Quarterback Jared Gerbino ’20 posted career highs in passing yards and touchdowns and the Big Green defense dominated as Dartmouth cruised to a 38-3 win over Colgate University on Saturday.
The Big Green found the end zone on its first three offensive possessions, and the Raiders’ offense did not reach the red zone during the entire first half. The Big Green offense found a balance with 265 passing yards and 175 rushing yards.
Gerbino’s passing game could not be stopped, as he completed his first 10 pass attempts, threw three touchdown passes and went 12-16 for 193 passing yards. The wildcat quarterback used his arm to break down the Colgate defense. Gerbino said he felt good passing and gave credit to his offensive line and the play calls from offensive coordinator Kevin Daft.
“We were keeping it simple at first and then spreading it out,” Gerbino said. “We were just clicking with it.”
The Big Green did most of its damage in the first half, starting off the scoring with a 30-yard touchdown catch by Hunter Hagdorn ’20, followed by a four-yard touchdown run by Caylin Parker ’20 and a 40-yard reception by Drew Estrada ’20 to give Dartmouth an early 21-0 lead. A field goal late in the second quarter gave the Big Green a 24-0 lead going at half time.
Dartmouth kept up the scoring in the second half, with a touchdown reception from Robbie Mangas ’22 and a one-yard run from Keegan McHugh ’22. All Colgate could muster in terms of offense was a field goal in the third quarter, totaling only 281 yards compared to the Big Green’s 440.
Colgate head coach Dan Hunt said he was expecting Gerbino to air it out, but Dartmouth head coach Buddy Teevens ’79 said the Big Green’s two-quarterback system with Gerbino and Derek Kyler ’21 has reached a new level.
“Kyler is running the ball more effectively. Gerbino is throwing the ball more effectively,” Teevens said. “That’s a challenge to a defense.”
Teevens expressed confidence in Gerbino’s ability to transform from a wildcat scrambler into a dual-threat signal caller.
“He’s done a great job carrying the football ... but he also has the ability to throw the football,” Teevens said. “He did a tremendous job of putting the ball on the money. He’s a multiply capable guy, and we’re going to use every element he has.”
Gerbino said his performance on Saturday will open things up going forward and put opposing defenses on edge.
While the offense appeared flashy and easily marched down the field multiple times throughout the night, the defense put together another dominant effort, now having allowed just nine points through the first two games. Defensive lineman Jackson Perry ’19 led the defensive unit with nine tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble. He said the Big Green defense knew they were in a good position as soon as the first snap of the game.
“Every week, we study these guys inside and out,” he said. “There were a lot of key things that they did that gave us a lot of movement. There were a lot of things where you could just tell what they were doing.”
Linebacker and captain Jack Traynor ’19 recorded eight tackles and earned the praise of Teevens.
“He’s an athletic guy, and he has game speed,” Teevens said. “He’s just so solid and brings leadership inside. He lines guys up, calms them down. He’s a very intense competitor, and that’s contagious.”
Teevens described the game as essentially a battle between the Dartmouth and Colgate offensive and defensive lines.
“Our guys came out on top,” Teevens said. “They didn’t give much time and hit the quarterback a bunch.”
With Ivy League play beginning on Friday night with a matchup between the Big Green and the University of Pennsylvania, Perry said he hopes the Big Green’s win sent a message to the other teams of the Ancient Eight.
“We sent the message that we’re the team to beat,” Perry said. “I think we have the most talented football team.”
Penn, predicted to finish fifth in the Ivy League, enters next weekend’s game with a 1-1 record after a loss to the University of Delaware and a win over Lafayette College. The Big Green, predicted to finish second in the conference, has won its past five matchups against the Quakers. The game will kickoff from Franklin Field in Philadelphia at 7 p.m. on Friday and will air on ESPNU.
