Big Green romps Yale in Ivy League showdown, 35-3

Victor Egu (photo by Jack Warhola)

It was not the outcome they expected, nor was it the expected shootout between two high-profile quarterbacks, with the last minute heroics, that always adds to the allure and lore of Ivy League football clashes.

It was anything but that, as Dartmouth scored early and often to defeat injury-riddled Yale, 35-3, last Saturday to the delight of 11,036 Homecoming Weekend fans in Hanover, New Hampshire.

The highly anticipated quarterback showdown between Yale’s Morgan Roberts and Dartmouth’s Dalyn Williams never materialized, as Williams rose to the occasion for a career best performance in leading the Big Green (4-0, 2-0 Ivy League) to their fourth win of the season.

William’s connected on 29 of 53 passing attempts for a Big Green record (held by former Dartmouth great and NFL quarterback Jay Fiedler) 435 yards and 4 touchdowns.

The Dartmouth senior was named the Ivy League Player of the Week for his record-setting performance. Dartmouth senior free safety David Caldwell was named the Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week.

On the other hand, Yale’s Roberts did not have one of his better games in an Eli uniform.

The Yale senior was 29-58 for 229 yards, but was intercepted and sacked three times by the FCS second-ranked Dartmouth defensive unit.

The Bulldogs were unable to mount a ground attack as the Big Green limited the Eli’s top rusher, Deshawn Salter, to a scant 45 yards on 19 carries.

Michael Siragusa, Jr was one of just a few bright lights for the Bulldog’s as he hauled in 12 passes for 132 yards.

Bryan Holmes continued his fine placekicking, when he split the uprights from 35 yards for the Bulldog’s only points of the game just before the first-half horn sounded.

Yale (3-1, 1-1 Ivy League) will look to get back on the winning track this coming Saturday when they head north for a non-conference game with the Maine Black Bears (2-3, 2-1 Colonial AA) in Orono, Maine.

The last time the two schools faced each other was 78 years ago when the Bulldogs shut out the Black Bears 26-0 at the Yale Bowl.

It will be the ninth meeting between the two schools and Yale’s first trip to Orono.

The 3:30 p.m. kickoff with Maine will be broadcast on the Fox College Sports Atlantic network, airs live on ABC in Bangor and can be heard on the Yale Football Radio Network (ESPN Radio AM-1300 in New Haven).

BULLDOG BITES

In the first four games, Yale quarterback Morgan Roberts has connected on 108 of 188 passes (57.4%) for 1,144 yards.

Sophomore Michael Siragusa, Jr., (Cleveland, OH) was named to last week’s Ivy League Honor Roll for his performance in the loss to Dartmouth. Siragusa caught 12 passes for 132 yards.

Maine is riding some momentum going into the Yale clash after thumping CAA foe Albany, 39-7, last week in Albany, NY.

The Black Bears other win has been over Rhode Island (CAA). They have another conference loss to Richmond and losses to a pair of FBS schools; Boston College (ACC) and Tulane (CUSA).

Harvard and Dartmouth sit at the top of the Ivy League standings with identical 2-0 records. Princeton is also unbeaten with a 1-0 mark.

Harvard (4-0), the overwhelming preseason pick to win the Ivy League title, has moved up six spots to 18^th place in the latest FCS National Coaches Poll.

Harvard and Dartmouth will face each other on Friday, October 30 at Harvard Stadium.

The Crimson will face Yale in THE GAME on November 21 in New Haven.

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