New faces and a new opponent mark the season opener for the Dartmouth College football program.

The Big Green will host Butler (1-1) in the first-ever meeting between the schools Saturday at 7 p.m. under the lights at Memorial Field in Hanover. Butler is a member of the Pioneer Football League.

Dartmouth finished last season on a hot streak, with wins in four of the final five outings to finish in a four-way tie for second place in the Ivy League.

Some key players from that team have graduated, however, including a pair of All-Americans in running back Nick Schwieger (the school’s all-time leader in rushing yards with 3,150) and kick returner and cornerback Shawn Abuhoff. Quarterback Conner Kempe is also gone.

Head coach Buddy Teevens will have some new names to inject into the lineup, including sophomore transfer Alex Park (formerly of the University of New Hampshire), who will see time at quarterback along with freshman Dalyn Williams.

At the tailback position, junior Dominick Pierre will take over the lead role.

The receiving corps will be among the deepest units on the field for the Big Green. Senior Michael Reilly (1,063 career yards) returns to action after sitting out last season to focus on academics. The top two receiving threats from last season are back in sophomores Kirby Schoenthaler and Bo Patterson (though Patterson is out for the start of the season).

The Dartmouth defense will be anchored by captains Bronson Green, a junior linebacker, and Garrett Waggoner, a senior safety. Green is looking to pick up where he led off last year after leading the team in tackles last season with 82. Waggoner, meanwhile, is looking to fare better from a health standpoint after missing all but two games to injury last season.

The defensive line is loaded with experienced seniors, including ends Mick Davis and John Golio and tackles Elliot Kastner and Teddy Reed.

On special teams, sophomore Riley Lyons will kick and punt after being limited to kickoff duties last season.

The Big Green were picked to finish sixth in the Ivy League preseason poll. Defending champion Harvard was pegged to finish first. Dartmouth’s Ivy League opener is Saturday, Sept. 29, at home against Pennsylvania.

Information from the Dartmouth College athletics website was used in this report.