CARLISLE, Pa. - The Dickinson football team got their 2026 season off to a flying start on Friday night at Biddle Field as the Red and White posted a 27-14 non-conference win over the visiting and 25th-ranked Randolph-Macon College. The Devils relied on a three-headed rushing trio of quarterback
Ben Klassen and tailbacks
Dane Sorensen and
Jake Williams as they combined for 275 on nearly 50 carries (49). The win also marked the first victory for DC over the Yellow Jackets as RMC had won the previous five.
First Quarter
- Following a three-and-out stand by the defense to open the game, the Devils began their first drive of the year at their own 15. A 12-yard pass to Braden White and four rushes between Klassen and Sorensen had the home side on the plus side of the 50 at the RMC44. An 14-yard completion to Keesean Campbell and three runs by Williams pushed the rock to the RMC9, but had the Red and White looking at third down. That was when Klassen decided to do it himself with a nine-yard scamper to the house (Hudson Resse kick no good).
- The ensuing Macon possession saw sprints of 12 and 19 yards for Mitchell Johnson help move the Jackets to the edge of the DC redzone at the DC26. A 17-yard strike to Basit Qadri put the guests in prime scoring shape. However, with second-and-goal from the Jake Mulhern was picked off by Sean Couvertiere to end the quarter.
Second Quarter
- Dickinson's drive would unfortunately be cut short when Klassen was intercepted by Matthew MacNichol who took the ball back to the DC12. It took the Jackets two plays for them to find the endzone as Mulhern linked up with Qadri for the touchdown (Trever Luther kick).
- Three straight touches for Williams brought the Devils from their own 26 out to the 46 yardline. Following a short pass to Kevin Schmidt, a 19-yard run for Williams and back-to-back receptions from Sorensen had the hosts inside the redzone on the RMC13. That was where the "Sorensen Show" continued as carries of eight and four set the stage for a one-yard plunge to reclaim the lead at 13-7 (Reese kick).
- Randolph-Macon used a good combination of run and pass to take the final five minutes of the half off the clock and worked themselves down into scoring position at the DC7. Mulhern then had consecutive passes broken up by Will Ryan and Ellington Roane respectively forcing the field goal unit out to try and cut into the deficit. However, Luther would come up empty from 25-yards.
Third Quarter
- Dickinson got the ball to open up the half and after a nine-yard pass from Klassen to White, Sorensen took a third down handoff at the DC25 and raced 75 yard to the house breaking numerous tackles along the way to add onto the Devils lead at 20-7 (Reese kick).Â
- The DC defense continued to be a story as well as on the next RMC drive Roane and Couvertiere each broke up a pass to force a punt from Jordan Etz that hit the endzone giving it back to the home side on their own 20 with 12:31 left. A nine-yard pass to Frederik Fjeldseth led to runs for Klassen, Sorensen and Williams to advance up to the RMC30, but leaving it at fourth-and-two. Klassen hustled up the middle himself for three yards and the first down, before connecting with Schmidt for a 27-yard touchdown to hand DC a 20-point cushion at 27-7 (Reese kick). The drive lasted a dozen plays and sucked nearly eight minutes off the clock.
- Once again the Dickinson defense was stout causing another three-and-out. The Devils would take over on their own seven and utilizing their three-headed rushing attack advanced to the DC27 closing out the frame.
Fourth Quarter
- The Devils drive would come to a sour end though as on third down from right around midfield Zach Tyler forced the ball out of the hands of Colin Sullivan giving it back to the Jackets on their 48 three minutes in.
- Ryley Justus took over the quarterback duties and using Qadri and Devin Bryant battled their way down inside the ten to the four and stared down third-and-goal from the four. He would miss Russell Jackson on third down, before being forced from the pocket on fourth down and throwing the ball out the back of the endzone.
- The ensuing Dickinson drive would get out to the DC24 prior to stalling out and forcing Michael Furlong to come out and punt for the first time. Unfortunately, Qadri would break in off the left side and block the kick all the way back to the endzone where he would fall on it for the touchdown and setting the 27-14 final (Henry Ross kick).
Dickinson Leaders
- Passing - Klassen (15-20, 130yds, 1td, 1ints)
- Rushing - Sorensen (148yds, 7.0ypc, 2tds), Williams (69yds, 4.9ypc), Klassen (58yds, 4.1ypc, 1td)
- Receiving - Campbell (35yds), Schmidt (31yds, 1td), White (21yds)
- Tackles - Ryan (9), Juan Pablo Garcia and Roane (8), Joaquin Acuna (5), Marco Kaufman, Adam Kilpatrick and Abdoulaye Sow (4)
Opponent Top Performers
- Passing - Mulhern (9-16, 68yds, 1td, 1int), Justus (55yds)
- Rushing - Johnson (49yds, 5.4ypc), Bryant (29yds, 4.1ypc)
- Receiving - Qadri (66yds, 1td)
- Tackles - MacNichol (12), Kyger (11), Dashiell (10)
Up Next
- Dickinson (1-0) returns to action on Saturday, September 12th when they travel to North Carolina to take on Division I Davidson College at 1pm.
