Following their 48-14 loss in week one against John Carroll, Waynesburg University heads to Carlisle, Pennsylvania this Saturday to battle the Dickinson College Red Devils.

“They are a tough-minded opponent, they are big on their offensive and defensive line,” head coach Cornelius Coleman said.

Just like Waynesburg, Dickinson College is 0-1 to start out the 2025 season after suffering a week one loss to No. 21 Randolph-Macon College. 

Dickinson is led by ninth year head coach Brad Fordyce, who holds a 29-42 record dating back to his first season in 2017. However, Dickinson is coming off its best two season stretch under Fordyce, finishing 2024 with a 5-5 regular season record, preceded by his best season in 2023, when the Red Devils finished 6-4.  

“We know that once we go down and just play Jacket football, it will put us with the next foot forward, ready to go into PAC play against Hiram,” Coleman said.

The 2025 version of Dickinson includes starting quarterback Ben Klassen, a sophomore who played in six games as a freshman while passing for 637 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 208 yards. This past Saturday, in his first game as a sophomore, Klassen completed 15 of 29 passes for 275 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions. 

Waynesburg, who struggled to slow down John Carroll quarterback Nick Semptimphelter last week, could have their hands full again this week with Klassen under center. 

Some of the other notable playmakers on the Dickinson offense include a deep cast of pass catchers. 

“They have some great skill position guys especially in their tight end, number 18 [Kellen Boyer],” Coleman said. 

Kellen Boyer, a 6’4 senior tight end, made four catches for 84 yards and a touchdown in week one. Boyer has 35 catches over his college career, racking up 387 yards and seven touchdowns. 

A trio of European wide receivers filled up the stat sheet in week one for Dickinson. Sophomore receiver from Austria, Moritz Mittendorfer, made three catches for 66 yards. Frederik Fjeldseth, the Norwegian junior receiver, caught three passes for 51 yards and two touchdowns. German receiver Leon Friebel caught two passes for 36 yards and a touchdown. 

Also, Canadian receiver Keesean Campbell is a factor in the passing and running game. Campbell completed a pass and had two carries for 65 yards and a touchdown in week one. He was targeted as a receiver, but didn’t make any catches.

The Red Devils held opponents to 25.3 points per game in 2024, good enough for fourth in the Centennial Conference. 

For Waynesburg, the two-quarterback rotation that was seen against John Carroll last Saturday will not be going anywhere.

“It’s gonna be like this all year,” Coleman said. “They both bring a certain skill set to our ball club, that we need both of them,” he added.

Tommy Burke III went 6 for 11 for 108 yards with a touchdown and an interception last week against John Carroll, while sophomore Luke Hudson went 8 for 16 for 52 yards. 

“We must execute plays, do our jobs, and play football like we have done our whole lives,” Burke said. 

The wide receiver core showed up for Waynesburg in week one. Not only did returning players Tyler Richmond, Isaac Trout and Isaiah Fields make catches, but sophomore Colton Lee and transfers Zachary Johnson and Elija Jackson combined for five catches and 51 yards. 

“We got the chance to get our center, Kory Ansell back,” Coleman said. “To show that even when you’re down and your back is against the wall, you won’t pack it in,” Coleman added.

Although the Yellow Jackets fell to 0-1 last week, the future is bright in the eyes of Coleman.

Waynesburg and Dickinson play this Saturday, Sept. 13 at 1 p.m. at the Biddle Field Complex in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.