WESTMINSTER, Md. – Dickinson built a 13-point lead in the second half then held on to defeat McDaniel 33-28 in Centennial Conference (CC) football action on Saturday.

Nick O'Melia (Taneytown, Md./Francis Scott Key) led the Green Terror (1-6, 0-6 CC) on offense with six catches for 105 yards that included a pair of touchdowns. Matty Callahan (Germantown, Md./Northwest) threw for a career-best 281 yards, completing 23 of 41 passes with three touchdowns.

Chris Soulas and Cedric Madden did the lions' share of the work for the Red Devils (3-4, 3-3 CC), combining for 280 of the team's 310 yards rushing. Soulas had 158 yards on 19 carries with three touchdowns while Madden had 122 yards on 19 carries with one score.

Taking over at its own 20 with 3:11 to play in the first quarter, John Chamberlin (Franklinville, N.J./Williamstown) picked up one yard on first down before Callahan connected with O'Melia streaking down the right sideline for a 79-yard touchdown. It was the longest play from scrimmage for McDaniel this season and the team's first first-half touchdown.

Dickinson responded with a five-play, 60-yard drive that Soulas capped with a 32-yard touchdown run to even the game at 7-all with 21 ticks on the first-quarter clock.

After a three-and-out from the Green Terror offense to start the second quarter, Matt Quattrone (Carlisle, Pa./Carlisle Area) knocked the ball out on Dickinson's first play and Brandon Jones (Middle River, Md./Eastern Tech) picked up to give McDaniel the ball at the Dickinson 22.

Six plays later, Callahan once again connected with O'Melia, who got one foot down in the back corner of the end zone to put the hosts back on top 14-7 with 11:02 showing.

The Red Devils immediately responded, however. A 39-yard pass play to Anders Overhaug keyed a six-play, 75-yard drive. Soulas took the ball the final 13 yards and the ensuing Adam Kaminski PAT evened the game with 8:13 on the clock.

After an interception and 33-yard return by Connor Thompson set up the Dickinson offense inside the 10-yard line, Madden took the ball almost to the goalline before it was knocked out. Devin Gaby fell on the ball in the end zone for the touchdown. A bad snap on the PAT attempt led to a failed conversion and 20-14 advantage with 8:18 to play in the third quarter.

Dickinson took advantage of a second interception with a one-yard Madden touchdown run four plays into the ensuing drive for a 27-14 lead with 5:54 remaining.

Callahan engineered an eight-play drive that was keyed by a 23-yard connection with Sean Montgomery (Bethesda, Md./Walter Johnson) and 17-yard Chamberlin run on third-and-1. Chamberlin found the end zone with a one-yard dive to close the deficit to 27-21 with 2:04 on the clock.

After the defense stuff McDaniel on a fourth-and-2 from the Red Devil 44, Soulas and Madden led their offense 57 yards on six plays.

Soulas capped the drive with a four-yard run for his third score of the game. A low snap on the ensuing PAT once again kept it a 33-21 game with 5:35 to play in the contest.

Callahan went back to work in the two-minute drill, methodically marching his offense down the field.

He twice found Britton Hastings (Shippensburg, Pa./Shippensburg Area) for first-down catches and also took off on a 10-yard scamper for a first down.

Facing a fourth-and-2 from the Dickinson 32, Callahan hit Montgomery for a six-yard gain to keep the drive alive and two plays later found the wideout for a 21-yard touchdown.

Spencer Wiersberg (Salisbury, Md./J.M. Bennett) converted the extra-point attempt to make it 33-28 with 2:46 remaining.

Dickinson recovered the on-side kick attempt but the defense held for a three-and-out.

Austin High's punt went straight up but he got a fortuitous bounce and McDaniel took over at its own 20 with 1:33 on the clock.

Callahan found Mike Oliveto (Robesonia, Pa./Conrad Weiser) for a 22-yard gain on first down.

The Red Devils forced four straight incomplete passes after that, however, to preserve the victory.

Montgomery caught six passes for 75 yards. Quattrone led the defense with 11 tackles and the forced fumble. Eddie Kendall (Point Pleasant, N.J./Point Boro) and Andy Ullman (Toms River, N.J./Monsignor Donovan) added nine stops each.

McDaniel returns to action at Juniata on Saturday. Game time is 1:30 p.m.

-30-

$website.include("/sports/fball/2014-15/videos/20141025-0vajo4ie")