Date & Time: Saturday, September 25, 2021 – Noon ET
Location: New Haven, Conn.
Stadium: Yale Bowl (60,000)
Tickets: Buy Now
Series: Yale leads, 50-30-2
Last Meeting: Yale 26, Cornell 17 – 9/28/19
Video: ESPN+, Ron Vaccaro (play-by-play), Jack Siedlecki (color)
Live Stats: Click here
Two Deeps: Yale  - Cornell
Game Notes
GAMEDAY PROGRAM


NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Bulldogs kick off Ivy League play this Saturday at the Yale Bowl as they welcome Cornell to New Haven for the first conference matchup in nearly two years. Both Yale (0-1) and Cornell (0-1) will be looking to avenge season-opening losses and start Ivy play off on the right foot.

The Series

Saturday's matchup is the 83rd all-time meeting between the Bulldogs and Big Red. Yale leads the series 50-30-2. The Elis were victorious in the 2019 meeting at the Yale Bowl, 26-17. The Bulldogs have won three-straight against Cornell, six of the past seven and eight of the last 10 meetings. The Elis have not lost at home versus the Big Red since 2009 which came on a missed extra point to tie the game with no time left.

Bulldog Breakdown

Yale got a strong test in its first game in nearly two years which came against the two-time defending Patriot League Champions, Holy Cross. While the Bulldogs had an extreme layoff from competition, the Crusaders had played six games in six months thanks to Spring ball.

The two teams battled to a scoreless first quarter before Yale exploded for two touchdowns in just over two minutes at the start of the second. Holy Cross was able to get on the board with a field goal and scored with just 28 seconds left in the half to make it a four-point game.

The Crusaders took the lead after a touchdown with less than five minutes left in the third but Yale was able to tie up at the start of the fourth with a 47-yard field goal from Jack Bosman. The defenses showed strong for the final 14 minutes of the game but it was Holy Cross that was able to match Bosman's 47 yarder with only 48 seconds remaining which iced the game.

Taking over the reins from all-time leading Yale passer Kurt Rawlings, junior quarterback Griffin O'Connor threw for two scores and 234 yards through the air. Sophomore QB Nolan Grooms was also active going 3-of-3 for 18 yards and 25 yards on the ground. Senior running back Zane Dudek led the Bulldogs with 69 yards, rushing for nearly five yards per clip.

Senior tight end JJ Howland made a triumphant return to the gridiron after an injury in 2019's season opener cost him the rest of the year. He posted a game-high 102 receiving yards and hauled in a spectacular 74-yard touchdown pass from O'Connor. Sophomore Mason Tipton was second on the team with 52 yards while senior Jaylan Sandifer led the team with four catches. Eight different Bulldogs caught passes.

On defense, senior captain John Dean led the way with a team-high 11 tackles and added 1.5 tackles for loss. Junior defensive end Oso Ifesinachukwu was disruptive up from with seven tackles, two for loss and a sack while junior safety Miles Oldacre was second on the team with eight tackles and added a forced fumble and a pass breakup.

Scouting Cornell

Cornell also opened the season with a home loss as the Big Red were topped by the Virginia Military Academy (VMI). Cornell tied the game up at 14-all with 20 seconds left in the first half but VMI kicked a 41 yarder with no time left to keep the lead at the break; an advantage they would never relinquish in the 31-21 final.

Cornell quarterback Richie Kenney slung it 47 times against VMI, connecting on 18 passes for 273 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Wideout Thomas Glover was his top target with a game high seven catches and 159 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown reception for the Big Red's first score of 2021.

Cornell totaled 80 yards on the ground over 27 carries. SK Howard, Deven Brewer and Delonte Harrell each gained at least 22 yards but none went over 35. Howard picked up the lone rushing score.

The Big Red played swarm defense with seven players with at least five tackles and five with six or more. Hybrid Logan Thut led the way with six solo tackles and seven total stops while Kenan Clarke registered a sack, two tackles for loss, two pass breakups and five tackles. Eric Diggs posted four stops and picked off a pass.