Football Slow Out of the Gates in 20-7 Loss to Dartmouth

Saturday, October 21

New York, N.Y.

12:30 p.m.

Columbia University

DARTMOUTH *

Blue Team Rallies For Spring Football Game Victory

Football Slow Out of the Gates in 20-7 Loss to Dartmouth

10/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football

By: Columbia University Athletics

NEW YORK -- Dartmouth scored its first touchdown just 2:40 into the game, and Columbia never caught up, as the Big Green won its first game of the season, 20-7, and sent the Lions to their second straight loss.

Running back Jordan Davis fumbled on Columbia's first offensive play, from the Lion 20, and the Big Green's Dan Cook recovered on the Lion 25. Despite two penalties, Dartmouth traveled the 25 yards in four plays to score, on Hudson Smythe's one-yard run, and Andrew Kempler's extra point gave his team a 7-0 lead with only 2:40 elapsed.

“We were noticeably down after the fumble,” head coach Norries Wilson admitted.

The Lions proved unable to get anything started in the first half, as four straight possessions ended in punts, only one amassing more than 10 yards. Dartmouth scored the second time it gained the ball, moving from its own 39 to the Lion 14 in eight plays, from which Kempler booted a 31-yard field goal for a 10-0 lead.

The Green extended the margin to 17-0 late in the second period, marching 80 yards in 15 plays to score. But for the first time in the game, Columbia came to life on its ensuing possession. Starting from his own 19, with 4:27 to play, junior QB Craig Hormann hit three of four quick passes, picking up one first down on a toss to Jordan Davis.

Hormann ran 12 yards for another and netted a third on a 14-yard pass to first-year Taylor Joseph. Hormann had Columbia rolling, although time was ebbing. There was slightly more than a minute to play when Hormann, passing from the shotgun on third-and-four, hit a short toss to Austin Knowlin. The first-year ran for nine yards and another first down, to the Dartmouth 18.

The quarterback missed on one pass, but hit Knowlin for nine on the next. Hormann then kept the ball on a QB sneak, setting up a first-and-goal at the seven. With seconds remaining in the half, Hormann got off two plays. He was brought down for no gain on one, then passed to Knowlin for six, but the first-year receiver was stopped one yard of the goal as time ran out.

Coach Wilson was disappointed. “[Missing that opportunity] rests solely with me,” he said.

Down 17-0, a much more spirited Lion team took the field in the second half. Wilson noticed it immediately.

“It took us into the second half to find our passion,” he said. “And we played some good football in the second half. “

But Dartmouth was more than ready. The Big Green couldn't score in the third period, but held the Lions to two possessions. Midway through the final period, Columbia finally reached the end zone, thanks in part to first-year linebacker Andy Shalbrack, who intercepted a Mike Fritz pass at the Dartmouth 30 and returned it to the 19.

First-year M.A. Olawale, who had replaced Hormann at quarterback the previous series, ran for five, hit Knowlin with a lateral which the receiver converted to a 13-yard gain, and went over from the one for his first college touchdown. Jon Rocholl's extra point brought Columbia within 10, 17-7, with nine minutes to play.

The Lions stopped Dartmouth on one series, but were unable to make a first down themselves. The Green then traveled 25 yards in six plays, capped by a 26-yard field goal for a 20-7 lead to put the game away. Once again, Columbia had played hard, limiting Dartmouth to 315 total yards, but was unable to mount a sustained offense. And the Lions took too much time to get going.

“We didn't play 60 minutes,” senior co-captain Adam Brekke said. “Our only option is to turn it up a notch and play 100 miles an hour like we know we can.”

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Although completing just two of nine passes in his collegiate debut, Olawale was Columbia's leading rusher with 23 yards. Knowlin, another first-year, had five receptions for 52 yards. Seniors Adam Brekke and Tad Crawford led the defense with 11 and eight tackles, respectively. First-year linebackers Andy Shalbrack and Justin Masorti combined for 13 tackles, one for a loss.

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The victory was Dartmouth's first after nine straight losses dating back to last season.