Bulldogs' defensive players on the field. (Photo Courtesy Athletics)
For the third straight year, the Dean College Bulldogs Football team opened their season against Fitchburg State University, and this time won 33-17 at Dale Lippert Field. After a disappointing 1-9 season record last year, the Bulldogs went into training camp looking to turn things around. Bulldogs head coach Andrae Murphy at training camp this summer has pushed his team to focus on today, responsibility, and family.
In the first half of the game, running back Fontabian Donaldson Jr. ran in for a 1-yard touchdown. At 1st and goal at the 10-yard line, running back James Day was hit at the 3-yard line, putting the football in the air before offensive lineman Nunu Jackson recovered it and ran in for a touchdown. High emotions of excitement came out of Jackson and electrified the Bulldogs and the crowd.
For the visiting Falcons, quarterback Rocky Marchitelli threw a great pass to Sahir Gomez to run in for a 25-yard touchdown. In the last five seconds before halftime, Falcons kicker Jonah Costa delivered a 25-yard field goal to go into halftime trailing 13-10.
The comeback the Falcons planned to make in the second half would fall short, as the Bulldogs started to pull away with two touchdowns by quarterback Nathan Cisco to Dyriece Smith for twenty yards and Mohale Mitchell for seventeen yards. The Bulldogs defense even managed to score, as defensive lineman Austin Roy forced a fumble from Falcons quarterback Rocky Marchitelli that defensive lineman Captain Joe Penton then returned for a 7-yard touchdown.
For the Falcons in the second half, they scored only once, and that was at the courtesy of Oriowokite Fatoke, who converted a 1-yard touchdown.
Bulldogs Quarterback Nathan Cisco finished the day with 190 passing yards and two touchdowns. Falcons quarterback Rocky Marchitelli finished with 192 passing yards and one touchdown.
The Bulldogs prevailed with the final score 33-17, and the players then poured water on Coach Murphy for winning his first home game as coach, and for winning Dean’s first home game in two years.
Bulldogs defensive lineman and Captain Joe Penton had to say this about the amazing victory, and the preparation for week two against Nichols College at Home.
“It means all the work paid off over the summer, I can’t do as well as I did without my guys out there, and shoutout to my guys on the defensive line. "Coach Dre always says nothing changes if nothing changes, so that is the mentality for the team for next week.”
The Bulldogs' next game will be against Nichols College on September 9th. Kick-off will be at 7:00 p.m. at Pisani Field, Franklin High School.
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