Here's your weekly half dozen observations between the Lehigh and Monmouth games.
1) The value of a talented, veteran quarterback was on full display Saturday, and never so much as on third down. Dartmouth was 9-of-14 on third down conversions and as you would expect, Grayson Saunier was a big reason why. His third down completions that brought a new set of downs:
• eight yards (on 3rd and 5)Saunier also ran for first downs on 3rd and 1, and for 10 yards on a must-have 4th and 10 at the end.
• 15 yards (3rd and 14)
• 19 yards (3rd and 9)
• 28 yards (3rd and 10)
• 30 yards (3rd and 11).
2) Owen Zalc hit 50- and 49-yard field goals against Lehigh and made both of his PATs. In a league that always features a lot of close games, he can be a differentiator for Dartmouth after struggling with his consistency a year ago. And as long as the subject is special teams, punter Luke Armistead once again didn't get much action, but his lone punt went for a healthy 48 yards.
3) It goes without saying that 29 rushes for 62 yards (a 2.1-yard average) isn't going to get it done in the ground game. To the Big Green's credit, and with help from Saunier's legs and awareness, the offensive line gave up just one sack. But five run plays were stopped behind the line, and a total of 14 went for two or fewer yards. Expect that to be a focus point ahead of Saturday's game against Monmouth.
4) In talking late in the week about freshmen making the trip, McCorkle suggested tailback Jacob Henry had a chance to help on special teams so it was a bit of a surprise to see him get five carries for nine yards in such a competitive game. Interestingly, Henry wasn't included on the pregame two-deep. Freshmen who did appear on the depth chart were wide receiver Kareem Fisher, nose tackle Roman Sosnovyy and linebacker Gavin King, who was credited with one assisted tackle. Fisher did not catch a pass but was targeted one time. A perhaps unprecedented total of eight freshmen were expected to make the trip. While the five-for-five eligibility rule probably played something of a role in that, the surprising number of first-year players on the travel roster certainly speaks to the quality of the recruiting class.
5) It's always easy to quibble with penalty calls, and there were certainly some to debate – such as a pass interference call on a third-and-15 that gave Lehigh a first down at the 2 and set up the Mountain Hawks' winning touchdown – but perhaps to the officials' credit, the teams were called for seven penalties apiece. That said, you can be sure the Dartmouth staff will make it clear this week that seven penalties is too many.
6) On the subject of run game, Lehigh tailback Luke Yoder showed he's the real thing with 27 carries for 150 yards. He would have had even more if not for having a 34-yard gain nullified by a holding call. While he had touchdown runs of one and two yards it was the first time this season he didn't finish with three TDs. Even with his big game, the Mountain Hawks were held to a season-low 218 yards on the ground, the first time under 300 since the opener, and well under the 366 they hung on then No. 16 William & Mary a week earlier.
And because this is the BGA Overtime version of a baker's half dozen ...
7) The coaches don't want to hear it. And the players don't want to hear it. But it's still the truth. Being disappointed by a last-second loss is much, much, much more preferable than being disappointed in a game you never had a chance to win. It hurts more in the moment, because of what might have been, but it holds the promise of good things to come. Losing badly is, for lack of a better expression, losing badly.