NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Team 150 will take a bunch of positive momentum into the five-week stretch drive of Ivy League play. Two more touchdowns from Mason Tipton and a stout effort from the defense, particularly in the red zone, propelled the Bulldogs to a dominant 31-3 victory over Sacred Heart on a rainy afternoon at Yale Bowl, Class of 1954 Field.
 
It was the final non-conference game for Yale, which has won three straight to improve to 3-2 overall.
 
TURNING POINTS
 
The Bulldogs had a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter, but a high snap on a punt gave the Pioneers a first-and-goal on Yale's 7-yard line. Three plays later, Hamilton Moore forced a fumble that Inumidun Ayo-Durojaiye recovered at the two. The Bulldogs then marched 98 yards on seven plays, capped by a 15-yard Tipton touchdown run that made it 14-0.
 
Ryan Lindley's 7-yard touchdown reception right before the half increased the lead to 21-0. The Pioneers, though, scored the only three points of the third quarter and were driving deep in Yale territory early in the fourth when Joseph Vaughn intercepted a Rob McCoy pass and returned it 85 yards to Sacred Heart's 6-yard line. Three plays later, Nolan Grooms connected with Mason Shipp on a 3-yard touchdown pass and Yale was comfortably in front 28-3. Jack Bosman capped the scoring with a 42-yard field goal later in the fourth.
 
QUOTING RENO
 
"I'm really proud of the team. We've put together three good weeks of practice. It starts there, and it's starting to show on the field on Saturdays," said Tony Reno, The Joel E. Smilow '54 Head Coach of the Bulldogs. "We did a really nice job capitalizing at the end of the first half. We didn't quite have the success we wanted to start the third quarter, but we were resilient and had some big plays to close the game out. I have a lot of respect for Sacred Heart. They've been a playoff team and I'm impressed with Coach Nofri and how they run their program."
 
"Our defense played well, especially in the red area. We are playing our best when it's needed the most."
 
QUOTING GROOMS
 
"It's been all about establishing an identity and what works for this team," Grooms said. "I think we have a good idea now so I'm excited to get ready for the Ivy League gauntlet."
 
NOTES
 
• Vaughn's 85-yard interception return was the second longest in school history and was the longest that didn't result in a touchdown. Bob Blanchard had a 99-yard return for a score in 1960 vs. Colgate.
 
• Shipp's touchdown reception was the first of his career.
 
• Tipton has caught a touchdown pass in all five games this season and has six receiving TDs. The rushing touchdown was the first of his career.
 
• Grooms threw three more touchdown passes and now has 12 on the season.
 
• Clay Patterson made a team-high nine tackles, including a sack. The Bulldogs finished with three sacks on the afternoon.
 
• Wande Owens made eight tackles, including two for a loss. He also had a pass break up.
 
• The game was played in a steady rain, which has been far too common in the Bowl this season. "From Sunday to Friday, it's been gorgeous," Reno said. "We are outside year-round so it doesn't really bother us. You'll never hear anything from a Yale Football player complaining about weather."
 
WHAT'S NEXT
 
From here, it's all Ivy games for the Bulldogs, who split their first two league contests. First up is Penn next Saturday at the Bowl in another noon kickoff. The Quakers edged Columbia 20-17 and are also 1-1 in Ivy play.