Things couldn't have gone much better for Yale in the first half.
Sophomore Alex Thomas provided the running attack with 69 yards on 14 carries and the Bulldogs had almost as many yards on its first drive (61) as they did in last year's loss to Harvard.
Yale scored on its first two drives, Alex Barnes booting a 26-yard field goal and Rodney Reynolds scoring from 3 yards out. The only turnover went to Yale as Adam Money recovered a Collier Winters fumble leading to Reynolds' first career varsity touchdown.
Captain Paul Rice is leading the way with seven tackles including a key stop, throwing Gino Gordon for a 5-yard loss on a screen pass on third down when Harvard drove into the red zone.
Senior safety, playing for the first time since breaking two bones in his right forearm against Lehigh, came up huge tipping a pass by Matt Simpson on a fake field goal in the second quarter.
Senior punter Tom Mante had a 69 yarder on his only punter and had a chance at an Ivy League record 63-yard field goal on the final play of the half. The kick was just short and also wide left but Mante was greeted by Yale coach Tom Williams who gave Mante a huge hug.
From a personnel standpoint, the biggest surprise may be the lack of playing time of the freshmen aside from special teams. Mordecai Cargill, Yale's leading rusher coming into the game, has not played and my prediction that Kurt Stottlemyer and Chris Dooley would see time on defense has not panned out. Instead, sophomore Jake Stoller has seen a ton of time on the defensive line and junior Chris Stanley has been the third corner.
Alex Thomas had his best game yet and looks like the back of the future. If the O-line continues to improve the future looks bright for the Bulldogs. I didn't agree with the fake punt but I do see progress. I know everyone raves about Cargill and his size and physical style but Thomas has the goods. Put him behind an experienced O-line and he will look like the back I saw at Ansonia High. He can carry the ball 30 times, shows great patience, and when the O-line does a better job blocking at the second level, will show that great burst he has. Keep working hard boys.
ReplyDeleteAlex Thomas had his best game yet and looks like the back of the future. If the O-line continues to improve the future looks bright for the Bulldogs. I didn't agree with the fake punt but I do see progress. I know everyone raves about Cargill and his size and physical style but Thomas has the goods. Put him behind an experienced O-line and he will look like the back I saw at Ansonia High. He can carry the ball 30 times, shows great patience, and when the O-line does a better job blocking at the second level, will show that great burst he has. Keep working hard boys.
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