Nov. 7, 2009, Hanover, NH – Dartmouth 20, Cornell 17 (2 ot)
Just promoted from the junior varsity, freshman Greg Patton ran for a school-record 243 yards and two touchdowns in his inaugural varsity appearance as Dartmouth won the first double-overtime game in school history.
Recruited as a defensive back and playing as a quarterback with the jayvees, Patton came on as a wildcat QB and, in a remarkable coincidence, erased the school rushing record teammate Nick Schwieger set two weeks before by . . . wait for it . . . just one yard.
Patton, who had just 16 yards in the first quarter, had gallops of 27, 45 and 52 yards among his 29 carries.
Still, Cornell carried a 10-0 lead into the fourth quarter only to see Diego Fernandez-Soto pick off a pass and Patton take advantage by breaking off a 52-yarder for a score that made it 10-7 with 12:04 left. Then it was Foley Schmidt booting a 26-yard field goal with 2:17 left to tie the game.
The comeback seemed to be for nothing, though, when the Big Red lined up with two seconds remaining for a 35-yard field goal to win the game. But Dartmouth safety Pete Pidermann blocked the attempt to force overtime.
Bryan Walters, who just earned a Super Bowl ring with the Seattle Seahawks, gave Cornell the lead in the first overtime on an 8-yard reception, but Patton answered with a 13-yard TD run.
In the second overtime, Schmidt booted a 40-yard field goal to give Dartmouth a lead that would hold up when Cornell’s 36-yard kick sailed wide left.
