In each of Dartmouth’s three victories this season, the team has driven down the field in the dying minutes to secure the victory. So for the stressed Dartmouth faithful, Saturday’s comfortable win over Fordham University must have been a relief. After a deadlocked first half, the Big Green focused up to sink the Rams, 30-13, in the Bronx, N.Y., to move to 4-1 on the season with five Ivy League games left.
The first half was characterized by missed opportunities for the Big Green. On their opening drive, Dartmouth drove from its own 12-yard line all the way to Fordham’s 2. Facing fourth down, quarterback Grayson Saunier’s ’27 scramble was marked mere inches before the goal line for a turnover on downs.
Including that opening drive, the Big Green got within 25 yards of the endzone on all three of its first-half drives, but could only come away with six points thanks to two Owen Zalc ’27 field goals.
Dartmouth also made errors on special teams. During a punt return, Fordham linebacker Christian Black sent defensive back and returner Cameron Best-Alston ’27 careening into the rolling football, which gifted Fordham possession once more. With 24 seconds left in the first half, the perplexing turn of events allowed the Rams to tie the game at 6-6 with a field goal.
Head coach Sammy McCorkle pointed to “communication” as the solution to the special teams error.
“You’ve got to hear when the punt returner’s yelling ‘You got to get away from the ball,’” McCorkle said. “We can’t allow a team like that to have those simple opportunities.”
Fordham began the second half aggressively with an onside kick. However, kicker Bennett Henderson’s short kick was recovered by the Big Green and gave the offense great starting field position at the Fordham 42. Saunier and the crew alleviated any offensive worries with four quick plays to get into the Fordham redzone. To cap the drive off, D.J. Crowther ’26 cut to his right and took what looked like a routine carry 20 yards to the house.
“For our offense to go down there after that onside [kick] attempt, to go there and punch it in, that was huge,” McCorkle said.
Crowther, Saunier and fellow running back Desmin Jackson ’26 ran for a combined 180 yards. After five games, Crowther leads the team in all-purpose yards and touchdowns, and ranks second among all Ivy League rushers in both statistics as well. Saunier, meanwhile, continues to threaten defenses with his dual-threat ability, leading all Ivy League quarterbacks in rushing yards and touchdowns. The running room’s success this season has been a product of camaraderie and growth in the offseason, according to Crowther.
“We're all really good buddies outside of football,” Crowther said. “And it just goes to show all the hard work in the offseason, us training together, is paying off.”
The Big Green’s momentum continued when Zalc hit his third field goal of the day to make it 16-6 midway through the third quarter.
Even after a Fordham touchdown brought the Rams within three points at the top of the fourth quarter, Crowthers’ touchdown had put the offense into overdrive, and consecutive touchdown drives in the fourth quarter secured the Dartmouth win.
Saunier’s passing ability shined in the fourth. His five completions made up 103 of his 281 yards. His pinpoint accuracy on the deep ball helped him find Grayson O’Bara ’26 and Luke Rives ’28 for two improbable touchdown passes as well. O’Bara, who leads the team in receptions and receiving yards, notched his third game of the season with over 100 receiving yards.
“Our guys make plays,” McCorkle said. “Grayson does a good job of putting our guys in position to make those plays, and he’s making good decisions.”
This dominant win would not have been possible, however, without the incredible defensive performance. Dartmouth hounded Fordham quarterback Gunnar Smith all day, sacking him three times.
“I think the front line did a good job of really pinning their ears back and coming after that quarterback,” McCorkle said.
The secondary was also a nuisance, breaking up six of Smith’s passes, and senior captain Sean Williams ’26 made his presence known with an interception — his third of the year.
“It helps whenever you have a D line getting pressure, you have linebackers getting good depth,” Williams said. “It's not just me out there getting the interception. Obviously, I get the stat, but it’s a lot that goes into it.”
The Big Green returns to Hanover next Saturday to face the 1-4 Columbia Lions, whom the Big Green have defeated three consecutive times.
