The Big Green wanted to reenter Ivy League play by making a statement to show that they were the team to beat in the league in the remaining weeks.
Dartmouth accomplished that task in record-breaking proportions Saturday afternoon by dismantling Yale, 40-6 , on a cold, blustery afternoon that saw every opportunity blow the Big Green's way in the form of four Yale turnovers. Dartmouth's ability to capitalize on these turnovers and shut down the Yale running game was the driving force used to extend the Big Green's unbeaten streak to 12 games, three short of the school record set in 1970-71.
The win, which brought Dartmouth's overall record to 5-0, was the largest margin of victory over the Bulldogs in school history. The Big Green now sit in a three-way tie with Columbia and next week's opponent Cornell atop the Ivy League standings with a league record of 2-0.
Dartmouth got on the scoreboard early in the game when they capitalized on Rob Masalla's fumble when punter Wayne Scholbohm's '00 punt glanced off his shoulder pad and was quickly recovered by Jon Gibbs '99 at the Yale 23 yard line. Three plays later quarterback Jon Aljancic '97 hit receiver Zach Ellis '98 on a corner route for a 23-yard touchdown to put the Big Green ahead 7-0.
Minutes later in the first quarter Dartmouth took advantage of excellent field position to get its next touchdown. Running back Pete Oberle's ('96) burst up the middle gave the Big Green the ball at the Yale one yard line where tailback Greg Smith '97 took an option pitch around the right end to push the lead to two touchdowns.
"The defense did a great job setting us up with tremendous field position all day," Aljancic said. "I don't know what our average field position was but it seemed as if we were always starting on their side of the field."
Yale was able to respond for the only time of they day. Quarterback Kirk Barber drove the Bulldogs down the field by exploiting what often looked like a confused Big Green secondary. Barber hit receiver Clint Rodriguez on a 38-yard post pattern for a touchdown to tighten the game to 14-6, but that was as close as the Elis would ever get.
The rest of the first half belonged to the defense and to placekicker Dave Regula '98. Continually plagued by bad field position, the Bulldog offense was inefficient at best, going most of the second quarter without gaining a first down. Not once did the Big Green start a drive on their side of the field in the quarter, thanks to three consecutive series without giving up a first down and a fumble inside Yale's 20 yard-line.
However, the offense was unable to find a rhythm and could not find the end zone. Their misfortune turned into a record setting day for placekicker Dave Regula '98, who converted on field goals of 31, 31 and 38 to give Dartmouth a 23-6 advantage. The second field goal was set up by an amazing block by Aljancic on Yale defensive tackle Adam Hernandez to spring receiver Eric Morton '97 for a 25-yard gain on a reverse play.
Yale's final chance to get back in the game was snuffed out by a tremendous defensive stand in the final seconds of the first half. After a Rodriguez reception down to the one yard line, the Big Green held the Elis out of the end zone on four straight plays. The best opportunity was taken away by a great open field tackle by linebacker Brian Schmidt '97 on a second down pitch to Bulldog running back Jeremy Garelick. The line held on third and fourth down and the Bulldogs were sent to the locker room without another score and only 11 yards rushing on the half.
The second half was dominated by the Big Green, as running back Ambrose Garcia '97 put on a personal highlight show to keep the Yale offense off of the field. Dartmouth went ahead 30-6 early in the half with a touchdown on a great over-the shoulder catch by Ellis in the end zone.
The rest of the half offensively featured Garcia, who ripped off 37 of his 89 yards rushing on the day and caught a 38-yard pass on a busted play to set up Regula's fourth field goal of the game, a 37-yard effort. The field goal gave Regula a Big Green record for most points in a game with 16 and set a personal high for field goals in the game with four.
Safety Kevin Ritter '00 intercepted Kendall's pass in the fourth quarter and returned it 41 yards to give Dartmouth its eventual margin of victory 40-6.
The day saw Dartmouth chew up Yale's defense for 461 yards but the offense still struggled somewhat to convert turnovers into touchdowns. Six times Dartmouth had the ball deep in Bulldog territory and was unable to come up with anything more than a field goal.
But the offense never really had a chance to move the ball the entire length of the field, and as a result could never establish an offensive rhythm at any point in the game.
"We scored 40 points but it should have been 60 points because we really didn't execute on offense," Garcia said.
The defense was stingy as usual, giving up only one touchdown for the third consecutive week, while allowing only 56 yards on the ground. Yale managed to gain yards through the air but that is due to the fact that they threw the ball so many times seeing as they were behind all game.
"This win just adds to the confidence we had coming into the game," Garcia said. "Yale was a good team and to beat them will increase our confidence heading into the rest of the Ivy League schedule."
