In a game that displayed the football team's burgeoning maturity, Brown came away with a 27-20 overtime victory against Fordham University on Saturday, the first overtime win in Brown football history.
"It's a great character builder," said Head Coach Phil Estes of the win. "It's satisfying to struggle and win a game and finish it like we finished it."
Thanks to a heavy dose of tailback Nick Hartigan '06 and timely passing by quarterback Joe DiGiacomo '07, Brown earned a tough road win for the second week in a row following last week's triumph at the University of Rhode Island.
Brown grabbed the momentum early, as linebacker Anjel Gutierrez '05 picked off a Derric Daniels pass and returned it to Fordham's 16-yard line. Three plays later, Hartigan plunged into the end zone from two yards out, giving Brown an early 7-0 edge.
Despite the early touchdown, Hartigan and the rest of the Brown offense were held in check for the rest of the half by a physical Fordham defense. On the other side of the ball, the Rams scored 10 unanswered points that carried them into halftime with a 10-7 lead.
Not to be quieted for the rest of the day, Brown's offense made a conscious effort to step up its play to begin the second half.
"Any time you play a defense as talented across the board as Fordham, you're going to have to make some adjustments," said offensive lineman Will Burroughs '05. "We knew they were a strong defense and an athletic defense that got to the ball. We just had to keep going after them, stay physical and protect Joe and Nick."
Aided by a 55-yard kickoff return by Carson Brennan '06 to the Fordham 27, the offense marched inside the Rams' 10 on its opening drive of the second half, but had to settle for a 21-yard field goal by Steve Morgan '08 to knot the score at 10.
But all the momentum generated by Brown early in the half seemed to disappear as Raymond Loney returned the ensuing kickoff 97 yards to give Fordham the lead right back.
Instead of wilting, though, Brown bounced back.
"We had to go out and make a statement," Estes said about responding to the kickoff return. "Sometimes teams will let down, but we didn't."
On its second drive following Loney's touchdown, the offense needed just two plays to tie the game again. Brennan added to what became a career day, catching a 54-yard pass from DiGiacomo and taking it to the Rams' 15-yard line. On the next play Hartigan scampered into the end zone for his second touchdown on the day.
For the next 15 minutes of play, neither team could surge ahead until Morgan booted a career-long 45-yard field goal into the wind with six minutes remaining in the game. Fordham had an opportunity to score the game-winning touchdown with the ball at the Brown two-yard line and a minute remaining. But following several penalties and stops in the backfield, the Rams had to settle for a game-tying field goal that sent the game into overtime.
"Our defense provided a great momentum shift," Burroughs said of the stop that forced overtime. "Our defense played amazing all day. Their giving us an opportunity to go into overtime was really big."
Fordham deferred the opening possession of overtime to Brown. After being pushed around all day by the Fordham defense, the offense wasted no time in scoring, getting a touchdown on just three plays. After DiGiacomo hit Brennan for a 20-yard gain to the Rams' five, Hartigan did the rest and scored two plays later.
On Fordham's possession, the defense remained tough and forced a fourth-and-seven. Dropping back to pass, Daniels was sacked by Gutierrez, ending the game and setting off a raucous Brown celebration.
"It was a huge relief and such jubilation in the middle of the field," Estes said.
For the second week in a row, things did not come easily on offense. DiGiacomo threw three interceptions and was sacked three times, while Hartigan was contained in the first 30 minutes, recording 77 of his 125 rushing yards and two of his three touchdowns in the second half and overtime.
"They were a very good football team," Estes said of Fordham. "They were very physical up front and athletic at corner."
Despite few highlights on the season leading up to the game, Brennan's three-catch, 98-yard performance came as no surprise to Estes.
"If they're taking things away you've got to step up," Estes said. "When they were keying in on Hartigan, (Brennan) just stepped up and made big plays."
Overall, the game was an illustration of an offense that is currently a work-in-progress after two great games to open the season.
"We have to find the right combination of receivers," Estes said. "We need both guys who can stretch the defense and guys who catch the ball. We need to make more plays, too."
For the second week in a row, the defense took the pressure off the offense, making big plays all day and eventually sealing the deal in overtime. Gutierrez in particular stood out, recording five tackles (3.5 for a loss), an interception and the game-clinching sack.
"Anjel was unbelievable," Estes said. "They ran at him and he made big plays. He took on blocks and made plays behind the line. That last play he was making sure (Daniels) didn't get that ball off."
Brown now resumes Ivy League play, as players look to avenge last year's 34-13 loss to Princeton University when they travel to Tiger territory on Saturday. In particular, the offense wants to recapture the magic that led to 70 points and nearly 1,000 yards of total offense in the first two games of this year.
"Princeton has a different defensive set than what we're used to seeing," Burroughs said. "We have to come in this week and learn the different sets and then just play our game. We've just got to go out there, play as a team and play hard."
