Dartmouth fans couldn't ask for a more perfect day to sit in the stands and watch the Big Green open its season against Valparaiso. Game time temperature today should be 72 degrees with only the occasional cloud, and a gently breeze of just 2 mph. Kickoff on Memorial Field is at 1:30.
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Ivy League football actually got jump start last night with Harvard posting a dramatic come-from-behind overtime win against Merrimack.
Trailing 21-14 and facing a fourth-and-eight at its own 44 with less than five minutes remaining, the Crimson completed the pass it absolutely had to have to get a first down by the narrowest of margins and then went on to post a 28-21 overtime win against the 26.5-point underdog Warriors.
The hero of the night for Harvard was standout running back Aidan Borguet. On the first play after the all-important first down he exploded 48 yards up the middle for a touchdown that made it 21-14 with 4:31 left.
Merrimack's inability to run the ball and Harvard's ferocious pass rush then forced a quick three-and-out for the visitors who had to punt from their end zone.
Taking over at the Merrimack 41, the Crimson wasted no time capitalizing. This time it took just two plays. A 36-yard completion from Charlie Dean to Kym Wimberly set up Borguet's five-yard run around the left side with 2:56 remaining to tie the game with the PAT and set up overtime.
On the first play of the extra session Dean and the rest of the Harvard offense went right on the snap while Borguet snuck out to the left where, unbelievably, Merrimack had lost track of him. He collected a throw-back pass, beat one potential tackler around the five and absolutely ran over another for the go-ahead touchdown.
In the bottom half of the OT, Merrimack got to the Crimson five but then the overwhelming Harvard pass rush took over. Three plays later the Warriors were on their 25 facing fourth and goal. Their desperation pass at the end was knocked down and Ivy League favorite Harvard had escaped with the win.
Borguet finished with 20 carries for 127 yards and two touchdowns rushing, and two catches for 39 yards and a touchdown receiving.
Merrimack's downfall was its inability to run the ball against a run defense that led the nation a year ago. The final stats show the Warriors with 28 carries for negative 26 yards. Some of that was the result of sacks, but Merrimack's leading rusher managed just 11 yards.
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For what it's worth, the BGA Premium's Fearful Forecast yesterday got the winner right but the score wrong, picking the Crimson to come out on top, 31-7.
Roar Lions blog also had Harvard winning in his weekly prediction with Jake Novak writing:
Yeah, I know it's a big spread, but this is really a cupcake game for the Crimson, It's a shame; Harvard used to play an interesting and challenging out of conference schedule.
Green Alert Take: Jake's right for the most part, of course, but as it turned out that was a really interesting game. After holding off as long as I could, I signed up for ESPN+ last night and was riveted by the Harvard comeback.
Speaking of Jake's predictions, here's what he writes about what's happening in Hanover this afternoon:
Valparaiso +32 1/2 at Dartmouth
Dartmouth wins, but that spread is just too big
Find all of Jake's predictions for the weekend HERE.
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The local Valley News has a game preview that touches on the rash of injuries that have struck the Big Green in the preseason. Find the story HERE.
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BGA Premium will have a game story tonight with a follow and the always popular Sunday Six Pack tomorrow.
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EXTRA POINT
Peering out the window at the BGA World Headquarters this morning it looked like Uluru (Ayers Rock) was looming over the horizon. But it was just a New Hampshire mountain ridge peaking out over the clouds rising up from the Connecticut River.
