FRANKLIN, Mass. – The Dean College football team began the 2023 campaign with a convincing 33-17 victory with contributions from both sides of the ball.

The Bulldogs are now 2-1 against the Falcons having won both games at home with Fitchburg State winning last year on their home field.   

Fitchburg State had the season's opening drive, but Dean forced a turnover on the third play when junior Ryan Tigges (Burlington, Mass.) intercepted Falcons quarterback Rocky Marchitelli (Gunnison, Colo.).

The Bulldogs paid off the turnover with a 1-yard touchdown run from sophomore Fontabian Donalson Jr. (San Antonio, Texas) for the 6-0 lead.

Later in the first, the Falcons took a 7-6 lead when Marchitelli found sophomore Sahir Gomez (Whittier, Calif.) for a 25-yard catch and run over the middle to the back of the end zone.

With 7:30 on the clock in the second quarter, Dean had the ball first and goal inside the 10-yardline. On the ensuing rushing attempt, Fitchburg State forced a fumble that was snatched out of the air by junior lineman Nunu Coward-Jackson (Fresno, Calif.) who ran four yards into the end zone to put the Bulldogs back on top. After the extra point by junior Griffin Sullivan (Colchester, Conn.), Dean led 13-7.

The Falcons pulled within 13-10 as time expired at the end of the first half when freshman kicker Jonah Costa (East Providence, R.I.) converted a 25-yard field goal.

Dean scored the only points of the third quarter on a 20-yard pass by senior quarterback Nathan Cisco (Franklin, Tenn.) to freshman wideout Dy-riece Smith (Boston, Mass.).

On Dean's first possession of the fourth quarter, the team went 52 yards in two plays and 39 seconds. Cisco connected with freshman wide receiver Zay Collier (Spring Hill, Tenn.) for a 35-yard play. Cisco then found sophomore wide receiver Mohale Mitchell (Lakewood, Colo.) near the sideline. Mitchell hauled in the pass at the 17 and raced through a couple of Falcons with stiff arms for the touchdown. An extra point made the score 26-10 in favor of the home team.

On the Falcons' next possession, the Dean defense carried the momentum with another big play. With Marchitelli dropping back, senior defensive end Austin Roy (Blackstone, Mass.) forced his third fumble of the game that was scooped up by senior Joe Penton (Manassas Park, Va.) and carried into the end zone for the 33-10 (PAT was good) lead.

Fitchburg State answered with a 1-yard TD run by freshman Oriowokite Fatoke (Worcester, Mass.) with 5:41 left to play. The opportunity was set up by a 40-yard catch and run by senior tight end Quincy Taylor (Boston, Mass.). That would be the last score of the game.

Cisco went 14-26 for 190 yards, two TDs and an interception for Dean. Donalson Jr. finished with 28 rushing yards and a TD. Collier hauled in a pair of passes for 83 yards.

Marchitelli finished 17-38 with 192 yards, a touchdown and a pick. Sophomore runner Peter Kwayke (Methuen, Mass.) had a team-high 60 yards on the ground for the Falcons. Gomez caught four balls for 53 yards and a score.

The Dean defense was led by freshman linebacker Kevin Smith Jr. (Liberty City, Fla.) who finished with a game best 11 tackles. Junior Kai Reeves (Boston, Mass.) added nine tackles and a sack. Roy posted eight tackles, three sacks and three forced fumbles. Penton added seven tackles, a sack and the fumble returned for a TD.

The Fitchburg State defense was led by junior Cameron Monette (Winchendon, Mass.). He had eight tackles, six for loss, a sack and a QB hurry. Junior Sebastian Burmester (Germantown, N.Y.) was next on the team with seven tackles.

Dean (1-0) will host Nichols on Saturday at nearby Franklin High School for a game under the lights with a 7 p.m. kickoff. Fitchburg State (0-1) hosts Vermont State University Castleton next Saturday at 3 p.m.