Box Score
HANOVER, N.H. - The University of Pennsylvania's 26-9 win over Dartmouth Saturday can be summed up pretty easily.
Penn made six trips into the red zone and got points on all of them. The Big Green made five trips into the red zone and scored only twice.
That was the difference in a game that was closer than the score might indicate. Penn gained just 28 more yards in total offense (268-240) and had possession just 20 seconds longer (30:10-29:50). It was enough, though, in a defensive battle on a beautiful day at Dartmouth's Memorial Field.
Derek Zoch was a major story for the Quakers (2-1, 1-0 Ivy), going a perfect 4-for-4 on field goals from 35, 37, 24 and 23 yards. Penn's touchdowns came on passes from Pat McDermott to Chris Mizell (seven yards in the third quarter) and Billy May (four yards, also in the third).
For Dartmouth (1-2, 0-1), Josh Cohen found Mark Brogna for a TD pass.
After a scoreless first quarter, Penn took a lead it would never relinquish as Zoch split the uprights three times before halftime. The drive started when McDermott found Nick Okoro for a 26-yard gain, and four plays later Zoch put Penn on the board with a 35-yarder.
Penn then held Dartmouth to a three-and-out, and received a gift when, on fourth down, the snap to the Big Green punter went over his head. The Quakers took over on the Dartmouth 23, and four plays later Zoch kicked his 37-yarder to double Penn's lead.
The Red and Blue held for another three-and-out after that score, and this time put together a sustained drive that led to another Zoch field goal. The drive covered nine plays and 61 yards, and started with a 30-yard connection between McDermott and Dan McDonald. The Quakers eventually got down to Dartmouth's 6-yard line, but had to settle for the field goal which Zoch converted.
Dartmouth finally got on the board early in the third quarter when Erik Hinterbichler kicked a 33-yard field goal, but Penn went right to work and scored the first touchdown of the game on McDermott's completion to Mizell. It was Mizell's first collegiate touchdown. The Quakers officially took the wind out of Dartmouth's sails later that quarter, after Ric San Doval recovered a Joshua Cohen fumble on the Big Green 20-yard line. Six plays later, McDermott hit May for his first collegiate TD catch that made the score 23-3 after three quarters.
Sam Mathews was back on the field this week for Penn, rushing 15 times for 55 yards. Okoro had four catches for 37 yards, while Matt Carre had four receptions for 26 yards. McDonald had three catches for 77 yards, while Mizell also had three catches.
Defensively, the Quakers came up witheight sacks on the day and recovered two fumbles. Jim Malizia had three sacks, while Sam McGarity and Kory Gedin had two apiece. San Doval finished with the recovery and a sack, as well.
Penn is back in action next Saturday, taking on Bucknell at Franklin Field in the final non-conference game of the season.
Written by Mike Mahoney, director of athletic communications
