The 26 points scored by the Big Green (0-5, 0-2 Ivy) was a season high, but the 44 points allowed to the Crusaders (3-3, 1-0 Patriot) a season high of its own.
In what has become a tragic motif for the team this season, the game was highlighted by strong individual performances, flashes of talent and a crippling lack of consistency. Despite a number of moments in the game that showed promise, the Big Green was unable to stop the Crusaders, who dominated the pace of the game, scoring six touchdowns.
For the first time this season, Dartmouth scored first, capitalizing on an interception in the first quarter by Ian Wilson '08, who had two picks on the day.
The Big Green started at the Holy Cross 36-yard line and was able to gain one first down before being stopped on the Holy Cross 20 and forced to settle for a 37-yard field goal by kicker Foley Schmidt '12.
The lead was destined to be short-lived, however, as Holy Cross immediately responded with a 74-yard drive that culminated in a 39-yard touchdown run by Crusader halfback Mike Kielt. It was the first of Kielt's three rushing scores on the day.
Undeterred, the Dartmouth offense drove toward another field goal. The drive was highlighted by a 21-yard run by co-captain Milan Williams '09, who put the team in range for the kick. Schmidt converted the 42-yarder, the longest kick of his career, to make the score 7-6.
But for every field goal that Dartmouth converted, the Crusaders responded with a touchdown. It took just five plays for Holy Cross to march 63 yards and find the end zone again.
Holy Cross quarterback Dominic Randolph, one of the top passers in the country, connected on a 16-yard strike to receiver Jon Brock. Randolph finished the game with 391 yards through the air on 33-for-45 passing and two touchdowns, but was also intercepted by Wilson twice.
Kielt found the end zone once again in the second quarter, while Holy Cross kicker Matt Partain added a field goal with six seconds to go in the half to make the score 23-6 heading into the break.
In the second half, the Big Green offense woke up and found the end zone instead of settling for field goals. Quarterback Alex Jenny '10 connected with Tim McManus '11 twice for touchdowns of 25 and 10 yards in the third and fourth quarters, respectively.
Jenny regained his early-season stride on Saturday, passing for 232 yards and two touchdowns and completing 21 passes in 36 attempts. He also threw two interceptions.
Despite the blowout, McManus had a career day, making eight catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns.
While the pair of touchdowns at one point brought the Big Green within 10 points in the second half, the Crusaders continued to pile on the points, as Dartmouth's defense could not slow down Randolph through the air or Kielt on the ground with any kind of consistency.
"The defense played well in spots," Malcolm Freberg '09, who had a sack and a tackle for loss on the day, said. "We need to play better to win games though."
Holy Cross scored three times in the second half, while notching a field goal to put the game safely out of reach. Randolph finished the Crusaders' scoring with a 1-yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter.
With 4:34 left to play, Taylor Babcock '09 jumped on a Randolph fumble in the end zone for Dartmouth's last touchdown of the day. While the play was inconsequential, it did set a season high in scoring for the Big Green, putting the final tally at 44-26.
One of the game's few highlights on the Dartmouth side was the outstanding play of the special-teams unit. Charles Bay '11 blocked his second point after try in as many games, while Casey Frost '09 also blocked a field goal in the second half.
"We played well on special teams," Freberg said. "The punt team did a great job, and we blocked two kicks. Special teams kept us in the game, and then we had spurts where the offense and defense played well, which need to become more consistent."
While it's never pleasant to lose on Homecoming weekend, the loss is irrelevant to the team's standing in the Ancient Eight. Dartmouth is still just 0-2 in the Ivy League.
With five consecutive conference games coming up to finish the season, it's not too late for the Big Green to salvage its season. The prospect of a league championship grows dimmer by the day, but it's still possible.
Dartmouth's next test will be against Columbia this weekend in New York. Columbia is currently tied with the Big Green for last in the league. A win against the Lions could provide a much-needed boost for the team's morale as it looks ahead toward its contest with league favorite Harvard on Nov. 1.
Dartmouth faces off against Columbia this Saturday at 4:00 p.m. in New York, N.Y.
