HANOVER — There was minimal tackling, nobody was keeping track of the score, and the game ended after just three quarters.
But in head coach Buddy Teevens’ mind, the Dartmouth College football spring game was still just that — a game.
“Some of the guys, this is the first game they’ve been in and played an appreciable amount of time, so it was a learning process,” Teevens said. “That’s why we do the game format. This is not practice; this is a game.”
Teevens’ no-tackling-in-practice philosophy has been in place for several years, but in a game situation, several players found it hard to stop themselves. The officials blew the play dead any time a defender broke free in the backfield and got close to the quarterback, crediting the defensive player with a sack.
Five quarterbacks took the field for the Big Green, with presumptive starter Nick Howard leading four drives. Howard was primarily used as a runner last season with the now-departed Derek Kyler handling the passing, but the rising senior from Green Bay, Wis., expects he will be called upon to throw more this year.
Howard was named co-captain in a brief halftime ceremony, along with defensive lineman Shane Cokes and safety Quinten Arello. He will be one of only two quarterbacks from Football Championship Subdivision schools to attend the prestigious Manning Passing Academy — where Teevens is co-director — this summer, where he will play with 2021 Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young of Alabama and C.J. Stroud of Ohio State, among others.
“I’ve always believed I’m a very capable quarterback in both facets on the game,” Howard said. “I’m just trying to take what Derek has taught me, both directly and indirectly, and trying to apply it to this year’s team.”
Rising junior Dylan Cadwallader and rising senior Gavin Muir follow Howard on the depth chart, with Cadwallader behind center for three drives and Muir for two. Muir was on the field for the game’s only touchdown drive, although the offense did most of its damage on the ground during that series. Rising junior running back Joey Richmond brought his unit to the doorstep with a 34-yard burst, then rising junior Jace Henry took it in on fourth and goal.
Devon Lingle, a rising junior, and Jackson Proctor, who will be a sophomore in the fall, also saw action at quarterback.
Richmond is behind Zack Bair — who was in street clothes Saturday — and Noah Roper in the running backs’ room, but he showcased Dartmouth’s depth at that position along with rising sophomores Q Jones and Christian Benson.
At wide receiver, rising sophomore Jackson Gerard had the best showing and was named most improved at his position during spring ball. Another rising sophomore, Painter Richards-Baker, could also see an increased role.
Defensively, rising senior Charles Looes recorded a pair of sacks, including one that ended an unsuccessful two-minute drill as the first half came to a close. Rising junior Tyron Herring, rising sophomore Zach Farris and rising junior Tyson McCloud all missed potential interceptions but played well in the secondary.
“I was a little worried coming in, because I didn’t have a set boundary corner on my side, but (Herring) is turning it up,” Arello said. “We have a really good DB room compared to last year.”
Teevens hosted an open kicking tryout at Memorial Field on Friday as he searches for Connor Davis’ replacement. Rising senior Zach Drescher may have the inside track, especially with Cameron Baller injured at the moment. Drescher made both of his field-goal attempts, from 27 and 36 yards, respectively. But Teevens said nine individuals showed up to the open tryout, including athletes from Dartmouth’s men’s soccer, baseball, skiing and women’s rugby teams.
The Big Green’s formal spring season is now over, and they will reconvene for preseason practice in August. The schedule begins on Sept. 17 when Dartmouth hosts Valparaiso.
“It was a productive day for us,” Teevens said. “We came out safe and healthy. Generally what we try to do is have a game format and get the number of snaps we need.
“The big thing, especially the first two quarters, was we had some good drives, longer drives, pushing the ball down. We want the young guys to get snaps, and we had enough snaps (for them to be) good to go.”
Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the year in which Nick Howard will attend the Manning Passing Academy. Howard will attend in the summer of 2022.
Benjamin Rosenberg can be reached at brosenberg@vnews.com or 603-727-3302.