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Dartmouth dominates Penn

HANOVER — Sophomore Derek Kyler completed 18-of-21 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns, all in the second half, as Dartmouth (3-0, 1-0 Ivy) pulled away from Penn (2-1, 0-1 Ivy) to defeat the Quakers at Memorial Field in the Ivy League opener for both teams, 37-14. The win was the 700th in the history of the Big Green program, now in its 137th season.

Even with Kyler’s efficient afternoon, it was the Big Green offensive line that stole the spotlight as two linemen scored touchdowns in the game. Senior tackle Phil Berton recovered a Dartmouth fumble in the end zone in the second quarter, and junior Jake Guidone — lined up as a tight end — caught a 4-yard pass for the third score through the air.

The Big Green took a 13-7 lead into the locker room at the half, then scored on each of its first four possessions after the intermission with three passing touchdowns and a field goal to put the game out of reach. By the end of the day, the Dartmouth offense had the ball for 37:39 compared to 22:21 for Penn as the Green controlled the line on both sides of the ball to outgain the Quakers, 410-244.

Kyler needed just four plays to reach the end zone after receiving the kickoff to start the third quarter, capped by a 59-yard bomb to senior Drew Hunnicutt. The catch was one of five on the day for Hunnicutt, a wide receiver who posted his second 100-yard game of the season (with exactly 100) and fourth of his career.

After the Dartmouth defense stopped Penn cold on its ensuing drive, the Green marched 66 yards in 11 plays, nine of which were on the ground. The 11th play, however, was a 19-yard pass to senior Hunter Hagdorn, who made a leaping catch over the Quaker defender to haul in the scoring strike for a 27-7 lead.

Senior safety Bun Straton quickly got the ball back in Kyler’s hands by picking off a Penn pass and returning it 13 yards to the Quaker 26. Dartmouth ran the ball five straight times before Guidone broke for the left front corner of the end zone where Kyler found him for the 4-yard touchdown toss with 3:32 still to play in the third quarter.

Freshman Connor Davis tacked on a 44-yard field goal — the longest by a Dartmouth kicker in seven years — by banging the ball off the left upright and just over the crossbar for a 37-7 lead with 9:18 to play.

Penn proceeded to get half of its 14 first downs and 117 of his 244 yards in the final minutes of the game. Trey Flowers dove across the goal line with 17 seconds remaining and Jack Soslow provided the PAT to end the scoring.

The Big Green initially enjoyed a 13-0 lead when junior wildcat QB Jared Gerbino — returning to the field after missing the first two games — scored on a 5-yard keeper late in the first quarter. Early in the second stanza, senior Rashaad Cooper was battling to push into the end zone but was stripped of the ball. But Berton pounced on the opportunity and the ball, claiming it in a dogpile to preserve the Dartmouth touchdown.

Karekin Brooks scored the lone Quaker touchdown in the opening half, taking an option around the left end for the 7-yard score with 1:18 until the break. Dartmouth nearly added to its lead, marching down to the Penn 32, but Davis’ 49-yard field goal try was off the mark.

It was another balanced offensive attack for the Big Green with 186 yards on the ground and 224 through the air, but Cooper and Gerbino were the leading rushers with a mere 37 yards as five players ended the day between 26 and 37 yards.

Senior Jackson Perry led the defensive effort with seven tackles, including the first sack allowed by Penn all season. Senior linebacker Jack Trayor made five stops, while the two-time defending Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week Isiah Swann broke up a pair of passes, as did senior lineman Rocco Di Leo.

Penn quarterback Ryan Glover ended his day with 104 yards on 14-of-26 passing and an interception, plus ran for 20 yards on nine carries. Steve Farrell was the top Quaker receiver with six grabs for 56 yards, and Brooks led the ground game with 41 yards on 11 rushes. Jacob Martin led all players with 18 tackles, and Nick Miller added 12.

*****

Notes: Dartmouth has won four of the last five meetings with Penn, its best stretch in the series since winning four straight from 1978-81. … The Big Green has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 14 straight games, two shy of the school record set in 2002-04. … Kyler completed 85.7 percent of his passes, topping 70 percent in each of his first three games. The last Big Green QB to top 70 percent in three straight games was Dalyn Williams in the final three contests in 2014. … With his 100-yard game, Hunnicutt is just 20 yards shy of becoming the 22nd receiver in Dartmouth history with 1,000.

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