CARLISLE, PA—Hampden-Sydney College senior quarterback J.D. Ricca (Gaithersburg, MD/St. Johns) tossed seven touchdown passes en route to leading the Tigers to a 66-27 victory over Dickinson College. The seven touchdown tosses establishes a new Old Dominion Athletic Conference single-game record, while Ricca also became the all-time leader in career touchdown passes with 82.

The Tigers scored on their first six possessions and eight of nine in the first half as Ricca tossed six first half touchdowns to help the Tigers roll up 52-21 lead at halftime. In the second half, Ricca set the single-game ODAC record with his seventh TD toss on a 31-yard connection with Brian Rolander (Exmore, VA/Broadwater).

Hampden-Sydney opened up a 14-0 lead with Ricca tosses to Brian Rolander and Dane Williams (Farmville/VA Fuqua) as they reeled off consecutive 67-yard drives. Dickinson came back with a one-yard scoring dive by quarterback Matt Torchia to cut the Tiger lead to 14-7, but a Reed Westra (Chester, VA/Lloyd C. Bird) 32-yard field goal as time expired in the first quarter put the Tigers ahead by ten, 17-7.

Back up quarterback Grant Hastings scored the Red Devils second touchdown of the game on a four-yard scramble to open the second quarter, but Ricca connected with freshman wideout Aaron Williams (Burke, VA/Fairfax) from ten yards out for his third TD toss to push the Tiger advantage to 24-14. Dickinson running back Dwight Phyall scored on a three yard run just minutes later, cutting the Tiger advantage to just three points, 24-21, with eight minutes to play.

The Tigers then marched 59 yards on seven plays before Josh Simpson (Richmond, VA/Mills Godwin) scored his first rushing TD of the game at the 8:00 mark of the second quarter, starting a roll in which the Tigers scored 28 unanswered points to finish the half. On the ensuing kickoff, the Tigers recovered a muffed catch by Dickinson at the Red Devil 26 yard-line and four plays later Ricca connected with tight end Ben Dull (Roanoke, VA/Cave Spring) from nine yards out. Ricca then followed that up with a 51-yard bomb to sophomore Drew Smith (Richmond, VA/Mills Godwin) and then finished the half on an 11-yard dump pass to junior Charlie Omick (Lawrenceville, VA/Brunswick Academy), pushing the Tigers over the 50-point barrier for the 15th time under Marty Favret.

In the second half, Dickinson scored first as Matt Torchia connected from 22 yards out with Ryan Nelson, but the extra point attempt was blocked, keeping the Tigers in front, 52-27. Less than three minutes later, Brian Rolander caught his second Ricca touchdown pass, this time from 31 yards out to put the Tigers up, 59-27. Josh Simpson tacked on his second touchdown run of the game with 10:26 remaining in the game to put the nail in the coffin as the Tigers scored the second most points (66) in one game during the Favret-era.

The Tigers helped Favret celebrate his 40th career victory by rolling up 632 yards of total offense. Ricca completed 26-of-38 passes for 428 yards and seven touchdowns, while Josh Simpson rushed for 103 yards and caught five passes for 75 yards and scored two touchdowns. Drew Smith eclipsed the 1,000-yards receiving barrier for the season with a five-catch, 125-yard performance, while Brian Rolander finished with four catches for 98 yards and two scores.

Dickinson’s Matt Torchia completed 18-of-23 passes for 259 yards and one touchdown, while also tossing two interceptions, while Dwight Phyall carried 11 times for 38 yards and a touchdown. Ryan Nelson finished his afternoon with seven catches for 107 yards and one touchdown.

Defensively, Zach Price (Richmond, VA/James River) and Jeff Inman (Virginia Beach, VA/Ocean Lakes) led the Tigers with 11 tackles each, all of Price’s coming by virtue of solo stops while he also recorded three for a loss and one sack. Meanwhile, Louis Burrell (Richmond, VA/Highland Springs) and Kyle Booker (Gloucester, VA/Fork Union) each recorded interceptions.

For Dickinson, safety Andrew Ackley led the way with 12 stops, while also picking off his seventh pass of the season. Mike O’Donnell recorded nine tackles while Matt Williams had eight.

The Tigers return to action next Saturday, November 5, as the team hosts Johns Hopkins University at 1 pm at Hundley Stadium and Fulton Field in H-SC’s annual Hall of Fame Game.

-www.hsc.edu/athletics-