The Western Maryland College football team has a big task ahead Saturday afternoon when it travels to Carlisle, Pa., to take on the seven-time defending Centennial Conference champion Dickinson Red Devils.
The last time the Green Terror left the Dickinson campus victorious was in 1983 with a 35-14 win. The Red Devils since have won five straight at home against the Green Terror.
A bye last Saturday gave Western Maryland (3-1-1 overall, 2-0-1 in the CC) an extra week to prepare, while Dickinson (4-1, 2-0) got past Franklin & Marshall, 28-21, despite being out-gained, 453-301, in total yards.
The difference was in turnovers -- Franklin & Marshall committed five to Dickinson's one.
Another number of interest is the 392 yards Franklin & Marshall gained through the air against the Dickinson defense.
The Green Terror will look to exploit the Red Devils' passing defense with quarterback Brian Van Deusen throwing to a number of receivers.
In completing 126 of 247 attempts for 1,422 yards and 10 touchdowns, Van Deusen has five receivers who have at least 10 catches, one more with nine and another with eight.
The Dickinson offense will try to grind it out on the ground.
Tailback Chris Hughes has rushed for 394 yards on 90 carries with four touchdowns and his backup, Andrew Hinkle, was averaging more than 12 yards a carry through the first three games before missing the last two due to an injury. He should be ready to go against Western Maryland.
Redshirt freshman Dan Magee, a transfer from Holy Cross, took over as quarterback and had a good game last week against Franklin & Marshall, completing nine of 13 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns.
On defense, Dickinson relies on linebacker Matt Bixler, who has earned CC Defensive Player of the Week honors twice this year. The Green Terror are led by linebacker Bob Symanski and defensive tackle Joe Krcma.
Dickinson has dominated over the past decade, but Western Maryland still holds a 26-23-1 edge in the series that dates back to 1904. Last season, the Red Devils claimed a 33-7 win at Western Maryland.
Terror soccer struggling
After a fast start, the Western Maryland men's soccer team (6-5-1) has fallen on hard times.
In going 5-0-1 to open the season, the Green Terror outscored its opponents, 22-7. In dropping five of its last six, the Green Terror has been outscored 18-7. The latest was a 7-0 setback to Muhlenburg on Saturday.
