Dartmouth downs Cornell in double-overtime thriller
By Elizabeth Sullivan, The Dartmouth Staff
Published on Saturday, November 7, 2009
Web Update, last updated on Nov 7 | 5:32 pm
A 40-yard field goal by Foley Schmidt '12 propelled the Big Green to a 20-17 win over Cornell – Dartmouth's first ever double-overtime victory – on Saturday afternoon. The game marks the Big Green's second win of the season, after the team snapped a 17-game losing streak with a victory over Columbia two weeks ago.
Greg Patton ’13 set a new Dartmouth (2-6, 2-3 Ivy) single-game rushing record with 243 yards in the contest – just two weeks after Nick Schwieger ’12 rushed for 242 yards against Columbia to break the previous 18-year-old record.
Cornell (2-6, 1-4 Ivy) got on the board first, when quarterback Ben Ganter found Ben Moody with a 16-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. The Big Red followed up with a field goal in the third quarter from Brad Greenway, bringing the score to 10-0.
The Big Green, however, found its momentum in the fourth quarter, when Patton rushed for 52 yards to get Dartmouth on the board. An interception and 17-yard return by Diego Fernando-Soto ’12 set up Patton’s score.
A 26-yard field goal from Schmidt at the end of the quarter was enough to tie the game.
As time ran out in the fourth quarter, Greenway attempted a 35-yard field goal to give Cornell the lead, but co-captain Pete Pidermann ’10 blocked the kick to keep the score locked at 10-10.
Dartmouth was seventh in the nation in blocked kicks entering Saturday’s game.
The first overtime period was evenly matched, as Cornell started the charge with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Bryan Walters. The Big Green, however, soon returned with another rushing touchdown from Patton, this time for 13 yards.
Tied at 17-17 going into the second overtime period, Dartmouth took control with Schmidt’s crucial kick. The Big Red missed a field goal to end the game.