Completed Event: Football at Central Connecticut State on September 27, 2025 , Win , 35, to, 28
Final
Football
at Central Connecticut State
35
28
On the Prowl Against the Lions
10/20/2010 3:01:00 PM | Football
The Game: Dartmouth (3-2, 0-2) at Columbia (3-2, 1-1)
Location: Wien Stadium, New York, N.Y.
Kickoff: Saturday, Oct. 23 at 1:30 p.m.
Series Record: Dartmouth leads 62-17-1
Radio: WFRD 99.3 FM
Live Video ($) • Live Audio • Live Stats
Complete Game Notes
The Big Green have had several ignominious streaks come to an end this season, and they are aiming to end another this week: a 13-game losing skid in league road games. The good news for Dartmouth is that the last Ivy team it beat outside of Hanover was today's opponent, Columbia, four years ago by a 20-7 margin.
Last year the Big Green enjoyed a 28-6 victory over Columbia in Hanover for a raucous homecoming. The Lions will be trying to return the favor, but has not won a homecoming game since 2000 against ... the Big Green, 49-21.
This past week, the Green snapped a personal six-game skid against Holy Cross with a 27-19 victory at Memorial Field thanks in large part to 169 rushing yards by junior Nick Schwieger and a defense that forced six turnovers in the second half. Cornerback Shawn Abuhoff caused two of those miscues with an interception and a forced fumble, and even senior Donald Kephart got into the act by jarring a ball loose on a kick return to set up the winning field goal.
Schwieger has proven to be Dartmouth's greatest offensive weapon, ranking third in the country with 146.3 rushing yards per game. Columbia is quite familiar with the tailback as he racked up 242 yards last year in Hanover against the Lion defense to set what was then a school record.
The passing game struggled against Holy Cross with just 57 yards through the air, but junior quarterback Conner Kempe has done his best work this year on the road. All six of his touchdown tosses have come in the two road contests, and he has completed 61.8 percent (34-of-55) of his passes with just one interception.
Kempe has received some of the best pass protection in the country from his offensive line. The front five have allowed opposing defenses just one sack all year, equaled only by Boise State throughout the Division I level. That lone sack came in the season opener at Bucknell, so Kempe hasn't been dropped for a loss on a pass over the last 18 quarters.
The six turnovers recovered by the Dartmouth defense more than doubled its total for the entire season. While Abuhoff was collecting the ninth pick of his career, senior Pat Scorah and junior Anthony Diblasi got their second interceptions (first of the year), and freshman A.J. Dettorre his first, coming near the goal line.
Junior Foley Schmidt continued his resurgence with two more crucial field goals, both coming in the fourth quarter to give Dartmouth the lead. He is now 5-for-7 this year on his three-point attempts and 4-for-4 in the last two games, all from over 30 yards out.
Cross-ed Off the List
Dartmouth had lost six straight games to Holy Cross before defeating the Crusaders on Oct. 16, 27-19, to even the all-time series at 35-35-4. The victory gave the Big Green a perfect record against its non-conference opponents for the first time since the 1996 team knocked off Lehigh, Fordham and Holy Cross in a perfect 10-0 campaign.
Tasty Turnovers
Before the second half of the win over Holy Cross, Dartmouth had recovered just five turnovers over 18 quarters of football. The floodgates opened after the intermission, however, as the Big Green more than doubled that total by forcing six turnovers, including four interceptions. The third pick was returned by senior Pat Scorah for a touchdown, the first points of his career, during the final minute of play. Junior Shawn Abuhoff recorded his ninth career reception, just four shy of the school record, while freshman A.J. Dettorre came up with his first. But perhaps the most surprising turnover came on a Crusader kick return when senior kicker Donald Kephart jarred the ball loose, which was recovered by junior Tyler Melancon. The last time an opponent turned the ball over as many times was Cornell three years ago when the Big Red coughed it up seven times in a 59-31 Dartmouth win.
Scharing the Schpotlight
The Ivy League recognized a pair of Big Green players for their performances in the 27-19 victory over Holy Cross. Junior tailback Nick Schwieger took home the Offensive Player of the Week award for the second time this year and third in his career by running for 169 yards and a touchdown on a career-high 31 carries, not to mention his three receptions and two kickoff returns. In addition, junior placekicker Foley Schmidt was named the Special Teams Player of the Week as he not only converted all three PATs, but also provided two field goals in the fourth quarter that gave Dartmouth a one-point lead that it would not relinquish.
Block Party
The streak continued against Holy Cross as senior Charles Bay blocked a Crusader extra-point attempt in the second quarter (that proved to be incredibly important), giving the Green at least one blocked kick in every game this year and in nine of their last 10 games. This season, Dartmouth has six blocks, a mark equaled by just two other teams, both of which are still in FCS provisional status. To set an FCS record, Dartmouth will have to pick up the pace just a little bit — the record for blocks in one season is 13, held by the 1999 Davidson Wildcats.
Freshman Foibles
Several freshmen performed key roles against Holy Cross, with linebacker Bronson Green leading the team with 11 tackles. Cornerback A.J. Dettorre stepped up for two injured players and recorded his first interception and broke up three other passes. On offense, Dominick Pierre continued to effectively spell tailback Nick Schwieger, carrying the ball six times for 24 yards, plus had an eight-yard touchdown reception which was called back due to a penalty. On special teams, punter Daniel Barstein averaged 32.0 yards on his punts and placed one inside the 20.
Holding the Line
Through five weeks, the Dartmouth offensive line has yielded just one sack, the fewest allowed in the country throughout Division I, equaled only by Boise State. The front force has also created holes for the Big Green running backs, which have gained 168 yards a game, a respectable 37th nationally. In addition, Dartmouth has allowed the fewest tackles for a loss among FCS schools with 13.
Saving Up for the Second Half
In each of the first five games this year, Dartmouth has trailed at halftime. Twice the Green have tied the score, only to lose in the final moments. But whenever they have taken the lead, they have won. In the first 10 seasons of Coach Teevens' two tenures, Dartmouth had managed to win a game it trailed at the half six times. It certainly helps to outscore the opposition 85-27 in the second half as the Big Green have thus far.
Players Mentioned
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Throws
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