Red Devil Football News Releases

Devils Fall in First Round of NCAA Playoffs
November 18, 2006

(Dover, DE)- The Dickinson College football team put an early scare into #4-ranked and Regional top-seed Wesley College before the Wolverines regrouped to post a 49-21 decision in Saturday's NCAA First Round playoff game.

The Red Devils jumped out to a 13-0 lead and appeared to go ahead 18-0 before a holding penalty negated a tackle-eligble pass to senior Kevin Mentrikoski (Danville, PA/Danville), who went 13 yards into the endzone. The penaly moved the ball back to the 16 yard line. The Devils fumbled on the next play, giving the ball to Wesley on the 15 yardline.

The Wolverines went 51 yards on the ensuing play and capped an 85 yard drive to cut the deficit to 13-7 midway through the second quarter. Wesley tacked on two more scores before the break to take a 21-13 lead into halftime.

The Wolverines went in front 28-13 on their second possession of the second half before a 55 yard fumble recovery, forced by Ryan Anderson (New Oxford, PA/New Oxford) into the hands of Will Scott (Capital Heights, MD/Mercersburg Academy), who went 55 yards for the score. Senior quarterback Matt Torchia (Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon) hit classmate Scott Dominick (Norwin, PA/Norwin) for a two-point conversion to pull the Devils within 28-21. The fourth quarter belonged to Wesley as they found the endzone three more times for the final margin.

Torchia added to his school records, completing 13-of-26 passes for 101 yards. Torchia threw for over 100 yards in all 11 games this season. He also rushed for 46 yards and one touchdown. Junior Michael D'Amico (Wilmington, DE/Wilmington Friends) was unstoppable in the first half, rushing for 61 yards. Senior Ryne Cantwell (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp) added 48 yards on seven carries, scoring one touchdown.

Junior linebacker Michael O'Donnell (Media, PA/Penncrest) had a team-best nine tackles and a forced fumble. Eric Dube (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) added seven tackles and also forced a fumble. Victor Johnson (Wayne, PA/Radnor) recorded a sack.

Aaron Jackson rushed for 122 yards while quarterback Chris Warrick threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns to lead Wesley. Michael Clarke caught all four touchdown passes and covered 158 yards on nine catches.

The Red Devils end a remarkable season at 8-3 overall. They captured their first outright Centennial Conference Championship since 1994 and also claimed possession of the Little Brown Bucket and the Conestoga Wagon with wins over Gettysburg and Franklin & Marshall.

Boxscore

Stearrett Selected to Play in 2006 Aztec Bowl
November 17, 2006

(Carlisle, PA)- Dickinson College senior Ryan Stearrett (Wilmington, DE/St. Elizabeth) has been selected to participate in the 2006 Aztec Bowl. For the 10th consecutive year, the American Football Coaches Association will send a Division III all-star team to Mexico to battle a team of that country's top college players in the 2006 Aztec Bowl on December 16th in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

Stearrett was named the Centennial Conference's top tight-end for the third consecutive year, earning First-Team All-Conference honors. Stearrett was once again a dominant force on the Devils' offensive line. In addition, he played a key role on special teams this season and saw some situational action on defense as well.

Stearrett's blocking was a big part of the success of the Red Devil offense. He also made some big catches from his tight-end position, moving up to fifth on the school's career reception list. Stearrett caught 24 passes for 216 yards, averaging nine yards per reception. He caught three passes for touchdowns, including a long of 55 yards on a halfback pass against Muhlenberg. His versatility and ability to play multiple positions made Stearrett a strong candidate for the squad.

Former Widener, Delaware Valley and LaSalle Head Coach Bill Manlove will serve as the USA head coach this year. Manlove is making his fourth Aztec Bowl coaching appearance after having served as an assistant coach in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Manlove succeeds long-time USA head coach Ron Schipper, who passed away earlier this year. Schipper guided the previous nine USA Aztec Bowl squads.

The Aztec Bowl is the traditional season-ending game for Mexico’s college football season. The game has been played 35 times since 1947 with the last nine contests featuring the United States-Mexico match-up. The United States has won eight of the nine meetings.

Chitwood Sports Media of Jefferson, Texas will again provide a live webcast of the Aztec Bowl in 2006. Along with the game webcast on December 16, announcers Charlie Chitwood and Ned Fratangelo will provide 90-minute preview shows on December 13, 14 and 15. The preview shows will originate from the Team USA hotel and will begin each night at 6:30 p.m. CST.

The preview shows and game webcast can all be accessed via the AFCA’s website at www.afca.com and via the Aztec Bowl website at www.aztecbowl.com. Postgame results will also be available at www.afca.com.

Global Football, a Granbury, Texas company specializing in international sports events and tours, will again organize the event.

For more information

Devils Place 12 on All-Centennial Football Team
November 13, 2006

(Carlisle, PA)- Dickinson College had a remarkable 12 players selected to the 2006 All-Centennial Conference football team, announced on Monday evening. The Centennial Conference Champions actually earned 13 All-CC honors as junior Chris McInerney (Philadelphia, PA/Chestnut Hill Academy) was named to the First-Team as both a wide receiver and kick returner. The Red Devils had eight players earn First-Team honors, three named to the Second-Team and one Honorable Mention.

In addition, senior quarterback Matt Torchia (Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon) and junior linebacker Eric Dube (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) were named the Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year in the conference. Torchia and Dube were two of Dickinson's four unanimous First-Team selections on the squad. Torchia is the third Dickinson offensive player to be named player of the year, the first since 1990. Dube becomes the third Red Devil linebacker and fifth overall defensive player to receive the honor. For the first time since 2000, both the offensive and defensive player came from the same school. Torchia and Dube are the third duo to accomplish that feat.

Senior Ryan Stearrett (Wilmington, DE/St. Elizabeth) garnered his third straight award as the CC's top tight-end this season. Stearrett is also a two-time All-Conference baseball player. Stearrett, along with senior offensive lineman Kevin Mentrikoski (Danville, PA/Danville) was a unanimous First-Team choice by the conference coaches.

Torchia continued right where he left off last season, and added a little on top this year. He broke his own single season records for completions, attempts and passing yards this fall, completing 166-of-281 passes for 1,622 yards. He ran for 298 yards on the year, eclipsing his own single season mark with 1,920 yards of total offense.

Torchia was a pillar of consistency in the pocket, setting a school and Centennial Conference record with 173 passing attempts without an interception. He completed a school-best 109 passes without an interception and has a 59.1 completion percentage this season. On the career lists Torchia quickly climbed to the top in primarily two seasons of action. He ranks second all-time in completions (315), pass attempts (552), passing yards (3,232) and total offense (3,232). Academically, Torchia was named to the Centennial Conference Academic Honor Roll in 2005 and 2006, and was recently named to the CoSIDA All-Academic District II Second-Team.

Dube returned from a season-ending injury sustained last year and was in top form from the start of the 2006 campaign. He posted 11 tackles in the season opener against Juniata and recorded at least 10 tackles in all but three games this season. He is second in the conference for tackles, averaging over 11 per game with a conference-best 16.5 tackles for loss. He set the school record with 21 tackles at Hampden-Sydney, earning Centennial, ECAC and Don Hansen Football Gazette Player of the Week honors.

Stearrett was once again a dominant force on the Devils' offensive line. In addition, he played a key role on special teams this season and saw some situational action on defense as well. Stearrett's blocking was a big part of the success of the offense. He also made some big catches from his tight-end position, moving up to fifth on the school's career reception list. Stearrett caught 24 passes for 216 yards, averaging nine yards per reception. He caught three passes for touchdowns, including a long of 55 yards on a halfback pass against Muhlenberg.

Mentrikoski earns his second selection to the First-Team offensive line. He, along with Second-Team selection, junior Michael Buscaglia (Broomall, PA/St. Joe's Prep) anchored a tremendous effort by the offensive line. The Red Devils ranked second in rushing, passing and scoring offense, and was third in the conference in total offense. The Red Devils allowed quarterback Matt Torchia to be sacked just 14 times this season, despite a school record 285 passing attempts. Solid pass protection also played a key role in the Devils' throwing just six interceptions all season.

Junior Chris McInerney stormed out of the gates to trigger the Dickinson offense, catching four touchdown passes in the first two games. He went on to return the opening kick-off against the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 98 yards to put the Devils on the board in the opening minute. In the conference, McInerney ranked third in receptions and receiving yards, and was second in all-purpose yards. He ranked second in the nation for most of the season, averaging over 32 yards per kick-off return, and was among the conference leaders in scoring with 10 touchdowns on the year.

McInerney is currently fourth on the single season reception list with 45 catches and has a single season rank of seventh with 556 receiving yards. He earns First-Team honors as both a wide receiver and a kick returner. Like Stearrett, McInerney is a standout player on the Red Devil baseball team.

Senior Ryne Cantwell (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) was named one of the First-Team running backs this fall. A powerful and punishing back, Cantwell turned small gains into big yardage, often simply running over opponents. He rushed for 507 yards this season, averaging almost five yards per carry. He started the season strong, rushing for 97 yards against Juniata. He turned in a great performance against Gettysburg, covering 75 yards on 12 carries, scoring two touchdowns. Cantwell was a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield as well. He made 14 receptions for 105 yards, averaging 7.5 cards per catch. He caught two touchdown passes in Dickinson's 28-14 win over Franklin & Marshall.

Joining Dube on the First-Team defensive unit are conference sack leader Eric Hertrich (Wilmington, DE/Archmere) and school career interception leader Andrew Ackley (Chalfont, PA/C.B.West). Hertrich recorded nine sacks this fall to lead the team and the conference. He posted six solo sacks and added 12 tackles for loss this season. Ackley intercepted four passes to tie the school record with 19 in his career. He was a Don Hansen preseason All-American and earned his third straight selection as a First-Team defensive back. He ranks third on the team with 47 tackles, adding 3.5 tackles for loss, four breakups and a fumble recovery this season.

Senior defensive lineman Victor Johnson (Wayne, PA/Radnor) and junior cornerback Ryan Heinig (Jenkintown, PA/Jenkintown) were both named to the Second-Team on defense. Johnson put the pressure on the quarterback while Heinig provided the coverage. Johnson had a great year up front, making 45 tackles, including 25 unassisted. He added 8.5 tackles for loss and recorded six sacks. He was fourth in the CC for sacks, one of four Red Devils in the top 10 for that category.

Heinig provides consistency and balance in the Dickinson secondary. He tallied 39 tackles, two interceptions, six breakups and a fumble recovery. In addition he plays a major role on special teams and is always a threat to block kicks. Although he didn't have one during the regular season, Heinig's quickness from the corner is always a danger to opponents.

Senior Zac Redding (Darien, CT/Darien) was an Honorable mention selection on defense. Redding posted 37 tackles with seven for losses, 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble this season. He ranks eighth in the conference in sacks. Redding and the Red Devils ranked first in the CC in rushing defense, allowing just 72 yards per game. They ranked second in both total defense and scoring defense. The Devils also boasted the top red-zone defense in the conference this season and were the most effective at preventing third-down conversions.

The Red Devils went 5-1 in conference play to win their ninth overall title and their first outright title since the 1994 season. They finished the regular season 8-2 overall and earned the automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. Dickinson will travel to Regional top-seed Wesley College on Saturday to face the Wolverines at 12:00 noon.

Complete List of All-Conference Team

Devils Travel to Wesley for NCAA First Round
November 12, 2006

(Carlisle, PA)- Wesley College, (10-0) from Dover, Deleware will host Dickinson College (8-2) in the first round of the 2006 Division III National Football Championship, with kick-off set for 12:00 EST on Saturday, November 18th. Wesley, a 2005 semifinalist, just finished its first undefeated season since 1976 and won their fourth Atlantic Central Football Conference (ACFC) Championship. The Wolverines were the 2005 South Region Champions and are currently #4 in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) and #1 in the South Region Rankings.

Dickinson won the Centennial Conference Championship to earn an automatic bid into the tournament. The championship was the first outright title since 1994 for the Red Devils, their ninth title overall. The winner of Saturday's first round game will face the winner of the Millsaps College and Carnegie Mellon University winner on Saturday, November 25th.

Click for Link for Full Bracket

Bears Claim Overtime Thriller 31-24
November 11, 2006

(Collegeville, PA)- The Dickinson College football team dropped its Centennial Conference finale at Ursinus, 31-24 in overtime. The two top teams in the CC matched-up and went head-to-head all afternoon. The game was tied 7-7 after the first quarter and 14-14 at halftime. The Bears pulled in front 24-17 entering the fourth. A late touchdown pass to the corner of the endzone from Matt Torchia (Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon) to Clay Merris (Landisburg, PA/West Perry) tied the game with 1:19 remaining to force overtime.

Torchia tossed a nine yard pass to Chris McInerney (Philadelphia, PA/Chestnut Hill Academy) to put Dickinson on the board at the 6:24 mark. The Bears answered with a 13 yard touchdown run by Josh Hannum.

Torchia scored on a bootleg from four yards out at the 9:11 mark of the second. Ursinus answered through the air this time as senior quarterback Ted Wallingford hit Hannum for a 40 yard strike to tie the game with 7:48 left in the half.

Sophomore kicker Matt Stark (Monnesson, PA/Monesson) split the uprights midway at the 8:09 mark of the third quarter. Ursinus went to the air again, this time with Wallingford connecting with Brandon Evans for a 51 yard touchdown just two minutes later, and added a field-goal from 20 yards awat to put the Bears in front 24-17.

Torchia drove the Devils 52 yards to the Ursinus six yard line with four completions and the help of a roughing the passer penalty by the Bears. The Bears were flagged again, for pass interference on second down, giving the Devils a 1st-and-goal from the three yard line. Torchia put the ball in the corner of the endzone and Merris made a great diving catch to tie the game with 1:19 left in the game.

The Red Devil defense held with the aid of two more Ursinus penalties and a huge sack by Eric Hertrich (Wilmington, DE/Archmere Academy).

The Devils won the toss and elected to play defense to start the overtime. Wallingford went to the endzone on the first play, finding Evans, who made an outstanding grab in the corner.

The Ursinus defense held, securing the win for the Bears as they improved to 8-2 overall and 4-2 in the CC.

Ryne Cantwell (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) rushed for a game-high 92 yards on 14 carries while Torchia threw for 144 yards and two touchdowns, and ran for 42 yards and one score.

McInerney caught eight passes for 65 yards, returned two punts for 44 and three kick-offs for 84 on the day.

Junior linebacker Eric Dube (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) tallied 11 tackles, including one sack for a loss of 10 yards. Hertrich recorded 2.5 sacks and Brian Brugger (Downingtown, PA/Bishop Shanahan) added an interception.

The Red Devils finish the regular season 8-2 overall and 5-1 in the Centennial Conference. The Devils captured their first outright conference title since 1994 and will wait for the NCAA Division III field to be announced on Sunday.

Boxscore

Stark Earns Centennial Player of the Week Honors
November 6, 2006

(Carlisle, PA) - Dickinson College sophomore Matt Stark (Monesson, PA/Monesson) was named the Centennial Conference Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against Gettysburg on Saturday. Stark hit three field-goals from 27, 31 and 32 yards, and converted a pair of extra-points in the Devils' 30-14 win over the Bullets.

The win secured the outright conference title for Dickinson and a bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. The Devils also regained possession of the Little Brown Bucket Trophy, improved to 8-1 on the season and 5-0 in the Centennial Conference.

Devils Claim Bucket, Win Centennial Conference Title
November 4, 2006

(Carlisle, PA) - The Dickinson College football team captured the 2006 Centennial Conference Championship with a 30-14 win over rival Gettysburg College. The Devils earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs. Dickinson also reclaimed possession of the Little Brown Bucket trophy, bringing it back to Carlisle to join the Conestoga Wagon and the CC Championship trophy.

The Devils moved the ball well early, but could not break into the endzone, settling for a pair of first quarter field-goals by sophomore Matt Stark (Monesson, PA/Monesson). Stark converted from 27 and 31 yards to put Dickinson in front 6-0.

The Bullets opened the second quarter with an 80-yard drive. Conference touchdown leader Dusty Green dove in from the one yard line to give Gettysburg a 7-6 lead. Stark split the uprights again at the 2:53 mark to put the Devils back in front 9-7.

The Devils held Gettysburg to a three-and-out with the help of a holding penalty. Senior quarterback Matt Torchia (Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon) broke free and scored from 22 yards out to stretch the Devils' lead to 16-7 with just 59 seconds remaining in the half.

Gettysburg gained some momentum to start the second half, scoring on a 19 yard run by tackle James Russell as freshman quarterback Matt Flynn tossed a lateral pass across the field and Russell rumbled into the endzone.

Dickinson wasted little time, countering with a score just 1:53 later on a one yard run by senior fullback Ryne Cantwell (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) to cap a 36 yard drive. Junior wide receiver Chris McInerney (Philadelphia, PA/Chestnut Hill Academy) caught a 22 yard pass from Torchia to put the Devils on the one.

The Devils put up a goal-line stand on Gettysburg's next possession after a 60 yard run by Green made it first-and-goal from the five yard line. The Devils stalled the Bullet drive and took over on their own one yard line. The Bullets regained possession on an interception but missed a 35 yard field-goal attempt with 1:01 remaining in the third period.

Dickinson turned the ball over on downs as Cantwell came up inches short of a first down on the Devils' first possession of the fourth quarter. Sophomore Tredell Johns (Paulsboro, NJ/Paulsboro) forced a fumble and senior Ryan Anderson (New Oxford, PA/New Oxford) fell on it at the Gettysburg 27 yard line.

The teams traded possession, giving Dickinson the ball on their own 36 with just over six minutes remaining in the game. The Devils kept the ball on the ground for six plays, ending with Cantwell's second scoring run of the day, this one from 15 yards out.

Flynn carried the Bullets to the Dickinson 23 before Johns dropped into coverage and picked him off at the 15 yard line. The Devils took over and ran out the clock to secure the win, the Bucket and the Centennial Conference title.

Torchia completed 19-of-38 passes for 214 yards and ran for 59 yards and a touchdown. Cantwell had a solid performance behind 75 yards on just 12 carries with two touchdowns on the day. Mike D'Amico (Wilmington, DE/Wilmington Friends) added 49 yards rushing as well for Dickinson. McInerney caught five passes for a game-high 74 yards receiving. He added 58 yards on kick returns.

Scott Dominick (Norwin, PA/Norwin) and Clay Merris (Landisburg, PA/West Perry) combined for eight key catches, covering 89 yards for the Devils.

Defensively, the Devils were solid and balanced as juniors Eric Dube (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) and Michael O'Donnell (Media, PA/Penncrest) each had eight tackles. Senior Victor Johnson (Wayne, PA/Radnor) added five stops, including two big tackles for loss and a sack. Senior Dennis Nelson (Paulsboro, NJ/Paulsboro) and junior Ryan Heinig (Jenkintown, PA/Jenkintown) each had touchdown-saving pass break-ups as well.

Kyle Luciano anchored a strong defensive effort by Gettysburg with a game-high 17 tackles, an interception and three pass break-ups. Harold Barton added 12 tackles.

Flynn finished the game 13-for-30 for 101 yards while running for 41. Green covered 72 yards on six carries and one touchdown.

Dickinson improves to 7-1 overall and remains perfect in the conference at 5-0. They travel to Ursinus College for the regular season finale at 1:00 pm.

Boxscore

Dube Named Don Hansen National Player of the Week
November 1, 2006

(Carlisle, PA) - Dickinson College junior linebacker Eric Dube (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) was named a Defensive Player of the Week by Don Hansen's Football Gazette for his performance against Hampden-Sydney.

Dube was all over the field, posting a school record 20 tackles, including two for losses and one sack. He tallied 11 solo stops and totaled more tackles than any other three players on the field combined. Dube leads the Centennial Conference in tackles for loss and ranks second in total tackles.

The Red Devils erased a 21-10 deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat Hampden-Sydney 22-21, improving to 7-1 on the season. Dube was named Centennial Conference and ECAC Defensive Player of the Week as well.

Complete Listing

Dube Named Centennial/ECAC Defensive Player of the Week
October 31, 2006

(Carlisle, PA) - Dickinson College junior linebacker Eric Dube (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) was named the Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his play in the game on October 28th. He was also selected as the ECAC Southwest Defensive Player of the Week.

The Red Devils erased a 21-10 deficit in the fourth quarter to defeat Hampden-Sydney 22-21, improving to 7-1 on the season.

Red Devils Comeback for Sixth Straight Win
October 28, 2006

(Hampden-Sydney, VA) - The Dickinson College football team overcame a 21-10 deficit at the end of the third quarter to defeat Hampden-Sydney 22-21 and improve to 7-1 on the season. The win marked the sixth straight for the Devils since falling to nationally ranked Hobart.

Hampden-Sydney went 43 yards on its opening drive to take an early 7-0 lead. The Devils answered with a 57 yard run from Matt Torchia (Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon) at the end of the first quarter and took a 10-7 lead into halftime on a 24 yard field-goal by Matt Stark (Monesson, PA/Monesson).

The Devils almost caught a break as H-SC fumbled into the endzone, but tackle Mike Gundlach fell on it for the score, putting the Tigers in front 14-10. Hampden-Syndey stretched its lead to 21-10 on an 11 yard pass from Bonny Owens to Austin Williams with 3:07 left to play in the third period.

Following a punt to open the fourth, the Devils fumbled the ball away, but immediately regained possession on the next play as senior Andrew Ackley (Chalfont, PA/C.B. West) tied the school record with his 19th career interception, which he returned 20 yards.

Torchia hit Chris McInerney (Philadelphia, PA/Chestnut Hill Academy) with an eight yard pass for McInerney's ninth touchdown of the season. On fourth and eight from Tiger's 44 yard line, the Red Devils tackled punter T.C. Stevens for a 31 yard loss, giving Dickinson possession on the H-SC 13 yard line.

Three plays later Torchia hit Ryan Stearrett (Wilmington, DE/St. Elizabeth) with another eight yard strike to put the Devils in front 22-21. The Devils went for two on both touchdowns, but were unable to convert on either try. The Tigers had one final drive, moving the ball from their own 33 to the Dickinson 26 before the Devil defense held on fourth-and-10, taking possession for the final 43 seconds.

Junior linebacker Eric Dube (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) turned in another monster performance, recording a school record 20 tackles. He had more tackles than any other three players combined for the game from either team. In addition, Dube added 2.5 tackles-for-loss and a sack. Ackley added six tackles on the afternoon while Matt Williams (W. Pittston, PA/Wyoming Area) tallied seven.

Torchia led the Dickinson offensive with 83 yards rushing and 111 passing yards. He scored once on the ground and tossed scoring strikes to McInerney and Stearrett. Torchia set a Centennial Conference record with 173 pass attempts without an interception. He was picked for the first time in six games.

Michael D'Amico (Wilmington, DE/Wilmington Friends) ran for 80 yards on 15 carries, and Ryne Cantwell (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp) covered 42 yards on 10 carries as Dickinson covered 213 yards via the run.

Dickinson improves to 7-1 overall and with 54-14 win by Muhlenberg over Gettysburg, the Red Devils capture at least a share of the Centennial Conference title. The Devils return home next weekend to face Gettysburg in the Little Brown Bucket game. Next saturday is also Homecoming and Hall of Fame weekend for Dickinson.

Boxscore

Devils Win Wagon to Remain Unbeaten in Centennial Conference
October 21, 2006

(Carlisle, PA) - Matt Torchia (Kinnelon, NJ / Kinnelon) completed 19 of his 30 pass attempts for 214 yards and three touchdowns to lead Dickinson to a 28-14 Centennial Conference football win over rival Franklin & Marshall (2-5, 1-2CC) on Saturday. The victory gave the Red Devils (6-1, 4-0 CC) the Conestoga Wagon trophy, and was their seventh win in the last eight meetings between the two schools.

The Red Devils piled up 459 yards of offense in the win. A balanced approach yielded 247 yards over land and 214 more via air. Franklin & Marshall picked up 335 yards of offense, mostly in the second half. Only 35 of those yards came on the ground.

Dickinson wasted little time getting on the board. Michael D’Amico (Wilmington, DE / Wilm. Friends) rumbled 74 yards on the first play from scrimmage, setting up a seven-yard Torchia to Ryne Cantwell (Sewell, N.J. / Washington Twp.) touchdown pass 41 seconds into the game.

Cantwell picked up four more receptions on the afternoon for a total of 29 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He was one of the seven receivers Torchia found on the day. Six of them recorded multiple receptions.

The Diplomats got on the board with their first drive of the second quarter. Franklin & Marshall marched 57 yards on 11 plays, finding pay-dirt when quarterback Kyle Turner hooked up with fullback Rick Dunlap for a 20-yard touchdown pass to make it 7-7.

Then the Red Devils’ offense opened up with 21 unanswered points, all in the second quarter, effectively ending the Diplomats’ afternoon.

Cantwell capped a five-play, 65-yard drive on the ensuing possession with a 14-yard touchdown reception to make it 14-7. The Red Devils ran it to 21-7 following a Diplomats’ three-and-out. Wide receiver Chris McInerney (Philadelphia / Chestnut Hill Acad.) took a reverse option from 20-yards out for the score. His touchdown was set up by his own 46-yard reception on the previous play.

McInerney capped the scoring blitz with a 10-yard touchdown reception in the final minute of the second quarter, giving Dickinson a 28-7 halftime lead. It proved insurmountable.

Forced to the passing game, the Diplomats’ Turner came alive in the second half picking up 232 of his 300 yards in the final two quarters. He repeatedly found Paul Sousa, who finished the game with seven catches for 116 yards, and Bobby Frieler, who finished the afternoon with five receptions for 41 yards and a early third quarter touchdown.

Turner connected on 25 of his 51 pass attempts, tossing one interception. He was sacked four times on the afternoon. Despite several long drives, he couldn’t find the endzone the rest of the day.

Dickinson’s Matt Williams (West Pittston, PA/Wyoming Area) and Victor Johnson (Wayne, PA / Radnor) split the four sacks between them. One of Williams’ sacks resulted in a fumble recovered briefly by Johnson. Williams had seven tackles, six solo, and a pass breakup to his credit as well. Eric Dube (Vorhees, N.J. / Eastern) had 10 tackles, eight solo, three for losses of a yard each.

Franklin & Marshall got 10 tackles from both Zach Romash and James Gregory.

Dickinson improved to 6-1 (4-0 CC) with the win. Franklin & Marshall slipped to 2-5 (1-2 CC). The Red Devils return to action next week at Hampden-Sydney.

Boxscore

Devils Improve to 5-1 With 24-17 Win at McDaniel
October 14, 2006

(Westminster, MD) - The Dickinson College football team moved into sole possession of first place in the Centennial Conference with a 24-17 win at McDaniel College (2-4, 1-2 CC) on Saturday afternoon. The Red Devils remained unbeaten in conference play at 3-0 and improved to 5-1 on the season. Muhlenberg knocked Ursinus from the unbeaten ranks with a 22-6 victory in Allentown. Ursinus slips to 1-1 in the CC and 5-1 overall.

The Red Devils scored once in each quarter, leading off with a 28 yard field-goal from first-year Patrick O'Connor (Exton, PA/Downingtown East) with 45 seconds remaining in the first. Junior Michael D'Amico (Wilmington, DE/Wilmington Friends) caught a 21 yard pass from senior Matt Torchia (Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon) midway through the second period to put the Devils in front 10-0.

The Green Terror made the score 10-3 at halftime with a 20 yard field-goal from Jay Leonard with just 54 seconds remaining in the first half. The teams would trade touchdowns in both the third and fourth quarters for the final margin of 24-17.

Matt Gingrich tied the game 10-10 with a 14 yard touchdown catch from Brad Baer at the 7:56 mark of the third period. The Devils answered with an 89 yard drive, chewing up 5:16 of clock to regain the lead as Torchia ran it in from six yards out. Dickinson pulled in front 24-10 as Torchia tossed a backward pass to first-year Ian Mitchell (Newtown Square, PA/Malvern Prep) who found junior Chris McInerney (Philadelphia, PA/Chestnut Hill Academy) for a 27 yard scoring strike to open the fourth quarter.

McDaniel pulled within one score as Gingrich caught a second touchdown pass from Baer, this one from the nine yard line to make the score 24-17. The teams traded punts before the Devils regained possession with 4:28 remaining and were able to convert a pair of first downs and run out the clock.

D'Amico rushed for a game-high 107 yards on 21 carries to add to his 21 yard TD reception. Torchia completed 16-of-24 passes for 157 yards as the Devils racked up 356 yards of total offense. McInerney caught five passes for 89 yards on the day and returned four kick-offs for 113 yards.

On the defensive side, junior linebacker Eric Dube (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) led all tacklers with a game-high 13, including seven solos and three tackles-for-loss. Ryan Heinig (Jenkintown, PA/Jenkintown) and Ryan Anderson (New Oxford, PA/New Oxford) each tallied six tackles while the Devils combined for three sacks on the day as well.

Baer went 13-for-31 for 129 yards and two touchdowns. He also led the way rushing, covering 54 yards on the afternoon. The Green Terror rushed for 104 yards as a team, becoming the only team this season to rush for more than 65 yards against the Red Devil defense.

Vince Rusbosin and Drew Abbamonte each recorded 10 tackles to lead the Green Terror defense.

Dickinson returns home to host Franklin & Marshall in the Conestoga Wagon game next Saturday at 1:00 pm.

Boxscore

Strong Start Leads Devils Past Mules 24-14
October 7, 2006

(Carlisle, PA) - The Dickinson College football team improved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in the Centennial Conference with a 24-14 win over Muhlenberg on Saturday. The Red Devils stormed out to an early 14-0 lead and held a 21-7 advantage after the first period. Dickinson added a field-goal in the second quarter to take a 24-7 into halftime. After the break the defenses took the stage as Muhlenberg scored the lone touchdown of the half midway through the third quarter.

Junior Michael D'Amico (Wilmington, DE/Wilmington Friends) put the Devils on the board, scoring on a 14 yard pass from senior Matt Torchia (Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon) at the 8:44 mark of the first quarter. Senior Ryan Stearrett (Wilmington, DE/St. Elizabeth) broke free and scored on a double-reverse pass from first-year Ian Mitchell (Newtown Square, PA/Malvern Prep) just 1:29 later to make the score 14-0.

Following a celebration penalty, the Devils would kick-off from their own 20 yard line. The Mules took advantage of the penalty as Brandon Doyle returned the kick all the way to the Dickinson six yard line. Jerome Beverly immediately found paydirt on the next play to cut the lead in half at 14-7 with 6:33 to play in the quarter.

Dickinson gained possession on the Muhlenberg 17 after a punt touched a Muhlenberg player and was pulled in by an alert Chris McInerney (Philadelphia, PA/Chestnut Hill Academy). Three plays later Torchia tossed a seven-yard scoring strike to Scott Dominick (Norwin, PA/Norwin) to close out the period.

First-year Patrick O'Connor (Exton, PA/Downingtown East) converted a field-goal from 32 yards out in the second quarter to extend the Devils' lead to 24-7. Muhlenberg tacked on a touchdown on its second possession of the second half, but that would be all as the Dickinson defense held for the rest of the afternoon.

The Mules were stopped three times inside the Devil 10 yard line, once on a 3rd-and-goal from the one yard line. Senior Andrew Ackley (Chalfont, PA/C.B. West) stalled the Mules final attempt with his second interception of the game, in the endzone with 1:34 remaining on the clock. The play marked career pick number 18 for Ackley, who is tied for second on the all-time list at Dickinson.

Junior linebacker Eric Dube (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) led the tenancious Dickinson defense with a game-high 12 tackles, including two-for-losses. Michael O'Donnell (Media, PA/Penncrest) added seven tackles and combined with Dube for a sack. Eric Hertrich (Wilmington, DE/Archmere) also had a sack for the Devils. Ackley broke up a pair of passes in addition to his two interceptions.

Offensively, D'Amico rushed for 95 yards on 23 carries and made four receptions for 57 yards and the opening touchdown. Torchia had another strong outing, completing 19-of-34 passes for 175 yards and two TDs.

The Centennial's top rushing defense held true to form, allowing just 62 yards on the ground. Quarterback Eric Santagato rushed for 28 yards and threw for 220 yards and one TD. Stephen Montalto made seven catches for 118 yards to highlight the Mule offense. Defensively, Tom Tarsitano led the way with nine tackles. David Mazzola added eight tackles and 1.5 sacks.

The Red Devils travel to McDaniel College next Saturday. They return home on October 21st to face Franklin & Marshall. Both games are scheduled for 1:00 pm kick-offs.

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Heinig Name Centennial Defensive Player of the Week
October 2, 2006

(Carlisle, PA) - Dickinson College junior defensive back Ryan Heinig (Jenkintown, PA/Jenkintown) was named the Centennial Conference Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in the Red Devils' 21-13 win over Johns Hopkins.

Heinig led the defense with seven tackles, an interception and two pass break-ups. Heinig made a huge stop and broke up a pass attempt to stall the comeback bid of the Blue Jays. The Red Devils held JHU to just 46 yards rushing as Dickinson improved to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the conference.

Devils Win Conference Opener at Hopkins 21-13
September 30, 2006

(Baltimore, MD) - The Dickinson College football team knocked-off preseason Centennial Conference favorite Johns Hopkins 21-13 on Saturday afternoon. The Red Devils improve to 3-1 overall and capture their conference opener to start 1-0 in the CC. Hopkins slips to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in the CC.

The Red Devil defense added five sacks to its season total, recovered two fumbles and intercepted a pass to keep the Blue Jay offense in check for the better part of the afternoon. The Centennial's top rushing defense held Hopkins to just 46 yards rushing. The Devils held JHU to just 131 yards passing through three quarters. Quarterback Michael Murray made some big completions late in the game, finishing with 205 passing yards.

Junior Ryan Heinig (Jenkintown, NJ/Jenkintown), who blocked two field-goal attempts against Hopkins last season, led the defense with seven tackles. Heinig made big plays down the stretch and added two pass breakups and an interception. Sophomore Tredell Johns (Paulsboro, NJ/Paulsboro) had a pair of sacks. Junior linebacker Eric Dube (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) tallied six solo tackles and a sack.

Matt Torchia (Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon) dove in from the one yard line on the first play of the second quarter to put Dickinson on the board. The Blue Jays answered as Anthony Tripplin carried is 200th career reception into the endzone to tie the game with 7:00 remaining in the half. Senior kicker Ben Scott put Hopkins in front with a 48 yard field-goal with just 1:05 remaining in the half.

The Red Devils went for it on 4th-and-goal from the inside the one, midway through the third quarter. Junior Michael D'Amico (Wilmington, DE/Wilmington Friends) reached across the goal line to put Dickinson back in front 14-10 at the 8:14 mark.

Scott converted again to start the fourth quarter, splitting the uprights from 45 yards out to pull the Blue Jays to within one at 14-13. Torchia drove the Devils 65 yards and scored on another one yard run to stretch the margin to 21-13 with just over 10 minutes remaining in the game.

Murray drove the Blue Jays from their own 17 yard line to the Dickinson 17 before turning the ball over with 55 seconds on the clock. Heinig made a huge stop on third down, then broke up the pass on 4th-and-2 to give the Devils possession and a key Centennial Conference win.

Torchia completed 15-of-24 passes for 144 yards on the day, marking his ninth straight 100-yard passing game. He rushed for 22 yards and two touchdowns as well. D'Amico finished with 68 yards rushing while senior Clay Merris (Landisburg, PA/West Perry) made a pair of catches for 49 yards.

Matt Hagel led the Hopkins defense with a game-high 13 tackles, three-for-losses and one sack. Anthony Woodard added eight tackles.

Dickinson returns home to face Muhlenberg College next Saturday at 1:00 pm.

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Devils Earn Conference Player of the Week Honors
September 18, 2006

(Carlisle, PA) - Senior Chris McInerney (Philadelphia, PA/Chestnut Hill Academy) was named the Centennial Conference Special Teams Player of the Week while junior Paul Titchenell (Glenolden, PA/Cardinal O'Hara) earned Co-Defensive Player of the Week honors.

McInerney opened Saturday's game with a 98 yard kick-off return for a touchdown as Dickinson handed the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy its first loss of the season 20-7. McInerney also caught four passes for 49 yards and compiled 214 all-purpose yards on the afternoon.

Titchenell anchored a defensive effort that sacked Mariner quarterback Chuck Kleinschnitz eight times and held the Academy to just 38 yards rushing and 217 total yards for the game. Titchenell tallied six tackles, had two sacks and broke up two passes in the win.

Senior wide receiver Clay Merris (Landisburg, PA/West Perry) was named to the offensive honor roll. He made four catches for 54 yards.

McInerney Return Triggers Big Win for Devils
September 16, 2006

(Carlisle, PA) - Senior Chris McInerney (Philadelphia, PA/Chestnut Hill Academy) returned the opening kick-off 98 yards for a touchdown as the Dickinson College football team defeated the visiting U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 20-7 on Saturday afternoon. McInerney has scored in all three games this season. He finished with 131 yards on returns and added 49 yards on four receptions.

The Devils gained the momentum right out of the gate, building off McInerney's kick-off return. The Red Devil defense held the Mariners at bay for the entire first half. They finished with eight sacks on the afternoon, holding the Academy to just 38 yards rushing and 179 yards in the air.

Dickinson used a pair of Patrick O'Connor (Exton, PA/Downingtown) field-goals and a 41 yard scoring run by first-year Ian Mitchell (Newtown Square, PA/Malvern Prep) to build a 20-0 lead at halftime. The Mariners took advantage of a Dickinson fumble and scored on a 24 yard pass from Chuck Kleinschnitz to Preston Morgan with 5:52 remaining in the third quarter.

That would be all the scoring for the afternoon as both defenses were solid in the second half. The Mariners had their best chance following a quesionable fumble call, giving them possession on the Dickinson 11 yard line. The Red Devils held, however, behind a sack from Paul Titchenell (Glenolden, PA/Cardinal O'Hara) and Tredell Johns (Paulsboro, NJ/Paulsboro), and a touchdown saving tackle by Eric Dube (Voorhees, NJ/Eastern) on the four yard line to force a turnover on downs.

Senior running back Ryne Cantwell (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp) turned in another strong outing, rushing for 71 yards on 17 carries. Matt Torchia (Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon) threw for 143 yards, completing 14-of-24 passes on the day. Clay Merris (Landisburg, PA/West Perry) made some big catches, finishing with 54 yards on four receptions.

Defensively, Dube led the way with 10 tackles and a sack. Mike O'Donnell (Media, PA/Penncrest) and Ryan Anderson (New Oxford, PA/New Oxford) each added seven tackles. O'Donnell had a pair of tackles for losses and a sack for minus 10 yards. Titchenell recorded two sacks and broke up two passes. Dennis Nelson (Paulsboro, NJ/Paulsboro) broke up three passes.

Kleinschnitz finished the day, 12-for-34 with 179 yards, despite the eight sacks. Morgan led the receivers with 76 yards on three catches. Justin Eusepi led the defense with a game-high 11 tackles while Pat McTigue and Garron Edgington each tallied 10 tackles.

The Red Devils improve to 2-1 on the season while the Merchant Marine drops its first game to stand at 2-1. Dickinson is off next weekend before heading to Johns Hopkins on September 30th for the Centennial Conference opener.

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Late Score Lifts Hobart to 31-28 Win
September 9, 2006

(Geneva, NY) -The Dickinson College football team came up short in a shootout with Hobart on Saturday afternoon. The Red Devils led 7-3 at the end of the first quarter and 21-17 at halftime. They held a 28-24 advantage until Ryan LiDrazzah scored on a 12 yard pass from Shawn Mizro with just 1:06 remaining to put Hobart in front for good, 31-28.

Dickinson went 75 yards on its opening drive to take an early 7-0 lead. Senior quarterback Matt Torchia (Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon) hit classmate Ryan Stearrett (Wilmington, DE/St. Elizabeth) from 22 yards out at the 10:47 mark. Hobart answered with a 39 yard field-goal with just under five minutes remaining in the quarter.

Junior Chris McInerney (Philadelphia, PA/Chestnut Hill Academy) hauled in a pair of touchdown passes in the second quarter to match a pair of two yard touchdown runs by Hobart and give Dickinson a 21-17 lead at halftime.

After the break, the teams traded scores again with Mizro finding Steve Sorhaindo to cap a 41 yard drive. Senior fullback Ryan Cantwell (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp) ran in from 15 yards out to regain the lead for the Devils.

The fourth quarter belonged to the defensive units as both teams failed to find the endzone throughout the final stanza. Following a missed field-goals attempt from 39 yard out, Hobart took possession with 2:45 remaining in the game. Mizro connected on 6-of-9 passes, capping an 80 yard drive with the 12 yard strike to LiDrazzah for the final score of the game. The Devils had one more shot but Hobart forced a fumble on 4th-and-7 to secure the win.

Torchia put up solid numbers on the day, completing 21-of-31 passes for 227 yards and three touchdowns. Cantwell turned in another strong performance as well, rushing for 71 yards on 15 carries. McInerney caught a pair of TD passes for the second straight game. He finished with seven receptions for 91 yards while Stearrett and Scott Dominick (Norwin, PA/Norwin) combined for 103 yards on nine catches.

Junior linebacker Eric Dube (Voorhies, NJ/Eastern) tallied a team-high nine tackles, including two for losses. Zac Reding (Darien, CT/Darien) posted seven tackles and had three sacks. Ryan Heinig (Jenkintown, PA/Jenkintown) added seven tackles as well.

The Red Devils fall even at 1-1 on the season. They return home to face the United States Merchant Marine Academy next Saturday at 1:00 pm.

Boxscore

Devils Drive Through Rain for 14-0 Win
September 2, 2006

(Carlisle, PA) -The Dickinson College football team won its fourth straight season opener over Juniata, posting a 14-0 shutout on a rainy Saturday afternoon. The Red Devils kept the ball on the ground for the better part of the day, but went to the air at just the right moments to balance the attack.

Senior fullback Ryne Cantwell (Sewell, NJ/Washington Twp.) also spent some time at tailback, rushing for a game-high 97 yards on 23 carries. He averaged 4.2 yards per carry and made some big runs on key plays to keep the ball in the hands of the Red Devils.

Senior quarterback Matt Torchia (Kinnelon, NJ/Kinnelon) connected with junior Chris McInerney (Philadelphia, PA/Chestnut Hill Academy) for both Dickinson touchdowns, one from 15 yards out and the second on a 4th-and-12 from the 17 yard line. Torchia was right on, completing 10-of-12 passes on the afternoon for 101 yards. McInerney made four catches for 62 yards.

On the defensive side, Andrew Ackley (Chalfont, PA/C.B.West) led the way with a game-high 12 tackles and his 16th career interception, which he returned 18 yards. Ackley recorded his sixth career pick against Juniata, tallying three in last year's opener in Huntingdon.

Junior linebacker Eric Dube (Voohees, NJ/Eastern) added 11 tackles in his return to the gridiron while Paul Titchenell (Glenolden, PA/Cardinal O'Hara) added seven tackles. Tredell Johns (Paulsboro, NJ/Paulsboro) and Zac Reding (Darien, CT/Darien) each had six tackles, including two for losses.

The teams battled each other and the poor footing of a soaked Biddle Field with neither team able to gain momentum on offense. On consecutive possessions, a poor snap on fourth down caused Juniata punter Tyler Templeton to tuck the ball and scramble. The second resulted in a fumble that gave the Devils possession on the Eagles' 15 yard line. Torchia found McInerney on the first play to put the Devils on the board, 7-0 at halftime.

Juniata was threatening late in the third quarter, moving the ball from their own 19 yardline to the Dickinson six. On 4th-and-1 the Eagles went for it, but Jay Leonard was met at the line by Reding and Dube to force the turnover. The Devils then answered with their best drive of the day, moving 94 yards while draining eight minutes off the clock. The Devils went for it on 4th-and-12 as Torchia again found McInerney in the back of the endzone to cap the drive and put Dickinson in front 14-0. The Red Devil defense held on the final two Juniata possessions to claim the win and start the season 1-0.

Duane Ehredt led the Eagles with 96 yards rushing while Leonard threw for 114 yards. Nick Reiter led the defense with nine tackles.

The Red Devils travel north next weekend to face Hobart College in Geneva, NY. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:00 pm.

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2006 Dickinson College Football Offensive Preview
August, 2006

The Dickinson College football team returns a significant number of starters and letterwinners to camp for the 2006 campaign. Head coach Darwin Breaux enters his 14th season at the helm, having compiled a 79-53-1 record during his tenure. The Red Devils enter the program’s 118th year of competition, having played 975 games in the history of football at Dickinson.

Dickinson has a reputation of running a strong option offense while relying on a punishing ground game. The Red Devils have used a more balanced attack in the last few seasons, setting back-to-back school records for passing yards in both 2004 and 2005.

The Devils tallied 1,492 yards through the air in 2004 behind a school record 147 completions by quarterback turned assistant coach Keven Williams. Matt Torchia (Sr, 5-11, 210, Kinnolen, NJ/Kinnolen) broke both records last season, throwing for 1,610 yards with 149 completions. Grant Hastings (Jr, 6-3, 200, Millville, DE/Indian River) added 112 yards on four completions to give the 2005 squad the team single season record of 1,722 yards.

On the other side of the ball, Andrew Ackley (Sr, 5-10, 180, Chalfont, PA/C.B. West) led the Centennial Conference in interceptions for the second straight season. Ackley tied a school record with three picks in the season opener against Juniata. He currently ranks fifth all-time at Dickinson with 11 interceptions in his career.

Dickinson posted a 4-6 overall mark in 2005 and finished 3-3 in the Centennial Conference. The Red Devils snapped a nine-game losing streak to McDaniel College, surviving a 25-22 triple-overtime thriller in Carlisle. In the rivalry games Gettysburg College gained possession of the Little Brown Bucket, a trophy the Red Devils held for 11 straight seasons, while Dickinson remained in possession of the Conestoga Wagon trophy with a win over Franklin & Marshall.

For the complete preview, click on the links below.

Offensive Information
Defensive & Special Teams Information