Big Green Rush Past Cornell on Senior Day, 24-14

Saturday, November 15

Hanover, N.H.

1:00 PM

Dartmouth College

7-2 , 4-2

Cornell

4-5 , 3-3

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Cornell

Dartmouth

Big Green Rush Past Cornell on Senior Day, 24-14

11/15/2025 6:24:00 PM | Football

Box Score

Dartmouth finished 5-0 at home for the first time since 2018

By: Justin Lafleur

HANOVER, N.H. — The Dartmouth football team scored 21 consecutive points between the second and fourth quarters to turn a 7-3 deficit into a 24-7 lead, on the way to a 24-14 win over visiting Cornell on Saturday afternoon inside Buddy Teevens Stadium at Memorial Field. Saturday's game was presented by Engelberth Construction. D.J. Crowther rushed for a career-high 197 yards in the victory, highlighted by a career-long 67-yard second-quarter touchdown scamper.

With the win, Dartmouth improves to 7-2 and 4-2 in the Ivy League. The Big Green snapped Cornell's four-game winning streak, pushing the Big Red to 4-5 and 3-3.

"Really proud the way the guys battled, the way they came out after halftime and just kept plugging and plugging and plugging," said Sammy McCorkle, Robert L. Blackman Head Football Coach. "Offensively, defensively, special teams. First half, we did what we needed to do, but we knew there were some plays we left out there on the field. Hats off to our coaching staff, making some adjustments at halftime, and hats off to these guys executing. They came out there with the whole mindset of attack mode, and I thought we did that, and it put us in really good situation."

Crowther's 197 yards were the 11th most rushing yards in a game in program history, and most since Nick Schwieger in 2011 (also against Cornell). Crowther reached the total on a career-high 31 carries, along with two touchdowns. He reached 10 rushing scores on the season, with quarterback Grayson Saunier also rushing for his 11th touchdown of the season. The two became the first Dartmouth duo since 1996 to rush for 10+ touchdowns in the same season.

Prior to the game, the Big Green's 22 seniors and one student manager were recognized on Senior Day.

"It's a little bittersweet," said Crowther. "The stadium got renamed after Coach Teevens, and we were the last class who really got to be coached underneath him. We knew what the assignment was, and we knew how to execute. At the end of the day, we wouldn't be beat, and had to leave it out on the field for our last home game."

Saunier rushed for 43 yards on the afternoon. He was also 13-of-23 passing, finding Chris Corbo a team-high five times for 53 yards. Grayson O'Bara also had three receptions for 27 yards.

Defensively, Niquis Ratcliff posted a career-high 10 tackles, to go with a forced fumble and fumble recovery in the second quarter. Zyion Freer-Brown also had 10 tackles with Johnny Riley recording a career-high six.

Niquis Ratcliff with the forced fumble and recovery for the Big Green!

Gameday Central ➡️ https://t.co/XUA1gqGjk7 #GoBigGreen | #TheWoods🌲 pic.twitter.com/XjFjAHvSGt
— Dartmouth Football (@DartmouthFTBL) November 15, 2025

After each team punted on their first possessions, the Big Green went 68 yards on 11 plays. A big play was a 29-yard reception from Corbo to midfield. The drive ended with a 25-yard field goal from Owen Zalc, giving the Big Green a 3-0 lead with 3:45 left in the first.

That score remained until late in the second quarter. Pinned at its own four-yard line, Cornell staged a 14-play, 96-yard drive, which included two third-down conversions, to take a 7-3 lead with 4:34 left in the half.

Dartmouth quickly answered, solely with Crowther runs. After two runs of four yards apiece, Crowther broke tackles and got himself free for a highlight-reel and career-long 67-yard rush into the end zone, for a 10-7 lead, which proved to be the halftime score.

How about this run?! 💪

D.J. Crowther runs it in from 67 yards out, with help with a block from QB Grayson Saunier to give the Big Green the lead!

Gameday Central ➡️ https://t.co/XUA1gqGR9F #GoBigGreen | #TheWoods🌲 | #SCTop10 pic.twitter.com/ssE9H6FPzW
— Dartmouth Football (@DartmouthFTBL) November 15, 2025

The Big Green defense quickly forced a Cornell three-and-out to start the third, then the offense took over with an 11-play, 72-yard drive, taking 4:44 off the clock. The drive ended with a 20-yard Crowther rushing score, using great blocking on the right side of his line to give the Big Green a 17-7 lead with 8:22 left in the third.

D.J. Crowther with his second rushing touchdown of the game off great blocking by the offensive line!

Gameday Central ➡️ https://t.co/XUA1gqGjk7 #GoBigGreen | #TheWoods🌲 pic.twitter.com/CUNAda13wF
— Dartmouth Football (@DartmouthFTBL) November 15, 2025

Dartmouth tacked onto its lead early in the fourth, finishing off a 12-play, 63-yard drive with a one-yard rushing score from Saunier, to take a 24-17 lead with 14:17 remaining.

Cornell pulled within 24-14 with just over five minutes remaining, but Harrison Keith recovered the Big Red's ensuing onside kick and the Dartmouth offense ran the ball out to wrap up the victory.

For the game, the Big Green held a 376-369 edge in total offense. Dartmouth held a dominant 254-41 edge on the ground, with Cornell holding a 328-122 advantage through the air.

The Big Green will close the regular season next Saturday when they travel to Brown to face the Bears. Opening kickoff is set for 12 p.m.

"Like we say all time, we're going to enjoy this one," said McCorkle. "And I said it to the team after the game, we come back here tomorrow and we prepare for Brown, one day at a time."

NOTES: With Saunier up to 11 rushing touchdowns and Crowther up to 10, the last time two Big Green players had double-figure in a season was 1996 when Greg Smith and Jon Aljancic each had 10 … With Crowther's 197 yards, he is now up to 887 on the season, which is good for eighth in program history. He jumped from 23rd to eighth with Saturday's performance … The Big Green finished 5-0 at home for the first time since the 2018 season … Dartmouth is 14-2 over its last 16 home games dating back to the 2022 season finale … Standing 7-2 and 5-2 in the Ivy League, Dartmouth owns the exact same recording heading into the regular season finale against Brown.