EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – Playing against UConn for the first time in 22 years, the Yale football team put forth a second-half comeback against the in-state and FBS foe, scoring the last 15 points of the game. The rally came up short however as the Bulldogs' Hail Mary attempt on a final un-timed down could not convert. The Huskies led 21-0 midway through the third quarter but were able to hold off Yale's rally, 21-15.
 
It was a strong defensive battle with a scoreless tie through the initial 24 minutes before UConn capitalized on Yale turnovers and broken coverages to take a 14-0 lead at halftime. The Huskies scored again at the start of the third quarter, but Yale stormed back with a field goal and two touchdowns while holding UConn scoreless over the final 26 minutes.
 
"I am very proud of how our team responded in the second half," said head football coach Tony Reno. "I told our team we had an opportunity to go out, reset and compete. That's what we did, and these are things we can build off of heading into the final five Ivy League games of the season."
 
Playing their first FBS opponent in seven years, the Bulldogs offense struggled out of the gate, but sophomore quarterback Nolan Grooms came on after halftime to spark the rally. He finished the game with 132 passing yards, a touchdown and 67 yards rushing.
 
Sophomore kicker Jack Bosman got the scoring started for Yale at 8:40 in the third quarter on a 45-yard field goal. Senior running back Zane Dudek then capped a nine-play, 65-yard drive with a three-yard rush TD to make it 21-9.
 
Yale made it a one-score game when Grooms went deep to sophomore Chase Nenad who hauled in the 60-yard pass for the touchdown. Through five career games, Nenad now has three catches for three touchdowns and 100 yards.
 
Grooms converted a clutch 4^th-and-11 on the final drive to senior wideout Melvin Rouse II before an illegal substitution penalty on UConn gave the Bulldogs a final shot from the Huskies' 30-yard line with no time left on the clock. UConn was able to stand however, picking off the contested ball in the endzone.
 
The Bulldogs also got a big special teams play from junior tackle Tate Goodyear who blocked a field goal attempt in the second quarter which ultimately kept Yale within striking distance.
 
Yale's defense forced 12 punts in the game in addition to 24-plus minute scoreless streaks to start and end the game. Senior linebackers John Dean and Micah Awodiran each had nine tackles with Dean adding a pass breakup and Awodiran totaling 2.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
 
Sophomore lineman Clay Patterson added 1.5 sacks to his season total as he is now up to 7.5 through five games this season.
 
Now done with a three-game road trip, the Bulldogs return home to the Yale Bowl and Ivy League play next Saturday, October 23, with a noon kickoff against Penn.