Sunday, September 02, 2018

Elsewhere . . .

By just about any standard, Dartmouth's 2018 nonconference schedule looked pretty weak heading into the season. Time will tell if that's the case but the three teams the Big Green will see this season all had pretty good opening-game outings.

Georgetown 39, Marist 14
To be honest, Marist isn't even a very good team in the weak Pioneer Football League, but the game was a pick 'em and it was in Poughkeepsie so the final winning margin for Dartmouth's Week One opponent should open a few eyes. If it doesn't, this should: Arizona transfer Gunther Johnson passed for 369 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Hoyas. Georgetown finished with a 438-178 advantage in total yards. We won't learn much more about the Hoyas next week when they square off against the Campbell Camels, who opened with a win over DIII Chowan.

Colgate 24, Holy Cross 17
Here's what you need to know about Dartmouth's Week Two opponent. Holy Cross fell behind 24-0 by the half and Colgate needed to convert a fourth-and-10 with 2:38 remaining to be able to run out the clock and thwart an impressive comeback by the Crusaders. Here's something else you need to know: Colgate was a strong preseason favorite to win the Patriot League. Starting at quarterback for Holy Cross was junior Emmett Clifford, a product of Loyola Academy, the school that produced former Crusader quarterback Peter Pujals. Clifford was 14-of-23 for 113 yards with one TD. Holy Cross plays at Boston College Saturday.

Sacred Heart 35, Lafayette 6
Granted, Lafayette was picked below Holy Cross and ahead of only Georgetown in the Patriot League preseason poll, but a 35-6 win is a 35-6 win. Returning quarterback Kevin Duke completed 17-of-23 passes in his first game as a grad student, Jordan Meachum ran for 132 yards and fifth-year wideout Andrew O'Neill had nine catches for 103 yards as the Pioneers won handily in Fairfield. Sacred Heart had a 407-253 advantage in total yards. Charles Mack, the former Dartmouth receiver now at Sacred Heart as a grad student, started and caught one pass for 10 yards. The Pioneers travel to Bucknell Saturday.
Meanwhile, Dartmouth held its Green-White scrimmage Saturday. Read all about it on BGA Premium.