The first half ended with Yale's Alex Barnes nailing a 47-yard field goal to answer Columbia's score to allow the Bulldogs to only be down three despite a mediocre first half.

Columbia struck first when Corey Coleman recovered a Mordecai Cargill fumble. Reaching into their playbook, the Lions used a flea flicker with Austin Knowlin taking the ball on a double reverse and pitching the ball to freshman quarterback Sean Brackett, the former Griswold High star who was the surprise starter. Although Yale wasn't fooled as Taylor Joseph was double covered, Brackett's pass avoided the outstretched arm of Yale's Drew Baldwin and fell into Joseph's hands in the right corner of the end zone.

Yale nearly answered back immediately as Adam Money broke free on the ensuing kickoff but rather than just attempting to outrun kicker Greg Guttas, he put a couple of moves on him and ran right into the kicker who had just missed the extra point. Money's 48-yard return gave Yale the ball in Columbia territory.

With Tom Mante having missed all three of his field goals last week, the Bulldogs turned to Barnes when the Bulldogs were faced with a 4th and 15 at the 31. Rich Scudellari got down a low snap and Barnes did the rest.