Dartmouth football’s 21-point loss at Harvard the largest loss in a decade

Dartmouth Football Suffers Largest Defeat in a Decade Against Harvard

In a crucial Ivy League game, Dartmouth’s football team faltered in the fourth quarter, losing 31-10 to Harvard University. Jack Zipper ’28, Abby Byrne ’28, and Kyle Greason ’29 report on the game.

After the game, standing outside a cold Harvard Stadium, the Dartmouth Big Green players appeared downcast. A group of defenders, still in their jerseys, formed a circle with their arms around each other. Team captain and safety Sean Williams ’26 encouraged his teammates:

“Look ahead.”

With that, the team broke the huddle, headed to the locker room to pack up, and then boarded the buses for the long return trip to Hanover.

Head coach Sammy McCorkle reflected on the outcome:

“It is what it is. We didn’t play the game we wanted to. It's not the outcome we wanted.”

Game Struggles from the Start

The Dartmouth fans filled the stadium with energy, fueled by tailgates earlier in the day. However, the team struggled immediately on the field. The Big Green defense allowed Harvard to convert three third downs in the opening drive, falling behind 7-0 quickly. Dartmouth’s offense also sputtered, forcing them to punt after only three plays in their first possession.

Starting quarterback Grayson Saunier ’27 commented on the team's rocky start:

“We came out excited, ready to go, and we didn’t have a great start. We can’t be inconsistent … This is the first time we went three-and-out on the first drive all year.”

Summary

The 21-point loss to Harvard marks Dartmouth’s largest defeat in ten years, exposing both offensive and defensive challenges early and late in the game.

more

The Dartmouth The Dartmouth — 2025-11-04

More News