There is no doubt that alumni who can easily recall the glory days of Dartmouth football, either during the early 1990s or even as far back as the mid-20th century, when the Big Green footballers reached their national peak, have viewed the past eight seasons with disdain. However, for one brisk October afternoon, 6,222 grimaces turned to smiles and the burly men of Dartmouth were kings again as the Big Green (2-4, Ivy 1-2) triumphed over Columbia (2-4, Ivy 0-3), 17-6, at Memorial Field for a homecoming victory.
Highlighted by an explosive second half from Ikechi Ogbonna '06 and an outstanding defensive effort from Anthony Gargiulo '06, Dartmouth led the Lions, literally, from start to finish. Although Columbia would make a nail-biter out of the contest by the end of the first half, the Big Green defense impressively protected its lead for the final 30 minutes of play.
Steve Jensen '06 sparked Dartmouth's first possession of the game with a 33-yard return on the opening kickoff, bringing the ball to the Dartmouth 42-yard line. Running back Jason Bash '06 made quick work of the drive, rushing for 31 yards on three carries, all of which resulted in first downs. His third run ended in an 11-yard touchdown, giving Dartmouth a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the first quarter.
"It was good to score on the opening drive," said Bash. "But our team has plenty of confidence and I don't feel we need momentum to succeed."
Bash himself certainly had his share of momentum, running for 72 yards on 14 carries, most of which came in the first half. His touchdown was, astoundingly, Dartmouth's second score on the ground this year. Ogbonna would make that total three later in the game. Saturday was also the Big Green's first game with more than 100 yards rushing in 2005. Dartmouth eclipsed its previous high of 81 with 134 yards against Columbia.
The strong performances by tailbacks Bash and Ogbonna mercifully took pressure off of Josh Cohen '09, who was starting for only the second time. Instead of depending on their often flat passing game, Dartmouth running backs took matters into their own hands and turned a potentially disastrous loss into a worthy victory.
Columbia finally cracked theBig Green's suffocating defense with a 67-yard drive midway through the second quarter. Freshman kicker Jon Rocholl nailed a 39-yard field goal, putting the Lions on the board.
Three minutes later, after Cohen was intercepted at midfield, Columbia pushed 30 yards towards the end zone in less than 30 seconds, setting up Rocholl for yet another 39-yard attempt. The freshman kicked the ball through the uprights as time expired in the half, bringing the Lions within a point of the Big Green, 7-6.
Rocholl has been practically automatic on field goals during his rookie season at Columbia, knocking down ten-of-twelve thus far. He also accounted for all of the Lions scoring with his two field goals.
Dartmouth extended its lead in the third quarter, but by less than it would have liked. Ogbonna carried the offense more than 40 yards on seven carries to the Columbia eight-yard line. Nevertheless, Dartmouth could not turn the drive into a touchdown as Cohen threw two incomplete passes in the end zone. The Big Green settled for an Erik Hinterbichler '06 field goal.
It would take another quarter, but Ogbonna would ultimately find the end zone with 47 seconds left in the game. The senior running back capitalized on a drive that began from Columbia's own 18 yard line after a botched fourth-down conversion, carrying the ball three times, including a culminating 12-yard push to the house. The score was Ogbonna's first collegiate touchdown.
Defensively speaking, the second half was The Anthony Gargiulo Show. The senior defensive end demonstrated exactly why coach Buddy Teevens selected him to be a captain at the start of the year. Gargiulo had three sacks for the game, all of them coming in the final two quarters.
A six-yard sack early in the third quarter stunted a progressing Columbia drive, with Dartmouth up by a single point. Gargiulo's second stop came in the fourth when the New Jersey native pushed Columbia sophomore quarterback Craig Hormann back eight yards to his own eleven-yard line.
Gargiulo's third sack proved to be the most pivotal defensive stop of the game. With 2:28 seconds left in a 10-6 game, Columbia found itself with a third and six on its own 27. As Hormann ran around in the pocket, searching for an open receiver, Gargiulo flew through the D-line and pummeled the unsuspecting QB, much to the delight of fans who had already climbed to their feet in anticipation of the play. Hormann threw an incomplete pass on the following play, leaving the ball on the 18 for Dartmouth and Ogbonna, who would eventually score.
While Gargiulo's sack may have brought about the loudest cheers in response to the game, the crowd seemed most excited by a certain event at the end of halftime. As players from returned to the sideline for the start of the third quarter, nine freshmen fans decided to continue the now illegal tradition of rushing the field. The "delinquents" evaded police for more than a minute before sprinting off the field and out of the stadium. The chase continued onto the streets outside Memorial Field, as gleeful Dartmouth fans ran to the top of the stands to watch and jeer the policemen in pursuit.
Four of the freshman field-rushers were arrested and face legal consequences.
Among the thousands in attendance were 20 people near and dear to the heart of one Big Green player. That's how many people came from Tuttle, Okla. to watch its native son Josh Dooley '06 play linebacker for the Big Green. "They all go to our church back home and have been friends of the family for years," said Dooley. "There were also two kids of my high school football coach, Coach Koons, who came up. Supposedly it was their Christmas present for the year."
The 17-6 win gives Dartmouth its first Ivy League victory of 2005, and is the first win for Josh Cohen '09, who completed 19 of 34 passes for 220 yards passing. The freshman will look to improve his consistency, will duplicating the result of this weekend next Saturday at Harvard Stadium. Kickoff for the Ivy League showdown is set for 12:30 p.m.
