Yale Football vs. Columbia
David Schamis
10
Yale YAL 4-3 , 1-3
13
Winner Columbia COL 5-2 , 3-1
Yale YAL
4-3 , 1-3
10
Final
13
Columbia COL
5-2 , 3-1
Winner
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
YAL Yale 0 7 3 0 10
COL Columbia 0 3 0 10 13

Game Recap: Football |

Bulldogs Come Up Short Against Columbia

NEW YORK, N.Y. -- In a tightly-contested defensive battle, the Yale football team came up just short against Columbia at Robert K. Kraft Field at Lawrence A. Wien Stadium on Friday evening. The Lions scored 10 fourth-quarter points to erase a deficit and upend the Bulldogs, 13-10.

Trailing 10-6 with 4:47 remaining in the fourth quarter, Columbia quarterback Cole Freeman delivered a 44-yard touchdown pass to Bryson Canty for the game-winner. 

Columbia improved to 5-2 overall with a 3-1 mark in the Ivy League, while the Bulldogs fell to 4-3 with a 1-3 conference record. 

Key Players
  • Freeman threw for 156 yards and one touchdown while completing 12-of-20 passes. Canty caught five passes for 107 yards and the fourth-quarter game-winning tally. 
  • Quarterback Grant Jordan was effective for the Bulldogs, completing 18-of-27 for 151 yards and a score. Nathan Denney hauled in his first touchdown of the season. 
Big Moments
  • On Columbia's opening drive, the Lions drove into the red zone. Yale defensive back Da'Quan Gonzales forced a fumble which was recovered by teammate Abu Kamara. The clutch defensive play shifted the momentum and kept the Lions off the scoreboard.
  • With time winding down in the first half, Jordan connected with Denney on an aerial strike for the first touchdown of the game.
  • Freeman hooked up with Canty across the middle, capping off a nine-play, 96-yard drive in the fourth quarter to regain the lead for good.
  • On fourth-and-17 with less than two minutes remaining in the game, Jordan attempted a desperation heave towards a Bulldogs' receiver. But the pass was intercepted by Hayden McDonald effectively ending any chance of a comeback for the Elis.
Bulldog Bytes
  • Jordan threw his 12th touchdown pass of the season.
  • Despite the loss, the Bulldogs defense held steady throughout the game, holding the Lions to their lowest point total of the season. The pass defense was particularly effective, only allowing 156 yards, nearly 75 yards less than its season average (225.6).
  • Tamatoa McDonough picked up his second sack of the season. Zairion Jackson-Bass also earned a sack. He now has 1.5 this season.
  • The two teams combined for their lowest point total against each other since 1996 when Columbia won by an identical score.
  • The Lions won their first match up against the Bulldogs since 2018. Yale leads the all-time series 76-23-2.
  • Yale kicker Nick Conforti was 1-for-2 on field goal attempts and made his lone extra point try.
Quoting Coach Reno
"Give Columbia credit - they made plays in the fourth quarter to gain the victory," said Tony Reno, Joel E. Smilow '54 Head Coach. "We had opportunities throughout the game to add to our lead and close out the game, but unfortunately did not make the plays we needed to get the result we wanted. We will respond from this setback and use it to improve as we prepare this week."

Up Next
Yale will return home for a match up against Brown on Saturday, Nov. 9. Kick-off is set for noon, live on ESPN+.
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