News
UVM vs. Dartmouth College, October 18
By Sarah CoonOctober 22, 2009
After a disappointing 45-0 rout in their first away
game of the season October 11 at Williams College, the University of Vermont
went on the road again this past weekend, travelling to Hanover, New Hampshire
to play Division I-AA Dartmouth College’s junior varsity Big Green. The
Catamounts had practiced hard all week, and eagerly anticipated Sunday’s game.
The air in Hanover was frosty, and rumors had swirled all week of an impending
nor’easter, but the weather held off for the 1:00 pm start and the game began
without delay.
The
University of Vermont, winning the opening coin toss, opted to receive the ball
and sent their offense to the field first. Managing a first down, they were
nonetheless thwarted by Dartmouth’s strong defense, and were unable to progress
beyond the 50 yard line. The Dartmouth offense took the ball at their own 45
yard line, but after a sack and a series of penalties, including a 40+ yard
touchdown run which was called back, they were forced to punt on 4th
and fifteen. The Big Green scored conclusively on their very next offensive
play from scrimmage, however, a 44 yard run by freshman Jeremy Rick. Steven
McCormack’s kick made is 7-0. Despite good running by UVM backs Doug DeLuca,
Ted Day-Fratto, and quarterback Korey Johnson in the next series, UVM was
forced to punt away and let their defense reclaim the field. A solid running
game set Dartmouth up for a 20 yard pass from quarterback Greg Patton to
sophomore receiver Chad Hollis to score another Big Green touchdown. Two more
Dartmouth touchdowns finished out the first half, a short yardage 4th
and goal run by Swin Moore, and a second short yardage run in the last seconds
of the half by Peter Pidermann. The Catamounts attempted to initiate a passing
offensive in the second quarter, but Dartmouth’s pass defense proved as impenetrable
to the pass as the run, and the teams retired to their respective locker rooms
at halftime with the score 26-0.
The
second half began with huge energy as University of Vermont sophomore Doug
DeMaio recovered the Catamounts’ onside kick, setting up UVM’s offense on their
own 44 yard line to start the half. One
first down later, however, an untimely fumble turned to ball over to Dartmouth
hands. Dartmouth could make nothing of it, however, and UVM regained possession
of the ball. Another fumble gave Dartmouth the ball on UVM’s 19 yard line, field
position which was capitalized on in the next play when Rick scored his second
touchdown of the day. The UVM defense held for two more series, while the
offense turned the ball over once again. Catamount sophomore Chad Foley kept
the energy high, sacking Patton for the second time that day and recovering the
ensuing fumble. The third quarter ended without any further scores, the
scoreboard reading 33-0. Minutes into the final quarter of the game, however,
Dartmouth struck again, this time on Patton’s 8 yard touchdown pass to freshman
receiver Corey Vann. The UVM defense stepped up in the next series, preventing
the Big Green from scoring with an interception by defensive back Adam Comerci.
Dartmouth responded in the succeeding series, getting their own interception for
the day, a pick in the flats by junior Spencer Hood. On UVM’s 25 yard line, the
Big Green moved the chains and scored their final touchdown of the day, a 10
yard quarterback scamper into the end zone with three minutes left to play.
The
final score of the afternoon was 46-0, a number which belies the intensity and
high level of play exhibited by the University of Vermont Catamounts, a fact
that was remarked upon after the game by a member of the Dartmouth College
coaching staff. Both sides played an excellent game that clearly displayed
their mutual respect for each other and passion for football. Next week the Catamounts
travel to Middlebury, Vermont to face off against the Middlebury College Panthers
in a 1:30 start, October 25th.