Just got word that coach Tony Reno will keep practices closed to media once again this week. Perhaps that means QBs Eric Williams and Derek Russell are still injured.
Another week of the wildcat?

As expected, Soph. RB Tyler Varga was named to the Ivy League honor roll.
Playing out of the wildcat, Varga rushed for 220 yards and three TDs on 25 carries in Saturday's 26-22 loss to Columbia. He also completed a pass for 18 yards.
 Also, Tuesday's weekly media luncheon has been canceled because of the storm. 

Here is a story about Yale's QB situation heading into today's game.
Both Eric Williams and Henry Furman taking snaps at QB in pregame warmups. Williams likely out and Furman should start. Also don't see Russell on the field.
Follow me on Twitter @Chris_Hunn for updates.

Perhaps I should have started this earlier but better late than never.  Here is the first installment of 4-down Friday, a look at four things to keep an eye on heading into Saturday's game...
1.  QB play: We won't know who will start under center for Yale until kickoff. If Eric Williams is somehow able to go, how effective can he really be? If it's Derek Russell, he is a dual threat. But will his limited arm strength limit the offense? And if Yale is forced to roll with WR-turned-QB Henry Furman, is he good enough to manage an offense after not having played the position is six months?
2. One-two punch: If Tony Reno continues to use both Mordecai Cargill and Tyler Varga in the backfield, that could cause quite a headache for Columbia. Varga rushed for 96 yards on 26 carries and Cargill added 43 yards on seven rushes.
3. Top target: Columbia QB Sean Brackett likes to go to his TE Hamilton Garner. Garner’s size (6-5, 234) makes him a tough matchup and he has 17 catches for 233 yards this season. Yale needs to limit his looks.
4. Slipping away: Columbia has been outscored 50-13 in the fourth quarter this season and the Lions let a lead slip away in the fourth for the second straight game last week. Columbia fell 21-16 to Dartmouth.

So your guess on who will start at QB Saturday against Columbia is as good as mine.

Freshmen Eric Williams and Logan Scott, along with senior Derek Russell were all injured in Saturday’s win against Penn.

Well coach Tony Reno said Williams and Russell will go through pregame warmups and see how they feel. Williams (shoulder) will be the starter if he’s able to play. Russell is next in line. Scott is the only one who is ruled out and will likely miss three games.

Junior Henry Furman, who was the third-string QB last season and moved to WR this year, has seen the majority of snaps in practice this week (which was closed to media). He will be under center if both Williams and Russell can’t go.

Also, freshman LB Blake Thomson will be a game-time decision. He was also injured in the win over Penn. 

The Bulldogs had both Mordecai Cargill and Tyler Varga on the field at running back together against Penn following a full week of practice for the first time since a season-opening win at Georgetown.

Cargill missed some time with injury and Varga missed the Dartmouth game as the NCAA investigated his transfer from Canada’s Western Ontario University.
Expect to see more of that going forward. 

Cargill, a senior, and Varga, a sophomore, are two of the most talented backs in the Ivy League. Varga ran for 96 yards on 26 carries and Cargill added 43 yards on seven carries against the Quakers.

"It’s a good part of our package," Reno said. "Those are two guys that can change the gam every time they touch the ball."

RENO’S THOUGHTS

Reno reflected on the Bulldogs first Ivy League win of the season. Here’s what he had to say...

"We finally put together 60 minutes of football. We’ve been putting together 45 and some good 30-minute pieces. Defense was able to get off the field on third down and in the red zone area. Those are two areas we’ve been inconsistent in. We moved the football. No matter who was in at quarterback, we were efficient. We didn’t turn the ball over and we were good in the red zone. When those things happen, you win football games and that’s what we did." 

With practice closed to media and Reno not saying much, it's hard to say who will start at QB against Columbia Saturday. Hopefully I will have some news following today's practice. Stay tuned...

Senior K Philippe Panico booted a career-long 43 yard FG and added a 42-yarder in Saturday's win against Penn. Check out this feature on Panico and why he wears No. 16. 

MULTI-SPORT ATHLETES

LB Beau Palin and Panico were on hand for Tuesday’s media luncheon at Mory’s.

Palin grew up in Oconomowoc, Wisc., where hockey was quite popular. Palin was an all-area defenseman and helped his team to a state title at the at University School of Milwaukee. At 6 foot 3 and 247 pounds, he must have had a pretty intimidating presence on the ice.

As for Panico, he is an avid golfer and boasts a +.01 handicap. He played on Yale’s golf team as a freshman. Panico was born in Brazil and moved to the United States at age 9. He continued to play soccer before switching over to football when he was 12 years old. He didn’t begin to kick until his sophomore year of high school.

"I switched over to football because my grandfather played and I thought it was a lot cooler of a sport," he said.

PALIN ENJOYING MOVE TO LB

Like many on the team, Palin shifted positions this season.

He has taking a liking, moving from tight end to linebacker. He’s doing pretty well, too. Palin has 26 tackles and leads the team with 3.5 sacks.

"I like defense a lot," Palin said. "It’s more reactionary. Sacking the quarterback is more fun than receiving a pass."

SPREADING THE BALL AROUND

Many have gotten in on the action in Yale’s passing game. A total of 14 players have caught a pass and six different Bulldogs have caught a touchdown.

Yale head coach Tony Reno said all three of his quarterbacks — freshmen Eric Williams and Logan Scott, along with senior Derek Russell — are day-to-day after being injured in Saturday’s win over Penn.

Yale also has junior Henry Furman if needed. He was recruited as a quarterback, but has been playing wide receiver for the Bulldogs this season.

Reno also said practices will be closed to all media this week.

THE LAST TIME...

Yale faced Columbia, Mordecai Cargill ran for a career-high 230 yards and two touchdowns in a 16-13 Yale at a slippery, snow-covered Wien Stadium last season.

With high winds and a heavy snowfall, both teams were unable to throw and combined for just 111 passing yards.

Expect much different conditions this time around when Yale travels to face Columbia Saturday. Temperatures are expected to reach the high 60s.

HARVARD FALLS TO PRINCETON

Princeton knocked off preseason Ivy League favorite and defending league champion Harvard 39-34 Saturday.

The loss snapped the Crimson’s nation-leading 14-game winning streak. It didn’t seem to be much of a surprise to Reno, who was part of Harvard’s coaching staff last year.

"I knew Princeton was going to be a tough team," he said. "That’s what makes this league so different, anyone could beat anyone. That’s what makes Ivy League football so great."

A SERIES OF FIRSTS

In last week’s win against Penn, Russell rushed for his first touchdown and Scott connected with Furman for a touchdown, first career touchdowns for both.

Senior K Philippe Panico earned Ivy League special teams player of the week after booting a career-long 43-yard field goal and addding a 42-yard field goal in Yale’s 27-13 win over Penn Saturday.

Freshman QB Logan Scott earned league rookie honors. Scott, who stepped in along with Derek Russell to replace injured QB Eric Williams, capped a critical 11-play, 59-play scoring drive late in first half. Scott capped the drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Henry Furman.

Also, put a call in to coach Tony Reno today to get an update on Williams’ injury. No response yet.

Expect Russell to be the starter Saturday. Yale will play at Columbia at 12:30 p.m. and will be televised on the YES network.

Backup QB Derek Russell leads Yale to a 27-13 win over Penn, snapping a four-game losing streak.

The Bulldogs look to snap their four-game losing streak against Penn today. They will have their hands full with Penn QB and former Cheshire star Billy Ragone. Also check out the prediction for today's game.

This 6-7, 310-pound OL is expected to visit Yale in January, according to the AJC.

Originally recruited as an H-Back, freshman Blake Thomson has shifted to LB and has done pretty well with the transition.

He’s no stranger to the position. Thomson played both TE and LB at Battle Ground Academy in Tenn.

“You can’t tell how naturally a guy is going to be instinctively,” coach Tony Reno said. “He was very natural. He understands schemes, he understands where he fits. He’s very athletic for a linebacker, he covers well. He gotten an opportunity and he’s performed.”

Thomson is one of many freshman who has gotten an early shot to contribute and has 13 tackles on the season.

What’s most intriguing about Thomson is his story off the field.