Dartmouth Football Loses Close One to Colgate

Sept. 18, 2004

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HAMILTON, N.Y. - A touchdown by Dartmouth as time expired wasn't enough as the 12th ranked Colgate Raiders marred the Big Green's season opener, winning 17-15 on Saturday.

Dartmouth scored first on the day when Erik Hinterbichler notched his first collegiate field goal, a 21-yarder to put the Big Green ahead, 3-0 in the first quarter. Hinterbichler, in the game for an injured Tyler Lavin, booted the kick after Dartmouth marched 69 yards on 12 plays.

Colgate (1-1) evened things up at 11:16 in the second quarter with a 33-yard field goal by Lane Schwarzberg. A blocked field goal by Dartmouth with one second before the half ensured the game stayed knotted at 3-3 going into the break.

After a slow start in the second half, the Big Green received a break with 1:58 left in the third. The Colgate receiver mishandled Grant Wagner's punt. After a hit by Ikechi Ogbonna forced the ball loose, Jason Raiti recovered for the Big Green. Seven plays later, Ray Rochester barreled through from less than a yard out to put Dartmouth up, 9-3. The snap for the PAT was misplayed.

Colgate pulled ahead when Mike Latek grabbed a Charlie Rittgers' pass on the Dartmouth 14-yard line putting the Raiders ahead, 10-9 with 7:00 to play in the game. The interception was Rittgers' second of the game, breaking his streak of 147 passes without an interception dating back to last year's Harvard game.

Jamaal Branch scored again for Colgate, running in from 45-yards out for his first touchdown of the game, putting the Raiders ahead, 17-9 with 3:14 left. Branch ended the game rushing for 115 yards.

With 1:16 left on the clock, Dartmouth had one last-ditch opportunity and capitalized when Bob Murphy caught a 19-yard pass from Rittgers as time expired. The 5-7 senior wide receiver had eight for 91 yards on the day after missing virtually all of last year with a hand injury.

The Big Green led the Raiders with 146 total yards to 108 at halftime and finished the game with 303 to 250. Dartmouth also held a slight edge in time of possession, 31:02 to 28:58. Rittgers had a career-best 59 pass attempts, completing 26 for 279 yards. The Dartmouth school record is 64.

Dartmouth, 0-1, faces the University of New Hampshire next Saturday in the home opener at Memorial Field. Game time is 12 noon and the matchup will be aired by WMUR-TV, Channel 9 in Manchester.

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