Defensive Battle Goes Dickinson’s Way, 10-0

CARLISLE, Pa.- Juniata and Dickinson battled on a gloomy and rainy Biddle Field on Saturday afternoon in the Centennial Conference opener for both teams. The Red Devils went up 10-0 in the first quarter and that was all they needed as Dickinson shutout the Eagles. Both teams' records stand at 1-1.

Dickinson dominated in the run game as it piled up 339 yards and achieved 19 first downs on the ground. Red Devil running back Anders Overhaug ran 28 times for 157 yards and a score. The Red Devils had the ball for 39:52 to Juniata's 20:08.

On the Red Devils' first drive of the game, Juniata held Dickinson to a three and out and forced them to punt. The Eagles took possession at their own 25. The drive was short-lived as quarterback Hank Coyne (Royersford, Pa./Spring Ford Sr. HS) fumbled and Dickinson recovered to take over at the JC 16.

Dickinson moved the ball and got to the Juniata four-yard line. The Eagles defense stood firm as the Red Devils could only manage a 25-yard field goal to lead 3-0 with 9:16 to play in the opening quarter.

The Eagles offense was stymied on its next possession and had to punt the ball away. Jonah Plymire (York, Pa./Central York) was able to get the punt down to the Dickinson 18 where the Red Devils began their drive. Dickinson ran the ball with authority into Juniata territory and down to the two-yard line. From there, Overhaug took it in from a yard out and with the extra point, Dickinson took a 10-0 lead.

Juniata would only get as far as the Red Devil 28 for the rest of the half. JC had three punts and one fourth down attempt that was denied. With time winding down in the second quarter, Dickinson attempted a field goal from 46 yards, but the ball went wide and to the left as the score stood at 10-0 at the half.

Both teams' first possession in the third quarter ended in punts. On Juniata's second drive of the quarter, the Eagles moved the ball downfield from their own 13 yard line with Coyne connecting with Hunter Phillips (Funkstown, Md./South Hagerstown) for 15 yards and DaVon Mitchell (Schwenksville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) for 17 yards. JC moved got to the DC 40 and was faced with a fourth and one situation. Matt Lehr (Dover, Pa./York Catholic) took the handoff and was stopped inches short of the first down as Dickinson took over possession.

The Red Devil drive ended at the Juniata 36 when David Clemons would be sacked by the combination of Daulton Romano (Coopersburg, Pa./Southern Lehigh) and Donovan Cobb (Aliquippa, Pa./Aliquippa) on fourth and one. The Eagles gave the ball right back as Coyne was picked off by Jack Margavitch at the DC 39. Dickinson moved only six yards as Juniata's defense stopped the drive and forced a punt.

The fourth quarter saw both offenses struggle again and defense rule. The Eagles showed some life with 7:46 left to play in the game. At their own 39, Coyne hooked up with Phillips on a 20-yard pass to get to the DC 39. On the next play, Phillips looked to have a nine-yard reception, but a penalty for an ineligible man downfield negated the play and the Eagles had to back up five yards. Coyne threw three straight incompletions and the Eagles were forced to punt the ball away. All the Red Devils needed to do was run out the clock and did so as they walked away with the win.

Defensively, Cobb led in tackles with 17 and added half a sack and a forced fumble. Ryan Bologa (Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone) chipped in 13 tackles with Jake Diviney (Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area) and Romano both had eight stops. The Eagles held the Red Devils to just 48 net yards passing on the day.

Coyne finished 12-for-30 passing for 132 yards and one interception. Deonte Alston (Bel-Air, Md./Patterson Mill) led in rushing with 12 attempts for 41 yards. Lehr added 18 yards on five carries. Kirby Breault (Elizabethtown, Pa./Elizabethtown Area) was one of three Eagles receivers to catch three passes. He picked up 38 yards while Mitchell had 29 and Aaron O'Brien (York, Pa./York Catholic) had 21 yards.

Plymire and James Dougherty (York, Pa./York Catholic) combined to punt seven times for 281 yards. Plymire booted five times for 223 yards and had two punts inside the 20-yard line. He had game-high 53-yard kick. Dougherty had two punts total 58 yards with one inside of the 20.

The Eagles return the friendly confines of Knox Stadium next Saturday when they host Gettysburg at 1 p.m. Juniata will recognize its Glory Years teams of 1947-1962.