NEW YORK -- Columbia led 21-17 midway through the fourth quarter but Dartmouth embarked on a 14-play, game-ending drive when the Big Green converted a pair of third downs and one fourth down to keep the chains moving. Nick Schwieger's second touchdown of the day, a one-yard plunge with 2:28 left in the game, put Dartmouth ahead for good.
After Columbia led 7-3 at halftime, Dartmouth's two third quarter touchdowns gave the Big Green a 17-7 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.
The Big Green put together a pair of eight-yard plays after beneficial field position. A short field midway through the third gave Dartmouth the ball at its own 49-yard line. Dartmouth drove inside the Columbia 10-yard line, where the Lions defense stiffened, causing a fourth-and-goal situation at the one-yard line.
Schwieger scored his first of the day on a one-yard dive that gave the Big Green their first lead of the game, 10-7.
After Dartmouth caused Columbia to go three and out, the Big Green regained possession at their own 41. Dartmouth quarterback Connor Kempe completed passes to four different receivers on the drive, capping it with an eight-yard toss to Mitch Aprahamian that ultimately gave Dartmouth a 17-7 lead going into the final quarter.
Dartmouth was primed to put the game away early in the fourth quarter, but Columbia's Josh Smith forced a fumble that swung the momentum of the game. On a third and six from the Columbia 15-yard line, Kempe rolled left, lost the ball and Josh Martin pounced on the fumble to give Columbia possession again.
Columbia scored on a seven-play, 70-yard drive after the turnover to get the Lions within three, at 17-14, and quickly recovered another Dartmouth fumble in the Columbia end. Dartmouth forced a fumble on the next Columbia drive, but the game swung again when the Lions recovered a Dartmouth fumble.
Kalasi Huggins laid a big hit on Schwieger that caused him to lose the ball and Martin recovered his second fumble of the day on the Dartmouth 29-yard line with less than eight minutes remaining.
After the third Dartmouth turnover of the quarter, Columbia started the drive as Sean Brackett hit Nick Gerst with a swing pass for seven yards. After an incomplete pass, Brackett scrambled for a first down. On the next play, a key pass interference call on Dartmouth placed the ball at the two-yard line. On the next play, Nathan Lenz sprung free into the left flat and caught Brackett's pass in the end zone to give the Lions a 21-17 advantage.
On its final drive, Dartmouth a pair of third downs and a fourth down play to get the ball deep in Columbia territory. Dartmouth eventually took the ball to the Columbia two and after Schwieger was stopped for a one-yard gain on first down, his second-down carry reached the end zone as the Big Green went ahead, 24-21 after the extra point.
Columbia had a chance with two and a half minutes remaining and the Lions converted a pair of first downs that moved the ball to the Columbia 35. However, the Lions' drive stalled on its own 43 as Dartmouth notched its first Ivy League win of the season.
Alex Gross finished with a game-high 16 tackles, including 10 solo stops, along with a pass breakup. For his efforts, he was named the John Toner Columbia Football Homecoming Player of the Game.
Brackett threw for 188 yards and a score while his counterpart Kempe passed for 235 yards and a touchdown. Schwieger finished with 124 yards on 32 carries and a pair of touchdowns.
The Lions return to action on Saturday, October 30 at Yale at noon. The game will be televised live on the YES Network.
