Under the Friday night lights, Dartmouth dominated in all three phases of the game to take a 49-3 victory over Columbia University, the team’s biggest margin of victory since 2013.
The Dartmouth players said they relished the chance to play under the Friday night lights, which only happens once a season.
“It definitely feels like a little bit of a high school football game,” offensive tackle and captain Delby Lemieux ’26 said. “That chilly air, the sun’s going down when you’re warming up, and you’re out there under the lights with all your best friends. There’s nothing like it.”
Dartmouth’s defense set the tone early on Columbia’s opening drive, when defensive back Tyson Grimm ’26 jumped Lions’ receiver Hutch Crow’s route for an interception and took the ball 75 yards the other way for the opening touchdown.
“That interception was huge,” head coach Sammy McCorkle said. “It stopped that momentum a little bit.”
According to Grimm, the late start caused an extra buzz throughout the day, and that energy translated into the game.
“We’re just sitting here antsy the whole day waiting to play, and it was a great game,” Grimm said.
After a defensive stop, the Dartmouth offense finally got on the field at the 9-minute mark. The drive started with a bang as quarterback Grayson Saunier ’27 heaved a pass 47 yards into the waiting arms of wide receiver Nick Lemon ’27 to flip the field. A few plays later, Saunier faked a handoff, kept the ball himself and ran it 24 yards to the house to take an early 14-0 lead.
Saunier could not be stopped all game, scoring four touchdowns — three of which came on the ground. Through the air, he completed 12 out of his 13 passes, his highest completion percentage this season. Along with Grayson’s impressive passing display, his ability to beat defenses with his legs was a tough task for the Columbia coaching staff all night.
“Grayson, watching film, his long speed is what really stands out. And you saw that tonight. He’s quick with his cuts … and he can open up in the open field,” Columbia head coach Jon Poppe said. “He opened up the game on play action. And, you know, we’re screaming, ‘watch the post, watch the play action.’ It doesn’t matter. ”
After the hot start, Dartmouth’s night only got better. With Columbia back to punt after another lost possession, the outstretched arm of defensive back No’Koi Maddox ’28 got in front of Columbia punter Tommy Sleeman just in time to block the punt. Maddox picked up the loose ball in stride and returned it 19 yards to take a 21-0 lead with just under three minutes left in the first quarter.
“I came off after the first punt and I told Coach McCorkle, ‘I could get it,’” Maddox said. “He gave me the green light, and I just went and got it.”
Dartmouth ran only five offensive plays and held possession for just over two minutes in the first quarter, but managed to jump out to a three-score lead.
The formidable linebacker duo of Zyion Freer-Brown ’26 and Nico Schwikal ’26 combined for 14 tackles in the first quarter alone, successfully stonewalling Columbia’s run game. Edge rusher Teddy Gianaris ’26 put consistent pressure on Columbia quarterback Caleb Sanchez, and tallied a sack shortly after the second quarter began.
“I thought our guys in the front seven did a really good job of really knowing what [Columbia] were trying to do,” McCorkle said. “Donnie Dobes and the rest of the staff did a good job putting our guys in good places … and slowing [them] down.”
Star running back D.J. Crowther ’26 continued to impress the Big Green fans, who came out in force despite the rain and the cold. Up 28-0 at the end of the first half after another Saunier rushing touchdown, Crowther beat a horde of Columbia defenders to the corner and turned upfield for a 29-yard carry to set up Saunier’s third rushing score of the night.
Crowther’s 106 yards led all rushers. His hard-hitting running and highlight-reel trucks got the crowd riled up throughout the game. Crowther and the Big Green rushing attack have been greatly helped by the offensive line, which has consistently opened up gaps for Dartmouth’s rushers to exploit.
“We feel really good as a unit up front when we make a good block and get our guys past the line of scrimmage,” Lemieux said. “When we build that momentum, I think we’re unstoppable as a group.”
Even the halftime break couldn’t stop the offensive barrage, as Dartmouth immediately extended its lead to 42-0 off of a Saunier touchdown pass to Chris Corbo ’26 just three minutes into the third quarter. The offense capped off the third quarter with Desmin Jackson ’26 muscling his way into the end zone from two yards out to extend the lead to 49-0.
With the victory long-secured, the Big Green was able to give backups useful game experience in the fourth quarter, who closed out the 49-3 win.
The statement victory moves the Big Green to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in conference play, second in the Ivy League behind Harvard.
After three one-possession victories in their first four games, the Big Green has won their last two against Fordham University and the Lions by a total of 63 points. The red-hot team will take its momentum to a tough road matchup against the undefeated Crimson next Saturday.
“We’re going to get tomorrow off, we’ll come back Sunday, and we’re going to prepare Sunday like we always prepare,” McCorkle said. “They’re a very solid football team … and we’re excited for the opportunity.”
