Following a disappointing loss against the Harvard Crimson last week, Dartmouth football is ready to get back on track in Saturday’s game against Princeton.
The Big Green fell 31-10 to Harvard’s explosive offense and stifling defense last Saturday, leaving the Crimson undefeated. However, a third-quarter fight showed signs of life for Dartmouth, and there were many positives to take away from the matchup.
“We came out of halftime and really battled and put ourselves right back in the game,” head coach Sammy McCorkle said. “But they just out-executed us and we didn’t make enough plays when we did get that momentum going … We talked about it at halftime. Just go out there and take one play at a time, and let’s make sure we just do what we do. I think we did that in the third quarter.”
Chris Corbo ’26, 2024 All-Ivy First Team tight end, offered further offensive takeaways from the loss.
“We showed that when we play at our best we can execute against anyone,” Corbo said. “We came out of halftime with a purpose.”
Defensive end Joshua Johnson ’27 praised the defense’s uptick in quarterback pressure against Harvard, adding that the Big Green hopes to replicate their performance against Princeton.
“With that game, specifically the pressure, we continued to put on the quarterback [which] was a huge thing,” Johnson said. “The main thing we saw on film leading up to Harvard was that Jaden Craig wasn’t the best at throwing on the run … The D-line and linebackers thought of trying our best to put as much pressure on him so he would have to escape out of the pocket.”
Dartmouth holds the fourth seed in the Ivy League after the loss, biting at the heels of Yale and the University of Pennsylvania, each 3-1 in conference play. Corbo made sure to emphasize that the season is still very much alive in the locker room after Harvard.
“We told everyone we still have a lot to play for,” Corbo said. “We have three games left, anything can happen. We’re still getting projections to possibly be in the playoffs or be a team on the edge of getting in.”
Looking ahead to Saturday, Dartmouth is locked in. Princeton currently holds a 3-4 overall record and the sixth seed in the Ivy League, but they share the same in-league record with Dartmouth.
Princeton’s offense is balanced, with much more of a running back-by-committee strategy than other teams the Big Green have faced. However, the defense is approaching this matchup the same as any other.
“The preparation has been the same,” Johnson said. “It’s only gonna be different in terms of what fronts they give us and how we play those fronts given their personnel on the O-line. The way we play the run is not really dictated by the running backs themselves.”
Last year, Dartmouth defeated the Tigers 26-17, scoring three touchdowns in the second quarter to gain a stout early lead. Corbo and Johnson reflected on what went right that game and what they hope to do again this Saturday.
“It starts with the coaches trusting me and the quarterback trusting me,” Corbo, who had eight receptions and a touchdown in last year’s matchup, said. “Them willing to call my number in big spots, and once the opportunities come, being able to execute and make the play … Looking to have a big game against them again, I’ll definitely make [big plays] when it comes my way.”
In last year’s victory, the defense also managed to hold Princeton to under 75 rushing yards, a major accomplishment that would put the Tigers in a tough position if replicated on Saturday.
“The main thing that happened last year was exposing the offensive tackles with their lack of strength compared to our ends,” Johnson said. “I feel like that’s a similar thing we’re going to do. Up front we’re just gonna try to beat them, play our scheme and continue on with the fundamentals we’ve been building for years now. There’s no difference.”
Like any other game, Dartmouth needs to win the turnover battle if they want to beat the Tigers. This aspect of the game has been hit or miss for the Big Green this year, but is something that is emphasized when preparing each week.
“Look at the stats,” McCorkle said. “It’s the turnover ratio that’s a big indicator on how the outcome of the game will be. We’ve got to do whatever we can to try and win that category.”
As the season winds down, each game has an extra layer of sentiment for the team’s seniors. For Corbo, who has had a storied career with the Big Green, these last few matchups mean more.
“It’s crazy to think these next few weeks could possibly be the last,” Corbo said. “But trying to do my best to make sure we take every other game just as it is … There’s definitely a little sentimental feeling knowing that the end is definitely in the near future.”
Be sure to come out to the entertaining matchup between the Dartmouth Big Green and the Princeton Tigers this Saturday, with kickoff at 1 p.m. in Buddy Teevens Stadium at Memorial Field.
