Ezekiel Larry
13
Winner Yale Yal 7-2 , 5-1
10
Princeton PRI 3-6 , 2-4
Winner
Yale Yal
7-2 , 5-1
13
Final
10
Princeton PRI
3-6 , 2-4
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
Yal Yale 0 10 0 3 13
PRI Princeton 3 0 0 7 10

Game Recap: Football | | Michael LaRocca

Yale Outlasts Princeton On The Road 13-10

PRINCETON, N.J. – In one of the most important matchups of the 2025 Ivy League football season, Yale defeated Princeton 13-10 in a defensive battle Saturday afternoon at Princeton Stadium. With the win, the Bulldogs improved to 7-2 overall and 5-1 in Ivy League play, while the Tigers fell to 3-6 and 2-4 in the conference.

Harvard's 45-43 victory over Penn ensures that Yale will play for a share of the Ivy League championship next week. A win over the Crimson would clinch the Bulldogs the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship.

Notable Performances

  • Phoenix Grant turned in another standout effort on defense, recording 13 total tackles.

  • Josh Pitsenberger led the Yale rushing attack with 24 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown.

  • Mack Johnson delivered a crucial third-quarter forced fumble that helped Yale maintain its lead.

Turning Point
After Princeton tied the game with 8:46 remaining in the fourth quarter, Yale responded with a methodical 12-play, 55-yard drive that drained 4:56 off the clock. The possession ended with a 37-yard field goal from Noah Piper, putting the Bulldogs back in front, 13-10.

On the ensuing Princeton drive, Joshua Tarver sealed the victory with an interception.

Game Notes

  • This win marks the 950th in Yale football history, the most of any Division I FCS program.
  • Yale has won five straight games for the first time since closing the 2019 season with six consecutive victories.
  • Pitsenberger now has 1,095 rushing yards this season, becoming the first Bulldog to surpass 1,000 yards since Zane Dudek (1,133) in 2017.
  • Pitsenberger's second-quarter touchdown was the 34th of his career, tying John Pagliaro for the second-most by a Yale running back. He has recorded seven 100-yard rushing performances this season.
  • Nico Brown posted his fifth 100-yard receiving game of the year, finishing with 102 yards.
  • Ezekiel Larry tallied 1.5 sacks, giving him 9.5 on the season—the most by a Bulldog since Clay Patterson had 11.5 in 2021.
  • Tarver now leads the team with three interceptions in 2025.
  • Cooper Austin recorded his first career sack.
  • Reese Keeney punted four times for an average of 45 yards, his second-best mark of the season.
  • Piper connected on both of his 37-yard field-goal attempts, including the game-winner in the fourth quarter.

Quotables
"Today was a gritty, hard-fought win, and I'm incredibly proud of how our guys responded and executed when it mattered most. Credit to Princeton - they're a very tough team and pushed us in every phase," said Tony Reno, Joel E. Smilow '54 Head Coach. "All week long, and really all season, our players have stayed committed to being the best versions of themselves for each other. That commitment showed in the way they battled, stayed composed, and trusted one another in critical moments. We saw leadership at every position and a collective belief that never wavered. This was a team win in every sense of the word, and I'm proud of the resilience and toughness they displayed today."

"As things unfolded, we knew it was going to come down to the last possession," said Head Coach of Defense Sean McGowan. "We needed to make a few more plays at the end, and obviously it was good to see that we're able to do that and secure that last possession."

Around the Ivy League

  • Harvard 45, Penn 43

  • Brown 32, Columbia 29

  • Dartmouth 24, Cornell 14

Looking Ahead
Yale concludes the 2025 regular season with the 141st edition of The Game, hosting Harvard at the Yale Bowl on Saturday, Nov. 22, at noon on ESPNU. 
 

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