24
WinnerDartmouthDAR6-0 , 3-0
21
ColumbiaCOL4-2 , 2-1
Winner
DartmouthDAR
6-0 , 3-0
24
Final
21
ColumbiaCOL
4-2 , 2-1
Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | F |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DAR Dartmouth | 0 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 24 |
COL Columbia | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 | 21 |
Game Recap: Football | | Justin Lafleur
The Big Green are now 6-0 for the first time since 2019
NEW YORK, N.Y. — The Dartmouth football team outscored Columbia 10-0 in the second quarter and wouldn't look back, defeating the Lions 24-21 on Saturday afternoon in what was a battle of the only unbeatens in Ivy League play. With the win, the Big Green improve to 6-0 and 3-0 in the league, standing all alone in first place in the standings.
Dartmouth and Montana State are the only two unbeaten teams in Division I FCS, but with the Bobcats having a bye this week, the Big Green now own the nation's longest active winning streak of nine (which dates back to last season).
"Excited the way our guys came out and played today," said Sammy McCorkle, Robert L. Blackman Head Football Coach. "We knew it was going to be a heck of a battle. That's a very good football team, a well-coached team. We knew we were going to have to come out and be ready to play from the get-go. Our guys did a good of competing on every snap and playing with energy."
The Big Green's running game led the offensive attack, combining for 271 yards on 39 carries. An explosive second half saw Dartmouth tally 214 rush yards in the second half, 173 of which were in the third quarter. Q Jones finished with a career-high 182 rush yards, with 123 yards coming in the third quarter. The 182 total marked the most by a Big Green player since Jared Gerbino had 183 on Oct. 27, 2018 against Harvard.
D.J. Crowther added 52 yards on eight carries in his first action since the season opener against Fordham. Quarterback Grayson Saunier rushed for 35 yards while through the air, he was 10-of-15 for 70 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, the Big Green held the reigning Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week (Columbia quarterback Chase Goodwin) to just 6-of-11 passing for 79 yards and two interceptions. Dartmouth also intercepted Cole Freeman and finished the day with three picks, four sacks and seven tackles-for-loss. Ejike Adele enjoyed a career day with career highs in tackles (9), sacks (2.0) and tackles-for-loss (3.5). Braden Mullen also had six tackles, two sacks and two tackles-for-loss along with a pass breakup. Zach Farris, Tyson Grimm and Danny Cronin all had interceptions.
"We talking about the importance of getting some turnovers and I felt that was a bit part [of today]," said McCorkle. "The defense did a heck of a job of creating some turnovers for us, especially early in the game. We talked about having to win up front. We knew it was going to be a battle throughout the game. We continuously fought, battled and made plays when we needed to. Us being able to establish the run was a big boost for us, too."
The first quarter didn't see any scoring, with just 113 total yards, only 29 from the Big Green. Columbia missed a field goal attempt on its first drive.
Farris' second interception of the season set up the Big Green at the Columbia 20-yard line. Owen Zalc would get Dartmouth on the board with a 35-yard field goal to give the Big Green a 3-0 lead with 10:37 on the second-quarter clock.
— Dartmouth Football (@DartmouthFTBL) October 26, 2024Zach Farris interception sets up an Owen Zalc field goal and the Big Green lead 3-0 early in the second quarter!
Gameday Central ➡️ https://t.co/JjkbBTNY1N#TheWoods #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/HDr48t0d1H
After a Columbia 3-and-out, Dartmouth drove 81 yards on 12 plays. Paxton Scott had three catches for 37 yards on that drive to help the Big Green move the ball, ending with a 10-yard connection from Saunier to Chris Corbo. The extra point gave Dartmouth a 10-0 lead.
— Dartmouth Football (@DartmouthFTBL) October 26, 2024Chris Corbo touchdown reception gives the Big Green a 10-0 lead late in the 2nd quarter!
Gameday Central ➡️ https://t.co/JjkbBTNqcf#TheWoods #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/uD5pEcbhmR
On the ensuing drive, Columbia drove to the Dartmouth 37-yard line, but Grimm ended it with his first-career interception, to help the Big Green go into halftime leading by 10.
On the Big Green's first drive of the third quarter, it was the Jones show. In four plays, he had rushes of 27, six, one and 35 yards, finding the end zone to give Dartmouth a 17-0 lead with 10:56 left in the third quarter.
— Dartmouth Football (@DartmouthFTBL) October 26, 2024Q Jones runs it in from 35 yards out and the Big Green lead 17-0 early in the third quarter!
Gameday Central ➡️ https://t.co/JjkbBTNqcf#TheWoods #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/osIQkpSHk7
"Shoutout to my offensive linemen, my tight ends and wide receivers," said Jones. "They continue to block their butts off. Like I always say, my one job is just to hit the hole. Today, in the trenches, they were handling their business. I was seeing the whole and I was hitting it."
Columbia broke the shutout late in the third, finishing an 11-play, 83-yard drive with a 1-yard rushing score. But it didn't take long for Dartmouth to answer. Jones began the drive with a 39-yard scamper into Columbia territory. Two plays later, Crowther went 33 yards to the end zone, as the Big Green took a 24-7 lead into the fourth.
— Dartmouth Football (@DartmouthFTBL) October 26, 2024Welcome back, D.J. Crowther!
Gameday Central ➡️ https://t.co/JjkbBTNqcf#TheWoods #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/YLgdGseYAu
The Big Green remained in firm control, but the Lions wouldn't go away. They scored touchdowns at the 2:05 and 0:34 mark to pull within 24-21, but Dartmouth recovered the ensuing onside quick to seal the victory.
"It was a good win for our football team," said McCorkle. "The guys prepared well this week. We talked about working hard that day, win that day and they did a very good job preparing themselves. They came ready to play and beat a good football team."
For the game, the Big Green held a 341-336 edge in total yards, including 271-84 on the ground. Columbia finished with a 252-70 edge through the air.
Dartmouth is set to return home next Saturday to host Harvard at 1:30 p.m. It's also Homecoming and Healthcare Appreciation Day. Tickets can be purchased HERE. Questions can be directed to the Athletics Sales Office atathletics.sales@dartmouth.eduor by calling (603) 646-2466.
NOTES: The Big Green's last five wins have now come by a total of 13 points, with no win in that stretch by more than four … Patrick Campbell's eight tackles marked a career high, as did Tyson Gimm's seven … The Big Green are now 6-0 for the first time since the 2019 season, and 3-0 in the Ivy League for the first time since that same year … Columbia had been 2-0 at home this season, averaging 32.5 points per game … Dartmouth entered the weekend No. 22 in both the Stats Perform FCS Top 25 and AFCA FCS Coaches Poll … Columbia was receiving votes in the AFCA poll.
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