Dartmouth Football Suffers Largest Loss in a Decade Against Harvard
In a crucial Ivy League game, Dartmouth’s football team faltered in the fourth quarter and fell 31-10 to Harvard University, marking their biggest defeat in ten years. Jack Zipper ’28, Abby Byrne ’28, and Kyle Greason ’29 reported on the match.
Game Atmosphere and Team Response
Outside Harvard Stadium on a chilly November Saturday, the Dartmouth Big Green players appeared somber. After the tough loss, a group of defenders formed a circle, arms around each other for support. Team captain and safety Sean Williams ’26 encouraged the team:
“Look ahead.”
They then dispersed to the locker room to pack and headed to the bus for the long trip back to Hanover.
Coaching and Team Reflections
Head coach Sammy McCorkle acknowledged the disappointment:
“It is what it is. We didn’t play the game we wanted to. It's not the outcome we wanted.”
Game Summary and Key Moments
- Thousands of Dartmouth fans filled the stadium, energized from tailgates, but the team struggled early on.
- The defense allowed Harvard to convert three third downs on the opening drive, falling behind 7-0 quickly.
- Offensively, Dartmouth was forced to punt after only three plays on their first drive.
Starting quarterback Grayson Saunier ’27 reflected on the weak start:
“We came out excited, ready to go, and we didn’t have a great start. We can’t be inconsistent … This is the first time we went three-and-out on the first drive all year.”
Summary
Dartmouth faced a tough defeat to Harvard, revealing early offensive struggles and defensive lapses, leaving the team determined to improve.