Dickinson wins the rivalry game by taking advantage of Clear Springs' errors.

It was expected to be a thriller but the District 24-6A opener between Dickinson and Clear Springs did not deliver.

Both teams are agile, tough and hard-hitting on defense, but the Gators (4-1, 1-0) took advantage of the Chargers' (2-3, 0-1) errors with speed and better accuracy for a 35-14 victory Friday at Columbia Challenger Stadium.

The Chargers were first to score with a 17-yard touchdown run by senior Elijah Jackson and a solid point after touchdown by senior kicker Xander Fraga after four minutes in the first quarter.

But the Gators' special teams capitalized on the punt return with a strong 88-yard touchdown run by senior Rodney Bimage. The PAT was blocked and picked up by Charger Caden Ward who ran it back to the 50-yard line.

The Chargers were able to maintain possession for nearly three minutes before junior quarterback Julian Salazar was picked off by Dickinson's J'Quan Hennigan, which led the Gators to a second touchdown with a 1-yard punch-through run by senior John Solomon. That time, the PAT was good by senior kicker Chance Gage.

Early in the second quarter, Clear Springs took its only lead with a 20-yard pass from sophomore quarterback Kaleb Maryland to junior Mu'Izz Tounkara. The 1-point lead lasted about 20 seconds before Solomon passed to Hennigan for 40 yards and a Gator touchdown.

Points-after-touchdown were tough for both teams throughout the night; either the kick was blocked, bounced off the goal posts or the snap was fumbled and recovered by the opponent.

While Maryland and Jackson were able to string along two first downs, the second quarter was unsuccessful for the Chargers as they were picked off by the hungry Gator defense or went out on downs.

Before the half, Dickinson made five first downs with a mixture of passes from Solomon and runs by senior running back Leonard Browne. However, the Charger defense stalled them with 13 yards to the end zone.

To widen the score gap, the Gators' Gage kicked a field goal to go up 22-14.

Special teams must have received a roaring pep talk during halftime because once back on the field, Dickinson's Bimage made another punt return for more than 100 yards to kick off the second half.

The Chargers never recovered.

Less than a minute later, Dickinson got possession of the ball after a confusing off-side punt return. Next play, Solomon passed to junior Jeremiah Scoby for 35 yards and the final score of the night.

Clear Springs' defense refused to be passed again as all of Dickinson's drives after that play went out on downs. But the Charger offense was held at bay, as well.

In the fourth quarter, Salazar and his defense attempted to rally. He passed to Jackson for 40 yards and a first down, followed by two more consecutive first downs. But the 9-yard line was the closest the Chargers would get to the end zone again. converse chuck taylor all star vs 70

Both teams next face Clear Falls back at Challenger Columbia Stadium.

Clear Springs will take on Clear Falls (2-3) at home Sept. 29. Clear Falls defeated Clear Brook 55-0 this week. Dickinson will have a bye week before taking on the Knights on Oct. 6. converse chuck taylor 70 midnight clover