Fabish demonstrates all-around game

Senior WR/KR/PR madeSenior WR/KR/PR madespecial teams tackles, bigSenior WR/KR/PR madespecial teams tackles, bigblocks and caught key TD HANOVER, N.H. -- You've seen him catch passes. You've seen him run back punts for touchdowns. You may have also been witness to his blazing speed. But if Dartmouth proved anything about Quakers football, it's that Mark Fabish is one hell of a player -- and a well-rounded one at that. Sure, Fabish made receptions and returned punts and kickoffs, but those accomplishments were far overshadowed by key blocks, incredible punt and kickoff coverage and senior leadership. And on top of that, Fabish showed he was truly a team player, putting Penn's misfortune above his own success. At the post-game press conference, Fabish was nearly in tears as the gory details of the loss were dredged up by the journalists in attendance. Fabish started the game in three positions: wide receiver, punt/kick returner and taking care of downfield coverage on special teams. On the Quakers' opening drive, Fabish helped lift the hopes of fans dreaming that the Steve Teodecki-to-Fabish connection could adequately replace the Mark DeRosa-to-Miles Macik tandem by pulling in an 11-yard pass in traffic over the middle on third-and-seven. Three minutes later, Fabish proved that he had matured by calling (and making) a fair catch on a Dartmouth punt on a kick that in past years he might have tried to return. Overall, Fabish's offensive statistics were solid if not awe-inspiring: six receptions for 83 yards, including a touchdown, a punt return for 10 yards and a 24-yard kickoff return. But Fabish's three unassisted tackles (two of which were open-field take-downs) on punt and kickoff coverage may have come as a surprise to some of the Quakers faithful. Playing left on deep coverage in the second quarter, the 5-foot-10, 166-pound senior showed his prowess on defensive special teams. Red and Blue punter Jeff Salvino, punting from the Penn 43-yard line, launched a kick to the Dartmouth 20. Lloyd Lee ran it back, broke to the right side, scooted around the Quakers defenders and had beaten Salvino after. Fabish, who was seemingly out of the play after he was knocked to the Penn sideline at the Dartmouth 20, hustled his way 46 yards diagonally to the Dartmouth sideline at the Penn 34-yard line to make the tackle and save the touchdown. On another Big Green punt return, Fabish was the first one down the field and had one blocker to beat in order to get to the returnman. Fabish, streaking down the left side, was directed away from returner by the blocker. But Fabish caught a swatch of the returner's jersey from behind and, using all 166 pounds of force, dragged him down from behind. The box score may never reveal it, but Fabish also made a key block on a critical play. On Penn's second drive of the second half, with the score 18-13 in the Big Green's favor, the Quakers were faced with a third-and-five from their own 20. With turnovers and four-and-outs plaguing both offenses, the Quakers had an opportunity to shift the momentum in their favor. Teodecki dropped back into a pass pattern and, when no receiver freed himself up, was forced to scramble out of the right side of the pocket. With two Dartmouth defenders charging full-steam at Teodecki, Fabish threw his body in front of the two Big Green players, each of who roughly outweighted him by 100 pounds. His path cleared, Teodecki ran for 11 yards and a first down. Throw in what, save for a final-minute Dartmouth touchdown, would have been a game-winning touchdown reception and a slew of pep talks, and Fabish's day was anything but average. At 5-foot-10, 166 pounds, he may not have been the biggest player on the field, but his presence was the largest of any player on the gridiron.