N. McCullough left the Tartans facing third-and-13 at their own 42, but Salters found him once more for a 58-yard score to extend the advantage to 14-0 with 58 seconds left (Norell kick).
Second Quarter
- Dickinson carried their final possession of the first quarter into the second as Sorensen converted third-and-one with a ten-yard rush. Bussard later found Sorensen for 21 yards, with a personal foul moving the ball to the CMU17. A seven-yard completion to Morgan helped set up Reese for a 26-yard field goal to get the visitors on the board with 12:03 remaining.
- The Devils defense provided a spark on the next possession as Gavyn Gennarelli broke up a third-down pass, before Julien Devlin stopped the Tartans for a 14-yard loss on fourth down to give Dickinson the ball at the CMU29. Sorensen kept the ensuing march alive with a nine-yard carry on fourth-and-one, before adding eight more to the CMU3. Bussard then found Fjeldseth for the touchdown to cut the deficit to 14-10 with 7:58 left (Reese kick).
- Carnegie Mellon answered with a nine-play, 60-yard possession featuring the running of Valente and completions to B. McCullough, Reece Kolke and Luca Cuttita. Mark Wamhoff finished the drive with a two-yard touchdown pass to B. McCullough to make it 21-10 with 3:42 remaining (Norell kick).
- The Red and White responded immediately as Bussard opened the next drive with a 30-yard strike to Morgan, before finding Sorensen for 15 yards on third down. Completions to Colin Sullivan and Fjeldseth moved the ball inside the 20, where Sorensen finished the march with runs of ten and nine yards. Bussard then connected with Fjeldseth for the two-point conversion to pull Dickinson within 21-18 with 57 seconds left.
- Despite a six-yard sack by Joaquin Acuna, the Tartans moved into field goal range on their final possession of the half. Lucas Bisazza connected from 45 yards as time expired to send the hosts into the break ahead 24-18.
Third Quarter
- Dickinson needed just 16 seconds to grab their first lead of the afternoon as Sorensen took the opening handoff of the half 75 yards to the house to make it 25-24 (Reese kick).
- The advantage would not last long as Salters connected with Kolke for a 48-yard touchdown on the third play of the ensuing possession to put the Tartans back in front, 31-25, with 13:23 remaining (Norell kick).
- After a Dickinson punt, Valente broke loose for 37 yards to the DC19. However, Mulholland stopped B. McCullough for a three-yard loss and the defense held the hosts to a 37-yard Bisazza field goal to make it 34-25 with 7:50 left.
- The Devils moved into Carnegie Mellon territory on their next possession behind completions to Fjeldseth and Sullivan, but a penalty helped stall the drive. Furlong again delivered a strong punt, leaving the Tartans at their own three.
- Carnegie Mellon advanced toward midfield before Mulholland intercepted Salters and returned the ball six yards to the DC46. Jake Williams immediately broke free for 38 yards to the CMU16, before another five-yard carry and a six-yard completion to Kevin Schmidt helped Dickinson reach the five as the quarter wound down.
Fourth Quarter
- Williams finished the drive early in the period, following an eight-yard carry with a one-yard touchdown plunge to bring the Devils within 34-32 with 14:15 remaining (Reese kick).
- The Tartans answered with an eight-play, 70-yard march that ended with Wamhoff scoring on a three-yard keeper to make it 41-32 (Norell kick). After the teams exchanged punts, Archie Lawler intercepted Bussard and returned the ball to the DC7. Salters found B. McCullough for a touchdown on the next play to stretch the margin to 48-32 with 7:38 left (Norell kick).
- Dickinson refused to go away as Bussard connected with Fjeldseth and Liam Kallen, while Sorensen added an 11-yard rush to move the visitors to the CMU25. Facing third-and-ten, Bussard found Fjeldseth for 20 yards, before hitting Schmidt for a five-yard touchdown with 5:09 remaining. The two-point pass failed, leaving the score at 48-38.
- The defense then produced a crucial takeaway as Christian Twomey forced a Nick McCullough fumble that Domani White recovered. Bussard found Sorensen for five yards and Kallen for seven, before a roughing-the-passer penalty advanced the ball to the CMU19. That was when Bussard linked up with Kallen for a 19-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 48-45 with 2:49 left (Reese kick).
- Carnegie Mellon moved into Dickinson territory and worked the clock down before bringing on Bisazza for a 44-yard field goal attempt. However, Mulholland broke through to block the kick and Juan Pablo Garcia recovered at the DC29, giving the Red and White one final opportunity with just 16 seconds remaining.
- Bussard found Fjeldseth for 11 yards, before a lateral to Schmidt gained another 22 to the CMU38. A 12-yard completion to Morgan moved the ball to the 26 with two ticks left, Reese then stepped up and drilled the kick from 43 yards as time expired to tie the game at 48-48 and force overtime.
Overtime
- Carnegie Mellon had the ball first and advanced to the DC12 behind a completion to Valente and a five-yard rush. The Devils defense held firm from there, forcing the Tartans to settle for a 24-yard Bisazza field goal and a 51-48 lead.
- Dickinson began their possession with an incompletion, before Sorensen picked up six yards to the CMU19. Facing third-and-four, Bussard connected with Fjeldseth for the winning 19-yard touchdown to complete the comeback and send the Red and White home with a 54-51 victory.
Dickinson Leaders
- Passing – Bussard (25-50, 290yds, 4tds, 1int)
- Rushing – Sorensen (178yds, 8.1ypc, 2tds), Williams (59yds, 6.6ypc, 1td)
- Receiving – Fjeldseth (77yds, 2tds), Morgan (62yds), Sorensen (48yds), Kallen (42yds, 1td), Schmidt (34yds, 1td)
- Tackles – Mulholland (11), Garcia (10), Kaufman (8), Francisco (7), Moses (6)
Opponent Top Performers
- Passing – Salters (28-37, 366yds, 4tds, 1int), Wamhoff (1-1, 2yds, 1td)
- Rushing – Valente (165yds, 8.3ypc)
- Receiving – Nick McCullough (161yds, 2tds), Brendan McCullough (95yds, 2tds), Kolke (54yds, 1td)
- Tackles – Sturges (10), Ming (9), Franklin Jr. and Sirianni (8)
Up Next
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Dickinson (6-2, 4-1 Centennial) returns to action next Saturday, November 7th, when they visit Ursinus College for a 1pm kickoff at Patterson Field.
