Dartmouth returns seven defensive starters from last season, when the team went 6-4 and tied for third in the Ivy League at 4-3. Linebackers Bronson Green '14 and Michael Runger '14 and safety Garrett Waggoner '13 will anchor this year's defense. Last year, Runger led the Ivy League with 98 tackles while Waggoner earned first-team All-Ivy honors.
The offense will feature the return of star running back Dominick Pierre '14 and breakout wide receiver Ryan McManus '15. Last year, Pierre ran for 830 yards with a 5.0 average per carry and nine touchdowns, earning second-team All-Ivy honors. Pierre currently ranks 12th all-time at Dartmouth with 1,574 career rushing yards and needs 426 more to become the third Big Green player with 2,000 in his career.
McManus returns after totaling 42 receptions for 664 yards and two scores, including a highlight score against Harvard that made it to SportsCenter's Top 10.
"Spring practice went really well," Waggoner said. "It allowed some of the guys that didn't play as much in the fall to step into open spots and start meshing with returning players. It was really good to see them step up and make plays."
Spring practice offers players a chance to earn a starting role with the team, refresh their knowledge of the playbook and build chemistry with their teammates.
"I thought it was really productive," quarterback Alex Park '14 said. "As long as we keep taking steps forward on both offense and defense, I think it'll translate well to the fall."
The most notable position battle will be between Park and Dalyn Williams '16, who are both looking to be the starting signal-caller for the Big Green once September rolls around. Last season, Park started the first seven games, completing 62.6 percent of his passes for 1,370 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions.
Williams earned the Ivy League Rookie of the Year award after seeing action in every game, including starting the final three under center and completing 64 percent of passes for 974 yards, with seven scores and no interceptions. He finished second on the team in rushing with 262 yards and three touchdowns on 89 carries.
The results of the Green-White scrimmage were anything but conclusive, with both Park and Williams playing solid games. Park completed 19-of-33 attempts for 214 yards, while Williams completed 15-of-18 for 128 yards. Williams hooked up with McManus on a pair of touchdown passes, the first at the end of Williams' first series and the second on his final throw of the afternoon.
Wide receiver Jordan Are '15 talked about the quarterback competition but expressed confidence in both of his teammates' abilities.
"Both guys bring two different styles to the table and are very good at what they do," Are said. "I am just proud and like the respect that they have for each other and their competitive nature."
McManus led Dartmouth in catches with eight for 42 yards. Robbie Anthony '14 totaled a game-high 95 receiving yards on five catches and Kirby Schoenthaler '15 added 52 yards on three catches.
Pierre was withheld from participating, allowing Dartmouth to adopt a running back by committee approach. Five players collected between 15 and 25 yards running.
Are spoke to the importance of the spring game as a barometer for the team's offseason progress.
"It was another opportunity for our team to improve and showcase not only how hard we've been working, but the hard work and efforts of our coaches, which goes unnoticed sometimes," Are said. "We were able to install many plays, which we believe will give us a chance to be the most successful we can be in the fall."
The defense also had a strong showing as defensive back Josh Winslow '16 had the only interception on the second to last series of the day.
Linebacker Will McNamara '16 posted a game-high 10 tackles, while seven other defenders totaled more than five apiece.
"Both sides of the team, offense and defense, not only played well but properly executed their plays," Waggoner said.
Following the game, Green, Waggoner and Pierre were designated team captains for 2013, based a team poll.
"All three of them will be great captains," Park said. "Bronson and Garrett were captains last year so they really know what to do. Dominick has been one of our go-to guys for years. Each of them really fits the model of what a captain should be and do."
Waggoner said that he was honored to lead the team again.
"I honored and humbled that my teammates chose me as captain and I want to represent them well and help us accomplish our team goals," Waggoner said. "We want to win every game we play but we also need to take it one game at a time."
The game culminated a long winter and spring filled with early morning workouts and practices that are critical for the team's development each year.
"The spring practices really helped the team in the sense that we were able to put a great amount of focus towards minute details and techniques," Are said. "It is also an opportunity to compete with each other, with the purpose of making someone who plays your position better, which ultimately makes the team better as a whole."
Dartmouth opens up the season on the road against Butler Universty in Indianapolis on Sept. 21. The Big Green's first home contest will be under the lights against the College of the Holy Cross on Sept. 28 at 7:00 p.m.
"I'm really looking forward to getting back on the field," Park said. "Seeing all the alumni come back, along with having large crowds at Memorial, is a really great experience and makes us into one big Dartmouth family."
