Cornell football dropped the final road contest of 2023 to Dartmouth, 30-14, at Memorial Field in Hanover, N.H. The Big Red fell to 3-6 (2-4 Ivy) while the Big Green improved to 5-4 (4-2 Ivy).
Jameson Wang become the all-time leader in rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in Cornell history when he rushed for the 19th of his career. Om the day, Wang went 19-for-31 for 153 yards through the air with a touchdown. Wang also led Cornell ground game with 31 yards on eight carries. Davon Kiser led the Big Red in receiving yards with 55-yards on eight haul-ins. Nicholas Laboy also tallied 50+ yards receiving with 51 yards on six receptions. Luke Banbury and Noah Taylor each tallied double-digit tackles in the game, including a sack from Taylor.
The Big Green’s double-headed quarterback room led the passing and running game. Jackson Proctor completed 13-of-19 passes for 149 yards and a score, while Nick Howard rushed 16 times for 108 yards and three touchdowns. Paxton Scott led Dartmouth receivers with 78 yards on five grabs, but Jace Henry also tallied over 50 yards with his three catches, including one for a touchdown. The Big Green had four players with at least five tackles, including team-leader Leonard St. Gourdin, who accounted for six.
FIRST QUARTER
- Dartmouth used the passing game to escape two third-and-longs, and set up a first-and-goal at the Cornell six following a 38-yard completion. The Big Green took advantage of the field position, scoring the first touchdown of the afternoon.
- The Big Green held Cornell to a punt on its first offensive drive and the Big Red held strong for a three-and-out to answer, but a false start hindered any offensive momentum, forcing Cornell to a second punt.
- Dartmouth used another big passing play of 27 yards to get back in the red zone, which the Big Green again capitalized again to take a 14-0 lead with 32 seconds remaining in the quarter.
SECOND QUARTER
- Cornell opened the second with a promising drive, surviving a fourth-and-one with a six-yard rush by AJ Holmes and advancing all the way to the the Dartmouth 13-yard line. The first play in the red zone for the Big Red ended in a fumble when Drew Powell lost the ball at the Dartmouth five-yard line, which the Big Green recovered.
- The Cornell defense held the Big Green to a three-and-out despite the turnover. The Big Red offense responded with a 41-yard connection from Wang to Kiser to set up a second visit to the red zone. This time, the Big Red made it to the end zone when Wang connected with Ean Pope for the running back’s second-career rushing touchdown.
- Back-to-back three-and-outs followed, getting the ball back in Dartmouth’s hands. The Big Green extended its lead to 21-7 with 44 seconds left in the half as Dartmouth took a 37-yard pass to the house.
THIRD QUARTER
- Both teams opened the third quarter with a three-and-out, but the Big Red special team came up big when Amon Williams blocked the punt and Brody Kidwell recovered the football, setting up a first-and-ten at the Dartmouth 23-yard line.
- A trick play opened up the sequence when Wang connected with quarterback Chad Martini for a gain on nine yards.
- Wang used his legs to find pay-dirt, tallying the first points of the second half off a six-yard rush to cut the Dartmouth lead back to seven. The touchdown set the Cornell career-record for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (19)
- The Big Red defense held Dartmouth to a 42-yard field goal, which took a bounce of the upright before falling through.
- Cornell was held to a punt on the ensuing drive giving Dartmouth the ball back with 51 seconds left in the third.
FOURTH QUARTER
- The Big Red opened the fourth by forcing a Dartmouth punt, but a penalty hindered the Big Red’s first drive of the fourth, forcing Cornell to go for a fourth-and-three, where a short pass turned the ball over on downs.
- Dartmouth found another touchdown before the end of the game, scoring on a five-yard rush but missing the extra point to bring up the final, 30-14.
UP NEXT
- The Big Red closes out the 2023 season when the team returns home to host Columbia.
- Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 18 at Schoellkopf Field. Fans at home can catch the game on ESPN+.
Kyle leads sports coverage and hosts the Concrete Jungle podcast. Have a lead or question? Send it to [email protected].