While Dartmouth gave up 315 yards on the ground and was outgained 521-262 overall by Harvard, special teams play was clearly a Big Green strength.

"The only blemish was we were really sluggish on special teams," Harvard coach Tim Murphy said. "Dartmouth did a good job scheming us and executing. Special teams has been very solid in the first six games (for us) but it made the ending a little messy."

Dartmouth head coach Buddy Teevens and his staff refer to special teams as "special forces," and the Big Green have responded this season with six blocked kicks.

"Obviously special teams play has a tremendous impact on point productivity, field position and so forth," Teevens said. "We put our best guys out there. With recruiting we have greater athleticism now than we have had in recent years, specifically at the skill position spots."

Teevens credited special teams coordinator Chris Wilkerson with building a successful unit.

"We put a lot of time into it and he has been very, very productive with the rush teams and the return teams as well," Teevens said. "Once you have a little bit of success the guys realize the system works and we'll have another opportunity."

Schwieger sidelined

A week after being named Ivy League Offensive Player of the Week and The Sports Network's National Offensive Player of the Week with his 242-yard rushing outburst in a win over Columbia, sophomore running back Nick Schwieger lasted just over a quarter before breaking a finger against Harvard.

Teevens said Schwieger was scheduled for surgery on Tuesday and is done for the season.
Senior Rob Mitchelson filled in for Schwieger against Harvard, carrying the ball 14 times for 61 yards.

Cornell coach Jim Knowles expects a strong showing from Dartmouth no matter who is carrying the ball for the Big Green on Saturday.

"Dartmouth's offense has gotten better every year," Knowles said. "You can tell on film that their offense is much, much improved and I think the quarterback (sophomore Connor Kempe) throws a great ball and they've been protecting the quarterback and they've become very balanced with the running game.

"There's not really one thing you can focus on. To me it's going to be not giving up the big play."

The Big Red has been susceptible to big plays of late, something Knowles said is frustrating for his club.

"It seems to be a different thing every week," he said. "It's not a recurring guy or a recurring particular defense. We find ways at inopportune times and sometimes you get into a bad streak with that. You've just got to keep preaching and work on communication. It's hurt us and our players know it and we're working on it."

Great Scott

Junior wide receiver Tanner Scott turned in a strong performance against Harvard with seven catches for 116 yards and a touchdown. For the season, Scott has 27 catches for 339 yards and a pair of scores.
Scott originally was a baseball player at Dartmouth but found himself with the football team and at wide receiver during spring practice his freshman year and played with the JV squad a year ago.
"He's worked extremely hard at it," Teevens said of the Kenilworth, Ill., native. "He's catching the ball very, very well for us. We're very, very pleased. He's a team guy, he's willing to block and he's a very sure-handed receiver."

Of note

Dartmouth's Pidermann (12 tackles, blocked punt), Reilly (58 receiving yards, TD on blocked punt), Scott and freshman linebacker Garrett Wymore (12 tackles) were named to the Ivy League honor roll. ... Cornell's Bryan Walters needs five punt return yards to break the all-time Ivy League record. Walters has 898 career punt return yards. ... The winner will climb out of the basement in the Ivy League standings. Dartmouth, Cornell, Columbia and Princeton all currently sport 1-3 league marks.