Big Green Open Buddy Teevens Stadium with 20-17 Win Over Penn

Saturday, October 5

Hanover, N.H.

1:00 PM

Dartmouth College

Penn

Big Green Open Buddy Teevens Stadium with 20-17 Win Over Penn

10/5/2024 9:24:00 PM | Football

Box Score Postgame Press Conference

Dartmouth improves to 3-0 for the first time since 2021

By: Justin Lafleur

HANOVER, N.H. — The Dartmouth football team held visiting Penn without a touchdown for the entire second half, coming back from a 14-10 halftime deficit to defeat the Quakers, 20-17 on Saturday afternoon in the first-ever game at the newly-named Buddy Teevens Stadium at Memorial Field. The Big Green had a drive of 10:30 in the fourth to leave Penn with just 11 seconds from its own 1-yard line and no timeouts remaining.

The Ivy League opener for both sides saw the third straight tight contest in the all-time series, after the teams went to overtime each of the previous two years. Dartmouth improves to 3-0 and 1-0 in the Ivy League, with Penn falling to 1-2 and 0-1 in the league.

"I can't say enough how proud I am of that football team," said Sammy McCorkle, Robert L. Blackman Head Football Coach. "The first half, they were prepared, came out and really battled. We had some opportunities to make some plays in the first half that we didn't and it cost us, but we didn't panic. I thought we did a good job of staying on script.

"I challenged the guys at halftime, let's finish each play, let's come out and let's finish this game," McCorkle continued. "Our offense coming out in the first drive of the second half, we were sending a message. Our defense did a great job responding and shutting them down. That last drive, I told our team after the game, you're developing an identity. To be able to take the ball 10 minutes, to hold onto that thing and drive the length of the field was critical."

Recapping a memorable game at Buddy Teevens Stadium at Memorial Field🌲#TheWoods #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/bOUGQ5zHAL
— Dartmouth Football (@DartmouthFTBL) October 6, 2024

Offensively, Jackson Proctor was 24-of-31 for a season-high 232 yards and two touchdowns. Dartmouth's ground game was stellar, with Q Jones rushing for 101 yards on 22 carries. Desmin Jackson wasn't far behind, scampering for 98 on 14 carries, including a long of 42 yards.

"Big shoutout to the coaching staff, Coach [Braxton] Chapman putting people where they have to be," said Jackson. "We have a really deep running back room. Any one in there can go in and will perform at a high level. It's really trusting the people up front, opening up holes for us and hitting it with all you've got. Big shoutouts to the O line and coaching staff for putting us in positions that we need to be."

Paxton Scott tied a career high with 10 receptions for 75 yards, along with a touchdown. Chris Corbo had a career-high seven receptions for 51 yards and his second touchdown of the season. Zach Farris led the defense with a career-high eight tackles. Jordan Washington was tremendous in covering Penn preseason All-American wide receiver Jared Richardson, holding him to just two receptions for 18 yards.

As a team, the Big Green held the Quakers to a season-low 17 points, which was their fewest since Nov. 12, 2022.

Both defenses stood tall in the early going, until late in the first quarter, when the Big Green took advantage of good field position following an Ejike Adele sack. On the sixth play of the drive, Proctor found Corbo for 10 yards and the score. After the extra point, the Big Green led 7-0.

Defense is strong early this afternoon! 💪

Gameday Central ➡️ https://t.co/AgbEXCKsvF #TheWoods🌲 | #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/vN2yd9Llvo
— Dartmouth Football (@DartmouthFTBL) October 5, 2024

Penn responded midway through the second quarter to pull even at seven, but the ensuing drive saw Grayson O'Bara make an incredible leaping catch on a ricochet, good for 43 yards to the Quakers' 26-yard line. That helped set up a 42-yard Owen Zalc field goal and a 10-7 Big Green advantage with 5:23 left in the second quarter.

INSANE catch by O'Bara for the first down!

Gameday Central ➡️ https://t.co/AgbEXCKsvF #TheWoods🌲 | #GoBigGreen | #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/it1GayWRj7
— Dartmouth Football (@DartmouthFTBL) October 5, 2024

Penn had another answer, going 69 yards on nine plays, ending with a 1-yard touchdown run from Malachi Hosley and a 14-10 lead, which proved to be the halftime margin.

Dartmouth's offense marched 75 yards on nine plays to begin the second half and retake the lead, 17-14. The drive saw a 33-yard rush from Q Jones to the Penn 17-yard line. Three plays later, Proctor found Scott, who spun away from the would-be tackler and into the end zone from 12 yards out. The extra point gave the Big Green a 17-14 advantage with 10:23 left in the third quarter.

Paxton Scott caps off a great opening drive in the second half for the Big Green, 17-14 Dartmouth!

Gameday Central ➡️ https://t.co/AgbEXCKsvF #TheWoods🌲 | #GoBigGreen pic.twitter.com/CLgKLhGnod
— Dartmouth Football (@DartmouthFTBL) October 5, 2024

The teams traded field goals early in the fourth quarter. After Penn pulled within 20-17 with 10:41 remaining, Dartmouth had a 20-play, 74-yard drive. One of the key moments came on second-and-16 when on consecutive plays, Jackson and Jones each ran for eight yards and a key first down. Penn didn't get the ball back until 11 seconds remaining, with 99 yards to go, as the Big Green defense stood tall.

"I told the guys at halftime, let's just finish," said McCorkle. "Finish each play. Focus on that one play and do whatever you've got to do to finish that play. I thought our guys did a good job of responding."

Total yards were 439-211 in favor of Dartmouth. The Big Green held Penn quarterback Aidan Sayin to only 123 yards passing after he entered the day eighth in the country averaging 274 pass yards per game.

"Our guys did a good job of sticking to their jobs, their fundamentals," said McCorkle. "They played with confidence, and it was a quiet confidence, but you could tell offensively and defensively when our guys took the field, they were hungry."

The Big Green hit the road for Yale next week for a 12 p.m. matchup against the Bulldogs. Dartmouth returns home in two weeks to host Central Connecticut State at 1 p.m. Tickets can be purchased HERE.

Questions can be directed to the Athletics Sales Office at athletics.sales@dartmouth.edu or by calling (603) 646-2466.

NOTES: Dartmouth rushed for 207 yards, the second time in as many home games at 200+ rush yards … The Big Green beat Penn, and won their Ivy League opener, for the sixth time in the last seven tries … Dartmouth pulled even at 34 against Penn since Ivy League play officially began in 1956 … Paxton Scott's 10 receptions tied his career high from two occasions, most recently at Colgate last season.