By Samuel Chozick
NEFJ Staff
DARTMOUTH – On Friday night, the Dartmouth Indians looked to defend their home turf and an undefeated record, in a week four matchup versus the Old Rochester Regional Bulldogs.
Dartmouth had only surrendered seven points through three games to start the year, but on this night, the Bulldogs took a chunk out of them and the Indians fell 28-22.
The Bulldogs advanced to 3-1 with the win while Dartmouth dropped to the same record.
A nine-minute, game-winning drive for Rochester embodied their offensive game plan throughout the contest – according to Old Rochester Regional head coach Bryce Guilbeault – and ended with a two-yard touchdown run by ORR quarterback Gavin Martin.
“They’re an incredible team, they have some great athletes out there, and we had to slow the game down,” said Guilbeault. “We got to put together 10-minute, eight-minute drives… convert [third down] and go for it on fourth down if we had to”
The Bulldogs were able to consistently stay ahead of the chains on early downs and continued to break the back of the Dartmouth defense, converting crucial third-down situations. In turn, the Bulldogs dominated time of possession; and the first half.
Rochester’s overwhelming rushing attack prevailed to begin the third quarter, when Martin broke away, untouched, for a 50 yard touchdown scamper, extending the Bulldog’s lead to 22-6.
“It’s not just all my legs,” said Martin. “I have all those blockers in front of me, I trust those guys to lead the way.”
First-half touchdowns from the Bulldogs’s Jack Leconte and Hunter Horsey aided Rochester’s early, commanding, lead.
A couple of explosive plays and efficient drives from Dartmouth’s offense saw the game tied at 22-22, rather quickly. Dartmouth receivers Ethan Davis and Jayden Nunes-Medeiros, and running back Raymond Gramlich found the end zone for the Indians.
“We weren’t satisfied being up two scores,” said Martin. “We didn’t expect them to roll over.”
As Dartmouth met Martin’s expectations, the Bulldogs had one last chance to put the undefeated Indians away on the final drive of the game.
“We told each other one play at a time,” said Martin. We’re going to drive down the field and score this touchdown.”
Martin saw his words come to fruition when he took yet another read option into the end zone, with just five seconds remaining, for a true game-winning touchdown.
“It wasn’t an upset,” said Guilbeault. “That’s a great football team, but, you know, we think we’re a great football team too.”
The Bulldogs hit the road again next Friday for a 6:00 p.m. tilt with Medfield. Meanwhile, Dartmouth will look to get back in the will column when they travel to play the Apponequet Regional Lakers on Friday.
