Category: Game Week

The 2-4 Columbia Lions travel to New Haven this weekend to face the Bulldogs at the Bowl. Kickoff is slated for noon and the game will air on ESPN+.

Columbia’s two wins were both over non-conference opponents as the Lions knocked off the Georgetown Hoyas in Week 2 by a score of 30-0 and then defeated the Marist Red Foxes 16-0 in Week 4. The Lions dropped two very close games against Princeton and Penn and missed several opportunities to narrow the contest last week at Dartmouth.

Senior QB Joe Green (6’4”, 230 lbs.) returned from an injury last week and had a solid showing versus Dartmouth completing 25 passes for 239 yards and an interception. The Lion’s other option at QB, senior Caden Bell (6’0”, 205 lbs.), struggled through five games completing just 41.3% of his passes with a single touchdown thrown. Columbia utilizes three talented running backs that all average 4.4 yards per carry or more. Senior RB Joey Giorgi (5’10”, 205 lbs.) leads the Lions in rushing with 86 carries for 389 yards and a touchdown but did not play in Columbia’s last contest. Junior RB Malcom Terry II (5’9”, 205 lbs.) rushed for 62 yards last week at Dartmouth and is averaging 4.4 yards per carry. Rounding out the running back trio is senior Ty’son Edwards (5’11”, 210 lbs.) who leads the team in both yards per carry and rushing touchdowns. The offensive line averages 301.0 lbs. across the board and returns two starters from 2022. The line has paved the way for 3.4 yards per carry on the season and given up 12 sacks to opponents. Columbia has two very skilled receivers in senior JJ Jenkins (6’2”, 200 lbs.) and junior Bryson Canty (6’2”, 200 lbs.). Jenkins leads the team in receptions and receiving yards posting 19 catches for 310 yards and a touchdown. Canty was a 1^st Team All-Ivy WR a year ago and is averaging 11.6 yards per catch. Senior TE James Miller (6’4”, 245 lbs.) is adept at run blocking and pass catching. The Lions have had a run-heavy offense but that could all change in this contest based on their study of the Yale vs. Penn film.

Columbia’s defense is one of the toughest in the Ivy League and leads the nation in both red zone defense and scoring defense. The defense has limited opponents to just 103.8 rushing yards per game and 170.7 passing yards per game through 6 contests. Senior LB Anthony Roussos (5’11”, 230 lbs.) has been dominant this season with 57 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble. Junior DE Justin Townsend (6’1”, 255 lbs.) is one of the top defensive linemen in the Ancient Eight and has racked up 15 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and an interception. Junior DB Hayden McDonald (5’9”, 180 lbs.) has been a key to Columbia’s defensive success this season with 42 tackles, 3 pass breakups and a fumble recovery. Junior S Aaron Brebnor (6’1”, 195 lbs.) has seen action since his freshman season and is tied for the team lead in interceptions with 2. Opponents have scored just 6 touchdowns on 19 drives inside the red zone and have converted on 3^rd down just 35.1% of the time. The Yale offense needs to find its footing in the contest to control the clock and exploit mismatches on the outside.

Freshman K Hugo Merry (6’2”, 215 lbs.) has made 4 of 9 field goals with a long of 42 yards on the season. Senior P William Hughes (6’0”, 175 lbs.) has done a tremendous job punting with an average of 44.2 yards per punt with 9 punts over 50 yards. Senior Carter McFadden (5’11”, 180 lbs.) could be the best returner we’ve faced so far this season and has averaged 14.3 yards per punt return and 25.8 yards per kickoff return.

Go Bulldogs! Beat the Lions!

The 4-1 Penn Quakers travel to New Haven to square off against the Bulldogs at the Bowl this Saturday. Kickoff is slated for noon and the game will air on ESPN+. 

Penn soundly defeated Colgate and Bucknell in Weeks 1 and 2 before falling to Dartmouth in overtime in Week 3. The Quakers found themselves in another overtime contest versus Georgetown in Week 4 but prevailed victorious and kept that momentum alive squeaking by Columbia last week. Penn has comparable talent to Dartmouth across the board and may be the most physical team on the schedule this year. 

Junior QB Aidan Sayin (6’2”, 200 lbs.) has shown solid improvement from his sophomore campaign and picked apart the secondaries of Dartmouth and Columbia. Sayin has completed 67.4% of his passes for 1,417 yards, 9 TDs and 4 interceptions. Football runs deep in the Sayin family as Aidan’s younger brother is a 5-star QB recruit who has committed to Alabama. Freshman Malachi Hosley (5’10”, 185 lbs.) and senior Jonathan Mulatu (6’0, 205 lbs.) have shared the bulk of the carries for the Quakers thus far and each average over 4.2 yards per carry. Penn has a very talented receiving corps comprised of large targets with 3 leading receivers all over 6’2”. Sophomore WR Jared Richardson (6’2”, 215 lbs.) leads the Quakers in receptions, receiving yards and receiving TDs hauling in 28 receptions for 310 yards and 3 TDs. Averaging 9.9 yards per catch, sophomore WR Alex Haight (6’2”, 200 lbs.) is another threat to keep on eye on. Senior TE Bryce Myers (6’2”, 230 lbs.) has the speed and hands of a wideout that makes it difficult for smaller defensive backs to contain him. The offensive line is one of the better units across the Ivy League led by multi-year starters Jake Ligos (6’3”, 305 lbs.) and Alex Purcell (6’5”, 305 lbs.). Penn has a balanced attack that will really test all areas of our defense this week. Getting pressure on Sayin and limiting big play opportunities will be crucial.

The hallmark of a Priore team is a tough, physical defense and this year is no exception. At all three levels of Penn’s defense they feature All-Ivy caliber athletes. Senior LB Jack Fairman (6’1”, 230 lbs.) leads the Quakers in tackles with 28 and was an Honorable Mention All-Ivy player in 2022. Senior DB Kendren Smith (6’0”, 205 lbs.) is the most heralded player on the team coming off a 1st Team All-Ivy season in 2022 and has broken up 5 passes on the season. Senior DB Shiloh Means (5’11”, 200 lbs.) has terrorized opposing QBs racking up 3 interceptions. Penn’s defensive line dominated Yale a year ago and returns the powerful senior Joey Slackman (6’4”, 300 lbs.) who has an astounding 7.5 tackles for loss through 5 games. Banged up or not, our offensive line will need to find ways to win battles at the line of scrimmage and our offensive coaches will need to keep Penn’s aggressive defense guessing.

Junior P/K Albert Jang (6’2”, 200 lbs.) has been exceptional in the punting and kicking games. Jang has averaged 38.5 yards per punt with a long of 52 yards and also nailed a 51-yard field goal. Penn is fortunate to have two talented kickers as senior Graham Gottlieb (5’,10”, 165 lbs.) has connected on 7 of 9 attempts with a long of 42 yards. 

Go Bulldogs! Beat the Quakers!

The 1-5 Sacred Heart Pioneers will travel from nearby Fairfield to New Haven this Saturday for a showdown at the Bowl. Kickoff is slated for noon and the game will air on ESPN+.

Sacred Heart began its season with three straight losses to Lafayette, Georgetown, and Wagner. In Week 4, the Pioneers earned their first win of the season over Saint Francis University on the road. Over the last two weeks, Sacred Heart dropped close contests versus Merrimack and LIU.

Senior QBs Rob McCoy (6’1”, 190 lbs.) and Cade Pribula (6’1”, 205 lbs.) have both played in 5 contests this season combining for a 50.3% completion rate for 746 yards, 4 touchdowns, and 9 interceptions. The passing game has not lived up to expectations for the Pioneers producing just 124.3 passing yards per game. Sacred Heart features two talented running backs in seniors Malik Grant (5’9”, 200 lbs.) and Jalen Madison (5’9”, 195 lbs.). Grant was a 2^nd Team All-NEC selection a year ago and the top running back that we have faced since Week 1 versus Holy Cross. The offensive line averages 294.0 lbs. across the board and does not feature any returning starters from 2022. The offensive line is a slight notch below what we faced last week at Dartmouth paving the way for 3.9 yards per carry and allowing 12 sacks thus far. Senior TE Phil Pasmeg (6’2”, 230 lbs.) is primarily a blocker with just 1 reception for 6 yards on the season. The Pioneers have depth at receiver, but the passing problems have limited their effectiveness. Sophomore WR Aboraa Kwarteng (6’2”, 190 lbs.) leads the team in receptions and receiving yards with 18 catches for 176 yards. The Bulldogs will need to shut down the rushing attack and force the Pioneers to be one dimensional to control the contest.

Senior LB DeAndre Byrd (6’1”, 210 lbs.) is the leader of Sacred Heart’s defensive unit. Byrd has posted 48 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble over 6 games and is a 2-time captain for the Pioneers. Senior LB Ernest Howard (6’1”, 210 lbs.) was a 2^nd Team All-NEC selection in 2022 and is second on the team in tackles with 31. The secondary for the Pioneers has played well limiting opponents to just 88.5 passing yards per game with a completion rate of 48.2%. Sacred Heart currently ranks #1 in the nation for pass defense. Senior CB Arsheen Jiles (5’9”, 180 lbs.) could be the most talented of the bunch as a 2^nd Team All-NEC performer a year ago. Senior DB Marques Mason (5’9”, 180 lbs.) has made plays all over the field for Sacred Heart with 30 tackles and an interception on the season. The Pioneers have a stout defensive front led by seniors Nick Foglia (6’0”, 300 lbs.), Carson Primrose (6’2”, 280 lbs.), and Tyreke Brown (6’1”, 250 lbs.). Foglia has been the most productive defensive linemen with 30 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks. Primrose and Brown are both team captains that have combined for 8 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. The theme for the Bulldogs this week is again establishing the running game that has been underwhelming at best. The coaches will need to rethink the ground attack as it’s evident that the plays that worked so well for us a year ago are now doomed without a dominating center. Yale does not want to be dependent on long passes late in the contest against a top pass defense.

Senior K Sam Renzi (6’0”, 180 lbs.) is 7 of 11 on field goal attempts this season with a long of 44 yards. Senior P Andrew Ryczek (6’3”, 210 lbs.) averages 37.8 yards per punt and has pinned opponents inside the redzone on 9 punts this season.

Go Bulldogs! Beat the Pioneers!

Yale travels to Hanover, NH to take on the Dartmouth Big Green on Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 1:30 PM and the game will air on ESPN+.  

Dartmouth enters the contest with a record of 2-1 (1-0 Ivy) following an overtime win over Penn last weekend in Philadelphia. New Hampshire prevailed over Dartmouth in the Big Green’s opening game 24-7, but Dartmouth trounced Lehigh the following week 34-17. Dartmouth is 2-0 since Teevens’ death on the 19^th and will be fired up for the first Ivy home game in Hanover since his passing.

Dartmouth utilizes two senior quarterbacks, Nick Howard (6’2″, 225 lbs.) and Dylan Cadwallader (6’2″, 190 lbs.), to lead its offensive attack. Howard is a bruising runner that can gain yardage up the middle or surprise a defense with his arm occasionally. Howard averages 4.2 yards per carry and has completed 46.7% of his passes for 94 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. Cadwallader is the primary passer and has played well completing 66.0% of his passes for 308 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. Junior RB Q Jones (5’11”, 195 lbs.) is 2^nd on the team in rushing yards behind Howard and is averaging 4.3 yards per carry. Sophomore RB DJ Crowther (5’11”, 205 lbs.) is another talented back for the Big Green who had some nice runs over the last two weeks. Dartmouth’s offensive line averages 288.0 lbs. across the board and is an experienced unit with 4 returning starters from a year ago, although only 3 of those returning starters appeared against Penn a week ago. The Big Green have been exceptional at pass blocking only allowing a single sack on the season and did not allow a sack last week versus Penn. Senior WR Paxton Scott (6’1″, 200 lbs.) is one of the top wideouts in the Ivy League and leads Dartmouth in reception yards with 165. Senior TE Jace Henry (6’4″, 270 lbs.) is massive for his position and earned Honorable Mention All-Ivy a year ago. Dartmouth has a varied attack with runs up the middle with Howard, jet sweeps, throws to the tailback and deep shots. Given the possibility of rain on Saturday, this seems to be a matchup that will depend on controlling the line of scrimmage and staying disciplined in the secondary to avoid the big plays.

Dartmouth’s defense is led by senior LB Macklin Ayers (6’3″, 235 lbs.) who has racked up 21 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, and 1 sack. Junior OLB Braden Mullen (6’3″, 240 lbs.) leads the Big Green in sacks with 3.5 and tries to put punishing hits on opposing quarterbacks. Dartmouth’s defensive line performed very well against Penn limiting the Quakers to just 11 yards on the afternoon. Penn’s offensive line struggled to contain Dartmouth’s pass rush allowing 3 sacks. New Hampshire has been the only opponent that could really create rushing lanes against Dartmouth so far this season. Junior DT Josiah Green (6’0”, 265 lbs.) is stout at the point of attack and an excellent pass rusher. Senior DL Hank Knez (6’4”, 290 lbs.) has been the most productive defensive linemen with 12 tackles and half a tackle for a loss through 3 games. Yale matches up well against Dartmouth’s secondary, although this advantage could be neutralized by the weather. Senior S Quinten Arello (6’1”, 210 lbs.) was a 2^nd Team All-Ivy performer a year ago and fellow senior S Leonard St. Gourdin (6’3”, 205 lbs.) leads the team in pass breakups with 3. Yale will need to find a way to get the ground game moving against a stiff front seven. The Big Green have a fast-flowing defense that is great against screens and short outside throws, so capitalizing on medium to long passing plays when possible will be paramount.

Freshman K Owen Zalc (5’10”, 160 lbs.) is 5 of 7 on field goal attempts and nailed the game winner over Penn a week ago in OT. Junior P Davis Golick (6’1”, 210 lbs.) is averaging 37.1 yards per punt with a season long of 49 yards. Dartmouth blocked a punt against Penn, so our punt protection team could face their toughest task of the season.

Go Bulldogs! Beat the Big Green!

The Morgan State Bears travel to the Bowl on Saturday for a showdown versus the Bulldogs. Kickoff is slated for noon and the game will air on ESPN+. Weather could play a factor once again with a 45% chance of precipitation at noon with winds of 13 mph.

Morgan State is a public historically black university located in Baltimore, MD. The Bears enter the contest with a record of 1-3 as they have battled through a brutal early season schedule. In Week 1, Morgan State defeated a solid Richmond squad and nearly knocked off an FBS opponent in the University of Akron in Week 2. Towson has been the only squad that distanced itself from Morgan State defeating the Bears by 10 points in Week 3. Last week, Morgan State lost in double overtime to the University of Albany, another talented squad that crushed Fordham and kept contests versus Marshall and Hawaii close. 

Sophomore QB Dominique Anthony (6’1″, 213 lbs.) has seen the most snaps for the Bears’ offense completing 47.6% of his passes for 276 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. Senior QB Carson Baker (6’3″, 205 lbs.) was a prior starter at San Diego State and started 7 contests last season for Morgan State yet did not start the past two contests. Junior QB Duce Taylor (6’1″, 180 lbs.) started in the Towson game but was sidelined in favor of Anthony last week. All three QBs have struggled as they have combined for under a 50% completion rate and have thrown 6 interceptions to only 4 touchdowns this season. Junior RB JJ Davis (5’9″, 172 lbs.) is an explosive back who began his career at Cincinnati before transferring to Norfolk State and Morgan State. At Norfolk State, Davis was a 1^st Team All-MEAC selection and led the nation in yards per carry with 7.2. Senior RB Jabriel Johnson (5’9″, 205 lbs.) offers a bit more power than Davis and is the only running back to score a rushing touchdown in four contests. Morgan State’s favorite target has been senior WR Treveyon Scott (6’2″, 195 lbs.) who is averaging an astounding 13.3 yards per reception. The offensive line for the Bears is not as experienced as the lines we faced from Holy Cross and Cornell returning two starters from a year ago in senior Dexter Carr Jr. (6’3″, 315 lbs.) and junior Treyvon Branch (6’3″, 290 lbs.). The Bears average 293.0 lbs. across the front and paved the way for just 2.3 yards per carry while allowing 10 sacks. Sophomore TE Matt Lowe (6’5″, 255 lbs.) is a large target with an FCS pedigree transferring from Fresno State after the 2020 season. The Bears will pose challenges for the Bulldogs this week particularly with their talented skill positions, but Yale will need to find solutions for their defensive woes before heading into the do-or-die Ivy schedule.

Morgan State’s defense has performed very well limiting all opponents to under 24 points per game. Opponents have struggled on 3^rd downs converting on just 33.9% of attempts and the Bears are stingy in the redzone as teams have scored touchdowns on only 5 of 11 drives inside of the 20-yard line. Running the ball versus the Bears could be a challenge as they have limited rushers to 2.7 yards per carry. Morgan State’s pass defense has allowed completions on 63.1% of throws for an average of 6.1 yards per attempt. Junior LB Erick Hunter (6’4″, 210 lbs.) has been the most productive defender with 35 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. Hunter’s fellow LB, senior Lawrence Richardson (6’1″, 215 lbs.), led the team in tackles a year ago and was named 1^st Team All-MEAC in various preseason publications. Senior S Jordan Toles (6’1″, 209 lbs.) played at LSU for the first two years of his collegiate career and is a ballhawk that Grooms will have to take notice of as he has racked up 3 interceptions on the season. Senior CB Jae’Veyon Morton (5’9″, 180 lbs.) is a polished defensive back who garnered 1^st Team All-MEAC recognition a year ago, originally transferring from Iowa State. Junior DL Elijah Williams (6’3″, 270 lbs.) is the leader of the defensive line and has performed well with 17 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, and 2 sacks in four contests. Former Wilber Cross athlete and New Haven local, senior OLB/DE Noah Washington (6’5″, 275 lbs.), transferred from Central Connecticut and has posted 13 tackles, 3 fumble recoveries and a pass breakup. Overall, Morgan State’s defensive line and linebackers are on par with the units we faced last week versus Cornell, however, they do feature more talent in the secondary than the Big Red.

Freshman P Shane Messenger (6’0″, 200 lbs.) has averaged below 40.0 yards per punt for 3 weeks straight including a poor 27.6 yards per punt average a week ago. Junior Beckett Leary (6’3″, 215 lbs.) is 3 for 4 on field goal attempts with a long of 38 yards.

Go Bulldogs! Beat the Bears!

The Big Red travel to New Haven to take on the Bulldogs at the Bowl on Saturday. Kickoff is slated for noon and the game will air on ESPN+. Weather forecasts are predicting rain with 16 mph winds which will certainly play a role in this contest. 

Cornell defeated Lehigh in the season opener last week by a score of 23-20. The Big Red posted 401 yards of total offense or 5.6 yards per play and dominated the time of possession holding the ball for over 38 minutes. 

Junior QB Jameson Wang (6’1”, 205 lbs.) was an honorable mention All-Ivy player a year ago and was very productive in his first outing of the season completing 20 of 32 passes for 297 yards and 2 TDs. Wang is a true dual-threat quarterback who led the Big Red in rushing yards with 85 yards or 5.0 yards per carry against Lehigh.   Cornell utilizes a committee of running backs such as senior RB Drew Powell (6’0”, 219 lbs.) but the stable of five backs only produced an additional 19 yards on top of Wang’s production. The wide receiver position is deep with the explosive sophomore Davon Kiser (5’7”, 153 lbs.) who was a 2nd Team All-Ivy returner a year ago and senior Nicholas Laboy (6’1”, 195 lbs.) who caught a 36-yard TD reception on the Bulldogs a year ago. The offensive line is a cohesive unit comprised entirely of returning starters. The line is very large averaging well over 300 lbs. across the board led by senior T Micah Sahakian (6’6”, 328 lbs.), a captain and honorable mention All-Ivy athlete. Senior TE Matt Robert (6’4”, 241 lbs.) is a dangerous receiving threat who racked up 468 receiving yards a year ago. The Bulldogs played very well defensively against Cornell in 2022 after a rough outing against Holy Cross, so hopefully a repeat is in store. The defensive line will need to step up to generate consistent pressure on Wang who has improved noticeably. Safety coverage and tackling will be as important as ever in this contest. 

Cornell’s defense is led by 3-time All-Ivy LB Jake Stebbins (6’0”, 231 lbs.) who has been the cornerstone of the defense for years. The linebacker position is very deep from inside to outside. Senior LB Holt Fletcher (6’4”, 257 lbs.) intercepted Lehigh twice last week and has started since 2021. Senior LB Connor Henderson (6’2”, 232 lbs.) was another honorable mention All-Ivy player in 2022. The Bulldogs match up well against Cornell’s defensive line with the Big Red returning one starter in senior Connor Morgan (6’3”, 279 lbs.). Beyond Stebbins, senior CB Paul Lewis III (6’2”, 212 lbs.) could be the next most talented defender with the size and speed to lock onto receivers. The three other starting defensive backs are all seasoned veterans who didn’t make many mistakes against Lehigh. It’s a very stingy and aggressive defense that will try to pressure grooms with a variety of blitzes. Yale will need to focus on consistency for four quarters and open the playbook to secure a win.

The Big Red had a tremendous day on special teams last week. Senior K/P Jackson Kennedy was 3 for 4 on field goal attempts and averaged 47.7 yards per punt. Davin Kiser demonstrated his elusiveness with 55 yards on 3 punt returns. Cornell blocked a PAT to cap off a solid performance.

Go Bulldogs! Beat the Big Red!