Football Hands Out Championship Rings, Team Awards at End-of-Season Banquet

HANOVER, N.H. — The Dartmouth football team gathered at the Hanover Inn for its annual banquet on April 3 to hand out championship rings and announce the team awards. The Coach Bob Blackman Trophy, bestowed upon the team MVP, went to fifth-year senior Derek Kyler.

Kyler (DeKalb, Ill.) was an All-Ivy League Second Team selection and a finalist for the Bushnell Cup as one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the FCS while leading the Big Green to a record 20th Ivy League title. The 6-0, 180-pound QB completed 169-of-239 passes for 1,972 yards and 17 touchdowns while getting picked off just once all year to rank second in the nation in completion percentage (.707, a Dartmouth record), and fourth in passing efficiency (162.66). Kyler also set Big Green and Ivy League career records for completion percentage (.693) and passing efficiency (164.55).

The Jake Crouthamel Award, given to the offensive player among the underclassmen who made the most significant contribution to the success of the team, was earned by junior Nick Howard (Green Bay, Wis). The 6-2, 230-pound quarterback was named to the All-Ivy League First Team, making Dartmouth the first Ancient Eight team ever to have two quarterbacks be chosen for All-Ivy honors in the same year. He led the conference in rushing yards per carry (6.3, 16th in the FCS), scoring (90 points, 10th in the FCS) and rushing touchdowns (15, fifth in the FCS), the last of which tied a 92-year-old program record.

Junior Quinten Arello (Conway, S.C.) was honored with the Kenneth T. Young Award as the top defensive player among the underclassmen. The starting free safety in every game last fall, Arello compiled 28 tackles — including a season-high six in the overtime win over Yale — and had a crucial interception in the 20-17 victory at Harvard.

The Alan Hewitt '34 and Robert Hewitt '40 Award, given to the player who best epitomizes athletic performance with academic achievement, was earned by senior Calvin Atkeson (Raleigh, N.C.). An applied mathematics major with a 3.70 GPA, Atkeson earned All-Ivy League honorable mention on the offensive line while starting nine of the 10 games. He was instrumental in making the Big Green offense one of the most balanced and potent in the league, and also earned spots on the FCS ADA Academic All-Star Team as well as the CoSIDA Academic All-District I Team.

Fifth-year senior Jake Guidone (East Walpole, Mass.) received the Frank Hershey Award as the player who, judged by his teammates, possesses a genuine zest for life, a strong, upbeat attitude and a sincere desire to win because of his dedication and love for the game, his team and Dartmouth College. An Associated Press Third-Team All-American, the left guard started every game and was equally adept at blocking for the run or pass, helping the Big Green boast a conference-best 193.7 yards per game on the ground and 212.3 more through the air.

Two players shared the Lester R. Godwin Award, presented to the senior football squad member who has risen above personal disadvantage to contribute measurably to the team — fifth-year senior Tanner Cross (Fort Smith, Ark.) and senior Zack Bair (Rumson, N.J.). Cross finished the season fourth on the team with 46 tackles from his linebacking spot, forcing a fumble, recovering another and intercepting a pass. Bair, who had a season-ending injury early in his sophomore year, recovered to rush for 476 yards (5.4 per carry) with a pair of touchdowns while also ranking third on the team with 19 receptions for 202 yards and two more scores.

Fifth-year senior Evan Hecimovich (Lisle, Ill.) earned the Gordon P. Bennett Award as the outstanding lineman. An All-Ivy League First Team selection as the Big Green's center, Hecimovich started every game and anchored the front five. His experience and leadership helped Dartmouth rank second in the league in total yards (4,060) while averaging nearly a yard more per play than anyone in the Ancient Eight.

The Earl Hamilton Varsity Award, given to the senior who displayed a sincere friendliness and sense of humor plus appreciation of the outdoors that characterized Hamilton (the freshman football coach from 1955-65 and varsity backfield coach from 1966 until his passing in 1968), was bestowed upon fifth-year senior Seth Walter. A 6-3, 255-pound defensive lineman, Walter racked up 29 tackles with 7.0 for a loss and 3.0 sacks, primarily from the interior at nose guard.

Taking home the Earl Hamilton Freshman Award was Painter Richards-Baker (Hillsborough, N.C.) as the freshman who made the biggest contribution to the team and had the characteristics of Hamilton as well. Only five freshmen saw time on the field at any point during the season, but Richards-Baker was one of the five and saw action in the most games (9). The wide receiver became a top deep threat, catching five passes for 125 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown grab in the three-point win at Harvard.

Paxton Scott (Dallas, Texas) was the recipient of the Doten Award as the member of the sophomore class who made a significant contribution to the success of the team. A 6-2, 180-pound wide receiver, Scott received All-Ivy League honorable mention as he led the Big Green with 46 receptions, 505 receiving yards and four touchdowns. His impact was felt immediately as he was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Week after the season opener when he caught a season-high eight passes for 87 yards and a touchdown at Valparaiso.

The Stubby Pearson Award, established in 2007 and presented to an underclassman on the football team whose character, leadership on campus, high academic standing and performance on the playing field most resembles that of Charles "Stubby" Pearson '42, was given to junior Shane Cokes (Dayton, Ohio). A 6-3, 275-pound defensive lineman, Cokes started every game and led the Dartmouth linemen with 32 tackles to go with 5.0 tackles for a loss, 4.0 sacks and a fumble recovery.

Senior Isaiah Johnson (Beverly Hills, Mich.) received the John M. Manley '40 Award for demonstrating the most improvement through his efforts in the weight room. A 6-3, 205-pound cornerback, Johnson was chosen for the All-Ivy League First Team after finishing the year with 55 tackles, 2.5 for a loss, a team-high six pass breakups and a game-clinching, 73-yard interception pick six in the win over Princeton. He also posted a career-high 11 tackles in the win at Harvard, helping to hold the Crimson to a season-low in total yards.

The 12th Man Award, presented to the member of the varsity football team who demonstrated hard work and dedication regardless of playing time, was given to senior Max Telemaque (Jersey City, N.J.). The reserve offensive lineman never fretted about playing time and was the team's biggest cheerleader, bringing an effervescent energy to the team on game day and in practices alike.

Connor Davis (Ocala, Fla.) took home the Special Teams Award for the second time in his career. The senior place kicker provided 51 points by converting 7-of-9 field goals and all 30 of his PATs, ending his career having made a program-record 75 in a row. He came up clutch in some of the biggest moments, booting a game-tying 32-yard field goal in the final seconds against Yale and converting a 25-yard field goal in the final minute to lift the Big Green to a 20-17 win at Harvard. And his 51-yard field goal at New Hampshire was the first of 50 yards or more by a Big Green kicker in 18 years.

The scout team awards went to senior wide receiver R.J. Brandon (Williamsville, N.Y.) and running back Tyler Green (Lenexa, Kan.) for offense, and freshman defensive lineman Derrell Porter (Penn Hills, Pa.) on defense.

The recipient of the Reggie Williams Award, presented to the member of the Big Green football program who through leadership in action and word has made Dartmouth a better place, went to senior Robbie Mangas (Chantilly, Va.). An All-Ivy League honorable mention at tight end, the 6-4, 260-pound Mangas caught eight passes for 112 yards and a touchdown, which came in the win at Harvard, while also being an excellent blocker up front.

Finally, senior Nate Boone (Mishawaka, Ind.) was honored with the Manners Makyth Man Award. This distinction goes each year to the player who best conducted himself to the advantage of Dartmouth and displayed good manners in the sense of William Wykeham's phrase, "Manners Makyth Man." The 6-1, 240-pound defensive lineman battled through injuries throughout his career and responded in his final season to play in six games, recording tackles in wins over Sacred Heart and the title-clinching game at Brown.

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