CARLISLE, Pa. – Ben Klassen threw a pair of fourth-quarter touchdown passes and the Dickinson football team held visiting Muhlenberg College scoreless over the final 15 minutes to claim a 34-28 victory and secure the program's first Centennial Conference championship since 2006 on Senior Day Saturday afternoon at Biddle Field.
The Red and White erased a seven-point deficit entering the fourth quarter to finish the regular season at 8-2 overall and 6-1 in conference play, securing the outright Centennial title and the league's automatic berth in the NCAA Division III Football Championship.
First Quarter
- After a Michael Furlong punt ended the Red Devils first drive, Muhlenberg began on their own 17. Luke Spang connected with Caleb Pasols and Amari Dunn to advance to the MC29, before taking off for 23 yards to get into Dickinson territory. The Mules kept chipping away from there, putting together a 16-play, 83-yard march that Spang finished with a one-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead with 5:12 remaining (Nicholas D'Amico kick).
- Dickinson answered with an eight-play, 75-yard scoring drive. Klassen used completions of 24 and 23 yards to Kevin Schmidt, along with a 12-yard Dane Sorensen carry, to move the Red and White inside the MC5. Sorensen then brought the march to a close with a one-yard touchdown to tie the score at 7-7 with 49 seconds left (Hudson Reese kick).
- Joaquin Acuna and Abdoulaye Sow combined to sack Spang on the ensuing possession, helping force a Muhlenberg punt to begin the second quarter.
Second Quarter
- Both teams began the second with a punt, giving the Mules the ball on their own 25. A 22-yard strike from Spang to Dunn, followed by JR Walley runs of nine and ten yards, helped push the visitors to the DC27. Three plays later, Spang took it in from five yards out to put Muhlenberg back in front, 14-7, with 8:08 remaining (D'Amico kick).
- The ensuing kickoff went out-of-bounds to give the Red and White possession on their own 35. Klassen opened the drive with a 31-yard pass to Schmidt, before Sorensen contributed on the ground and through the air to help move Dickinson to the MC9. That was when Klassen found Frederik Fjeldseth for a nine-yard touchdown to bring the home side even at 14-14 with 5:10 left (Reese kick).
- Julien Devlin stopped Dunn on consecutive rushing attempts, before a third-down incompletion forced another Muhlenberg punt. The kick traveled just 19 yards, setting Dickinson up at the MC33. After Sorensen was stopped for a one-yard loss, Klassen broke loose for a 34-yard touchdown run to give the Devils their first lead of the afternoon, 21-14, with 2:57 remaining (Reese kick).
- Muhlenberg advanced into Dickinson territory on their final possession of the half, but a Jimmy Mulholland pass breakup and a two-yard stop by Sean Couvertiere helped stall the march. The visitors punted, allowing the Red and White to take their seven-point advantage into the break.
Third Quarter
- The Mules opened the second half with an 11-play, 71-yard touchdown drive. Spang picked up 11 yards on the ground, before Dunn broke free for 25 more to the DC35. Completions to Pasols, Jason Stien, Ryan Harden and Cody Arevalo helped move the visitors inside the five, where Dunn finished the possession with a one-yard touchdown to tie the game at 21-21 with 8:57 remaining (D'Amico kick).
- Dickinson went three-and-out on their first possession of the half, with the ensuing punt and return giving Muhlenberg the ball at the DC3. Acuna delivered a seven-yard sack to push the Mules back, but Spang connected with Aidan Mack for a nine-yard touchdown on the next play to give the visitors a 28-21 edge with 5:56 left (D'Amico kick).
- Keesean Campbell provided a spark with a 38-yard kickoff return, while a Muhlenberg face mask penalty gave Dickinson possession at the MC45. Klassen found Campbell for 11 yards and Sorensen continued to work on the ground as the Devils reached the MC7. However, the Mules stopped Sorensen on consecutive carries to force a turnover on downs and preserve their lead heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
- The Dickinson defense immediately got the ball back as Couvertiere broke up a third-down pass to force a punt. Starting at the MC41, Klassen found Campbell for five yards and picked up six more himself, before connecting with Schmidt for a 30-yard touchdown to tie the game at 28-28 with 13:32 remaining (Reese kick).
- Another defensive stop gave the Red and White possession at their own 44. Klassen kept the drive moving with a six-yard completion to Colin Sullivan, while Sorensen added a 15-yard rush to the MC12. Three plays later, Klassen went back to Sullivan for a five-yard touchdown to put Dickinson ahead, 34-28, with 6:44 left. The extra point was unsuccessful.
- Muhlenberg picked up a pair of first downs on their next possession to approach midfield, but Couvertiere broke up another pass before Domani White dropped Spang for a six-yard sack on third down to force a punt with 3:12 remaining.
- Sorensen opened the ensuing Dickinson possession with an 11-yard carry, before Klassen found Fjeldseth for a crucial 28-yard gain on third down. The Devils continued to work the clock, eventually bringing on Furlong to pin the Mules at their own 12 in the closing seconds.
- Muhlenberg's final opportunity ended when Mulholland recovered a fumble following a completion to Logan Nordeck. Klassen then took the final snap to seal the 34-28 victory and bring the Centennial Conference championship back to Carlisle.
Dickinson Leaders
- Passing – Klassen (13-18, 195yds, 3tds)
- Rushing – Sorensen (116yds, 4.0ypc, 1td), Klassen (73yds, 6.6ypc, 1td), Williams (14yds, 3.5ypc)
- Receiving – Schmidt (108yds, 1td), Fjeldseth (44yds, 1td), Campbell and Sorensen (16yds), Sullivan (11yds, 1td)
- Tackles – Garcia (13), Kaufman (9), Couvertiere (8), Mulholland (7)
Opponent Top Performers
- Passing – Spang (18-30, 130yds, 1td)
- Rushing – Dunn (81yds, 4.5ypc, 1td), Spang (62yds, 3.9ypc, 2tds), Walley (20yds, 6.7ypc)
- Receiving – Nordeck (35yds), Dunn (33yds), Arevalo (28yds), Mack (9yds, 1td)
- Tackles – Newman and Cerruti (12), McNeal (6), Girard and Foley (5)
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