Looking to keep its four-game win streak alive, the Red (4-4, 3-2 Ivy) will face Dartmouth (6-2, 3-2 Ivy) on Saturday in Hanover, New Hampshire.
On Nov. 8, its last game, the Red completed a 10-point comeback against the University of Pennsylvania. Most notably, the defense shut out the Quakers in the second half. Dartmouth is sure to test Cornell’s defense on Saturday, given that the Big Green have had a strong offensive showing this season, outscoring its opponents 212-164 and averaging 26.5 points per game.
Junior tight end Ryder Kurtz described the “different maker” in the Red’s mid-season victories as the team’s approach to playing “complementary football.”
“When our offense is not up to the standard that we set for ourselves, our defense backs us up, and when the offense needed to step up, we were able to step up at the right moments,” Kurtz said. “We haven’t been able to play a complete game in all three phases of football, so we are still working toward that goal.”
Looking toward the Big Green, getting ahead early and staying ahead could help Cornell’s offense earn their fifth win of the season. Junior quarterback Garrett Bass-Sulpizio will have his two main offensive targets — Kurtz and senior wide receiver Doryn Smith — to help contribute to kickstarting the offense. On the ground, sophomore running back Jordan Triplett has averaged 68.2 yards per game, good for four touchdowns.
Quarterback Grayson Saunier leads the charge on offense for the Big Green, with a 0.68 completion percentage this season and just four interceptions. Last year, the Big Green had been undefeated on the road with a 7-1 record until the Red snapped its streak with a decisive 39-22 win.
Now, Cornell looks to repeat that success.
“We want to repeat last year’s result by sticking to what’s been working these last few weeks,” Smith said. “That means hammering the details, playing physical, and staying locked in for all four quarters. When adversity hits, we respond the right way and stay composed.”
Smith told The Sun that the key to success for the offense would be “staying ahead of the sticks.” The Red has converted 180 first downs this season, tied for first in the Ivy League with Harvard and good for No. 77 nationally in the NCAA.
The defense will also be put to the test this week against Dartmouth’s offense. Saunier is a dual threat on the field — able to scramble with the ball or throw it down field to wide receiver Grayson O’Bara, who has recorded 34 catches for 480 yards this season.
Capitalizing on turnovers — like the Penn fumble that led to touchdowns on four consecutive possessions in the third quarter — will be crucial to keeping Saunier’s offense in check. The defense has generated seven fumbles, with senior linebacker Ben Sahakian having forced three fumbles in the last two games to lead the team.
“We are looking to play complementary football as a team, the offense having the defense's back and the defense having the offensive backs,” Kurtz said. “We know it is going to be a full four quarter game and a grind, but we are looking to play a complete game on offense, defense and special teams.”
A win against Dartmouth would mark the first time in 31 years that the Red have accomplished a five-game win streak. The Red will take on the Big Green at 1 p.m. at Memorial Field with all the action available on ESPN+.
Zeinab Faraj is a member of the class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is the features editor on the 143rd Editorial Board and was the assistant sports editor of the 143rd Editorial Board. You can reach her at zfaraj@cornellsun.com.
