Kepley Named Ivy League Special Teamer of the Week

HANOVER, N.H. — Dartmouth punter Ben Kepley was selected as the Ivy League Special Teams Player of the Week by the league office today for his performance in the Big Green's 13-9 victory over Columbia on Saturday. This is the sixth weekly award bestowed upon a Dartmouth player this season and the first of Kepley's career.

The junior from Charlotte, North Carolina, was called upon a career-high 11 times — one shy of the school record — to help with the battle of field position. His first three kicks were the most challenging, however, with each one coming from his own end zone. But a pair of 50-plus yard boots were key in limiting Columbia to a mere total of three points on the ensuing possessions. Kepley finished the day averaging 38.5 yards on his punts with enough hang time to force seven fair catches. Four ended up residing inside the 20 as well, including one of his four blasts in the fourth quarter that was downed on the six with Dartmouth clinging to that four-point lead.

Kepley is the first pure punter from Dartmouth to win this award since Alex Ware during the 2001 season. The only other punter to garner the honor was Riley Lyons in 2012 as both the punter and placekicker. Senior Ryan McManus also earned the special teams award earlier this year for his work on punt returns.

Earning places on the weekly honor roll were senior quarterback Dalyn Williams, who completed 20-of-34 passes for 235 yards and a touchdown, and senior defensive end Cody Fulleton for his five tackles, including a career-high two sacks.

Dartmouth (6-0, 3-0 Ivy), ranked 22nd in the most recent STATS FCS poll, has a short week this week with a Friday night showdown against the other undefeated team in the Ancient Eight, 15th-ranked Harvard (6-0, 3-0). The game will be televised from Harvard Stadium by NBC Sports Network with Mike Corey and Ross Tucker in the booth, and broadcast on 99Rock (WFRD 99.3 FM in Hanover) with Adam Giardino and Wayne Young '72 calling the action for Dartmouth fans. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

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