TodayDevils dazzle guests
Lord, Mitchell plow over Wolverines in season opener.
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Donnie Eppley/Special to The Sentinel
Dickinson quarterback Ian Mitchell scores a touchdown in the first quarter during the Red Devils' 34-7 win Saturday.
Donnie Eppley/Special to The Sentinel
Dickinson wideout Pat O'Connor makes a catch in front of Grove City's Mike Baker on Saturday.
For the Dickinson College football program, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Despite losing linebacker and defensive leader Eric Dube, offensive playmaker Chris McInerney and playing on a refurbished Biddle Field the Red Devils opened their season in style with a sound 34-7 rout of visiting Grove City on Saturday afternoon.
“I try to make plays with my feet,” said Dickinson quarterback Ian Mitchell, who kept Grove City on its toes by both running and throwing. “I was watching for both outside backers to come and I was able to make a play.”
After Grove City missed a 33-yard field goal following a Dickinson fumble, Mitchell hit Pat O’Connor for a 57-yard completion. The quarterback followed that by going to the ground and eventually scoring on a 22-yard run for a 7-0 lead.
The Wolverines, on the strength of a 44-yard interception return, drove to the Dickinson 4-yard line before missing another field goal on the ensuing drive.
In the second quarter it was all Dickinson as Greg Lord, a cornerback-turned-tailback, broke off touchdown runs of 14 and 1 yards before Gordan Craig added a field goal for a 24-0 Red Devils lead at the break.
Lord was playing in place of the injured Tim Smith.
“Last year Lord was forced to play defense, but we knew he had potential,” Dickinson coach Darwin Breaux said. “He definetly adds a different style.”
On defense the Red Devils pressured Grove City quarterback Andrew DiDanato all day and forced two turnovers.
“We played a solid defensive game,” Breaux said. “We tackled well.”
Lord, who led Dickinson with 119 yards on 19 carries and added a third touchdown in the second half, was joined in a powerful backfield in the second half by fullback Matt Manganaro and Tim Wells at tailback.
The trio pummeled Grove City in the second half to close the books on a successful season opener.
“The offensive line did a great job today. Tim Wells is a great fullback, too,” Lord said. “I played both ways in high school so playing defense wasn’t a big deal, but it is nice to be back on offense.”
Grove City scored late, but that couldn’t put a blemish on a strong defensive effort. Safety Miachael Dalton was the leading tackler with nine.
Dickinson will face a strong challenge next week with a 1 p.m. game at Hobart, a team the Devils beat in overtime last year. Grove City opens its home season against Carnegie Mellon at 1:30 p.m. Saturday.
“I’m happy with the way we played on offesene, defense and special teams,” Breaux said. “We’ll have to play well against Hobart, they’re always a good, physical team.”
