Readers,

My wife and I recently had a baby, so I will be out indefinitely.

I know, bad timing. My apologies.

There will be occasional updates here at Portal 31 heading into the 131st edition of The Game this week.

- Chris Hunn

Yale looks to keep hope alive for a shot at an Ivy League title. The Bulldogs host Princeton on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

What's your prediction for Saturday's game? Comment below...

NEW HAVEN >> The Yale Bowl, rich in history and tradition and on the national historic landmark registry, is celebrating its 100th birthday this year.

But despite a $30-million restoration project just nine years ago, its age is clearly showing, especially on the interior. Paint is chipping. Cement is spalling and the wooden seats are splintered.

Click here for the rest of the story.

Some additional news and notes...

SCOUTING PRINCETON

Princeton was the preseason pick to win the Ivy and finished with a share of the league title last year. The Tigers have losses to San Diego, Colgate and Harvard this season.

Princeton runs a fast-paced offense and uses two quarterback in Quinn Epperly, the reigning Bushnell Cup recipient, along with Connor Michelsen. The Tigers also have two very good running backs in DiAndre Atwater and Will Powers.

Defensively, the will use different blitz packages and bring a ton of pressure. Yale will need to find holes.

Princeton crushed Yale last season, 59-23.

SENIOR DAY

Yale will honor its seniors as part of senior day on Saturday. Will Vaughan, a linebacker, is one of them. He was at Tuesday’s media luncheon. Vaughan has been working his way back into the linebacker rotation after missing four games with an injury. He had five tackles in last week’s win.

“It’s been a long run,” he said. “Four years here, I’ve seen it all and done it all. It’s unfortnaute I missed four games this season. But I feel comfortable mentally and physically. It’s going to be a proud moment for me and my family.”

FILL-THE-BOWL DAY

Info below...

WHO: Yale Athletics and the CT Food Bank teaming up to fight hunger this holiday season

WHAT: “Fill The Bowl” Promotion

WHERE: Drop off locations: Fill The Bowl Tent (E-Field)/WPLR Tent (Anthony Thompson Field by Lot D)

WHEN: 9:30am to 12:30pm

HOW: Bring a frozen turkey or $15 of non-perishable goods to the Princeton game and receive to general admission tickets to the game for your donation

TUESDAY'S PRACTICE

TE Sebastian Little was back on the practice field Tuesday. Reno is still unsure if he will be able to go Saturday, but it was a good sign he was on the field. Also a few NFL and CFL scouts (Indianapolis, Kansas City, Toronto and others) were at Tuesday's practice.

ARMY BEATS UCONN

Yale beat Army 49-43 in overtime earlier this year. Army beat UConn 35-21 last week.

Does this mean Yale is better than UConn and perhaps the best college team in the state?

PRANK FAILED

Harvard tried to prank Yale recently. It didn’t work. Read about what happened.

MINI HANDSOME DANS ON SALE

From Yale athletics…

Miniature bronze Handsome Dans will be on sale during the Yale-Princeton football game in the Webster Bank Yale Bowl 100th Anniversary Tent. The models are detailed reproductions of the original Handsome Dan (1889-1898), which resides in Payne Whitney Gym. A larger version of the statue stands guard outside the Yale Bowl. Only 100 of these miniatures were created, and they will be sold for $50 each.

THIS WEEK’S IVY LEAGUE SCHEDULE

Saturday, November 15
*Brown at Dartmouth, Noon [NBC RSN]
*Cornell at Columbia, 12:30 pm [FCS]
*Princeton at Yale, 12:30 pm [ILDN]
*Harvard at Penn, 1 pm [ILDN]

The Bulldogs are receiving votes in the most recent FCS coaches poll. See below...

RANK	SCHOOL	RECORD	POINTS	PREVIOUS
1	Coastal Carolina (20)	10-0	639	2
2	New Hampshire (4)	8-1	622	3
3	Jacksonville State (2)	8-1	588	4
4	North Dakota State	9-1	582	1
5	Eastern Washington	9-2	555	5
6	Villanova	8-2	514	7
7	Illinois State	8-1	456	12
8	Fordham	9-1	443	9
9	Chattanooga	7-3	442	11
10	Southeastern Louisiana	7-3	394	14
11	McNeese State	6-3	365	6
12	UNI	6-4	330	20
13	Montana State	7-3	316	16
14	Richmond	7-3	297	8
15	Montana	6-4	268	10
16	Youngstown State	7-3	263	13
17	Harvard	8-0	258	17
18	Bethune-Cookman	8-2	202	18
19	South Dakota State	6-4	195	22
20	Eastern Kentucky	8-2	178	15
21	Bryant	8-1	132	21
22	Southern Illinois	6-4	84	24
23	William & Mary	6-4	65	25
24	Stephen F. Austin	7-3	48	NR
25	Indiana State	6-4	46	19

Dropped out: No. 23 Cal Poly.

Others receiving votes: Northern Arizona 43, Idaho State 26, Liberty 20, Cal Poly 20, Alcorn State 17, James Madison 14, North Carolina A&T 8, Charleston Southern 6, Sacred Heart 5, Yale 3, Sam Houston State 2, South Carolina State 2, Bucknell 2.

Some news and notes from Tuesday’s media luncheon…

REFLECTING ON BROWN WIN

Yale came from behind last week to edge Brown 45-42.

The Bulldogs trailed by as many as 13 early on. Tyler Varga rushed for 204 yards and two touchdowns to lead Yale.

“It was a good Ivy League football game,” Tony Reno said. “We were down a few times, but they showed the character of this football team and resiliency they have.”

ON BEING PART OF YALE’S RICH HISTORY

“When I was hired, the most important thing was to build on that tradition and legacy,” Reno said. “I wanted out football family to understand that and help build on it.”

The players and coaches all walk around with a coin that reads, “Team 142” on it. Reno says it’s a reminder for what they are a part of with Yale football.

“Being a southern kid, I didn’t know too much about Yale’s history and legacy before I came here,” quarterback Morgan Roberts said. “The more you learn and hear alumni talk about it, it’s just amazing. Heisman winners, national championships, it’s unbelievable.”

FCS LEADERS

Yale leads the nation in total offense (589 ypg). Roberts tops the FCS in completion percentage (69 percent) and Tyler Varga leads in points per game (15 ppg).

KEEPING HIM FRESH

Varga rushed a season-high 35 times in last week’s win.

But Varga should be fresh for Yale’s final two games. He didn’t play much against Cornell, Columbia and Penn, and only carried the ball an average of 22 times per game.

WELCOME BACK

Yale will be celebrating its All-Yale Bowl team this weekend. The school will be honoring 67 former Yale players that were selected. Over 40 will be at the Bowl for the ceremony and will have a chance to talk to the Yale team before Saturday’s game against Princeton.

“It’s a testament to the Yale football family,” Reno said. “The guys’ names in Jensen Plaza, the history, tradition and bond with guys today is different than any school in country. Having those guys come back and spend time with players is everything.”

CROWLE TO REDSHIRT?

Freshman DT Nick Crowle played in just three games this season before going down with an injury. He has yet to return.

He still has a chance to come back this season and has not elected to redshirt yet.

When: Saturday, 12:30 p.m. at Yale Bowl 

Record: 3-3 (4-1 Ivy)

All-time series: Yale leads 74-52-10

Last week: Quinn Epperly scored two touchdowns in the first half and Nolan Bieck kicked three field goals in the Tigers 22-17 win over Penn. 

Penn pulled to within 19-17 early in the third. Bieck's third field goal extended Princeton's lead with 10:15 left. The Quakers reached the Princeton 22-yard line late in the fourth, but turned it over on downs.   

Top players: QB Quinn Epperly (150.8 passing ypg, 4 TDs, 34.0 rushing ypg, 9 TDs); QB Connor Michelsen (153.0 passing ypg, 7 TDs); RB DiAndre Waters (76.2 ypg, 1 TD); WR Connor Kelley (72.6 ypg, 4 TDs); Dorian Williams (65 tackles, 1 INT, 1 FF); Rohan Hylton (60 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks); Mike Zeuli (59 tackles, 12 TFL, 4.5 sacks).

John Barton rushed for two touchdowns in Yale's 21-19 loss to Brown on Sunday.

The Yale junior varsity team fell to 0-2.

Barton capped a 56-yard drive with an 11-yard touchdowns to give Yale an early 7-0 lead. Barton also scored on a 14-yard touchdown in the second quarter.

Anthony Morales hit tight end Spencer McManes (recruited as a QB) for a 62-yard touchdown in the fourth. The Bulldogs failed on a two-point conversion attempt, which would have tied the game.

Yale fumbled and Brown recovered on its final drive. D'Amani Grayer had an interception for the Bulldogs.

Yale's junior varsity team will finish its season on Nov. 21 at Harvard.

CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Dartmouth junior quarterback Dalyn Williams (Corinth, Texas) broke the school record for total yards in a game and accounted for five touchdowns in the Big Green's 42-7 victory at Cornell. Williams threw for 381 yards with four touchdown tosses of 24, 32, 30 and 60 yards. His 70.6 completion rate (24-of-34) was the highest of his career, while the 381 yards -- sixth all-time at Dartmouth -- were seven shy of his top total from four weeks ago. In addition, he carried the ball six times for 62 yards on the ground, including a nine-yard scoring scamper that gave the Big Green the lead for good early in the second quarter. Williams’ 443 total yards topped the Dartmouth record of 440 yards set by Brian Mann against Harvard 12 years ago.

Yale senior tailback Tyler Varga (Kitchener, Ontario, Canada) knifed through the Brown defense for a series-best 204 yards on a season-high 35 carries and two touchdowns in the Bulldogs' 45-42 win on the road. Varga muscled his way across the goal line for one of his two scores, plowing a pair of defenders backwards into the end zone. He scored the game-clinching score with just over six minutes remaining on a 23-yard run on a 4th-and-1 play. Then he rushed on every play of Yale’s final drive, going for 33 yards and two first downs to run out the final3:30 of the game. Varga is the 10th running back in school history to gain 1,000 yards in a season.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Harvard senior linebacker Connor Sheehan (Austin, Texas) tied a school record with two interception returns for a touchdown in the Crimson's 45-0 victory over Columbia. Sheehan finished with 97 return yards (49, 48), with his pick-sixes coming in the first and third quarters. He also recorded four tackles, including a tackle for a loss. Sheehan’s two interception returns for touchdowns in a single game was a first for Harvard since 2000, tied the school’s single-season record with Dante Balestracci and tied the school’s career record with Balestracci and Steven Williams.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Princeton junior placekicker Nolan Bieck (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) provided critical points in the Tigers' 22-17 win, going 3-for-3 on field goals and connecting on his one PAT attempt. Bieck opened and closed the scoring on the day with two first-quarter field goals of 46 and 22 yards and added a 20-yarder in the fourth quarter that gave Princeton the five-point advantage. His 46-yarder established a career high and was the longest by a Tiger in more than a decade.

ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Harvard freshman running back Semar Smith (Coral Springs, Fla.) ran the ball 11 times for 114 yards and a touchdown in the Crimson's win over Columbia. Smith’s score came on the first drive of the third quarter when he accounted for 37 of Harvard’s 75 yards, capped off by a three-yard scoring run. He averaged 10.4 yards per carry and had a long run of 29 yards.

HONOR ROLL
Jason Alessi, Yale (Fr., DB - Bloomfield Hills, Mich.)
12 tkls. (12 solo)

DiAndre Atwater, Princeton (Jr., RB - Duluth, Ga.)
17 car. for 98 yds., 36 rec. yds.

Ty Desire, Princeton (So., DL - Uniondale, N.Y.)
5 tkls. (2 solo), 2.0 TFL, 2.0 Sacks

Chris Fraser, Cornell (So., P - Potomac, Md.)   
43.5 yds./punt, 3 in20

Marcus Fuller, Brown (Sr., QB - Ashland, Ohio)   
27-39-1, 393 yds., 2 TDs

Luke Hagy, Cornell (Jr., RB - Pittsburgh)   
18 car. for 110 yds., 1 TD, 28 rec. yds.

Ryan McDonald, Brown (Jr., LB - Falmouth, Maine)   
7 tkls. (3 solo), 53-yd. FR for TD

Alek Torgersen, Penn (Fr., QB - Huntington Beach, Calif.)
40-61-2, 349 yds., 2 TDs

Justin Watson, Penn (Fr., WR - Bridgeville, Pa.)
6 rec. for 76 yds., 1 TD

Sawyer Whalen, Dartmouth (So., DL - Woodinville, Wash.)
6 tkls. (4 solo), 1.0 TFL, 1.0 Sack

Dorian Williams, Princeton (So., DB - Streetsboro, Ohio)
13 tkls. (10 solo), 1 INT, 1 FR, 3 BrUps

Victor Williams, Dartmouth (Sr., WR - Muskogee, Okla.)
7 rec. for 101 yds., 1 TD

The Bulldogs look to keep their Ivy League title hopes alive when they take on Brown today at 12:30 p.m. Follow below for live updates...

Yale QB Morgan Roberts could be No. 1 on the Bulldogs all-time list by season's end...

Season Passing Yards     Year       Att.        Com       Int          Pct          Yds         TD

Alvin Cowan                       2003       381         227         7             .596        2994       22

Jeff Mroz                            2005       364         216         14           .593        2484       22

Patrick Witt                         2011       321        199         14           .620        2368       17

Morgan Roberts                  2014      255        175         5             .686        2262       17

Patrick Witt                         2010       351         212         12           .604        2216       12

Joe Walland                        1999       181         302         4             .599        2207       17

Peter Lee                            2000       192         310         9             .619        2179       19

Alvin Cowan                        2004       181         325         10           .557        2140       16

Kelly Ryan                          1987       170         282         5             .603        2110       16

Steve Mills                         1993       132         237         15           .557        1894       11

Joe Walland                        1998       179         318         5             .563        1858       12

Kelly Ryan                          1986       138         286         16           .483        1739       3

Here are four things to look for when Yale travels to face Brown on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

UNDER CENTER FOR BROWN: Expect the Bears to use a combination of Seth Rosenbauer and Marcus Fuller at quarterback. Rosenbauer is dangerous out of the wildcat, as he proved that last week with 206 yards on 30 carries against Penn. Meanwhile, the versatile is effective on the ground and through the air.

MUST WIN: Yale’s offense struggled last week, especially in the end zone. The Bulldogs will look to set the tone early. Yale needs this game. A loss here and the Bulldogs will likely finish in the middle of the pack of the Ivy once again. A win, and Yale continues its run at its first Ivy League title since 2006.

ROBERTS TO WALLACE: Sure Deon Randall is Yale’s all-time receptions leader and is having a fantastic senior campaign, but Grant Wallace is really breaking out. He has 23 receptions for 306 yards over his last two games, and eclipsed the 100-yard mark in his last three. QB Morgan Roberts and Wallace are in a groove right now.

ON THE ROAD: Interesting stat: the road team has won 13 of the last 18 meetings. That bodes well for Yale.

Yale travels to face Brown on Saturday at 12:30 p.m. List your prediction for the game below...

Yale will be honoring its All-Yale Bowl team on Nov. 15 when the Bulldogs host Princeton at 12:30 p.m.

The “Legends of the Bowl” event will honor 67 former Yale players who were selected to one of the Bowl’s five all-era teams during this season. The group includes 47 All-Americans, 18 NFL players, nine Super Bowl appearances, six NFL Championship rings and an NFL head coach.

Over 40 will be in attendance on Nov. 15 and will be honored at halftime of the game.  Many of the players will be available to meet fans in the Webster Bank/Yale Bowl 100 Tent outside of Portal 20 before the game.

100^TH ANNIVERSARY ALL-YALE BOWL TEAM (By Era)

1914-37

Black, Clinton ’17s, G

Booth, Albie ’32s, HB

Caldwell, Bruce ’28, HB

Frank, Clint ’38, HB

Gates, Artemus ’18, T

Kelley, Larry ’37, E

Mallory, Bill ’28, FB

Milstead, Century ’26, T

Pond, Ducky ’25, HB

1938-58

Barzilauskas, Fritz ’47m, G 

Coker, Gene ’58, FB

Jackson, Levi ’50, FB

Kroll, Alex ’59, C

Lopata, Paul ’57e, E

Loucks, Dean ’57, S

McGill, Denny ’57e, HB

Walker, Paul ’46e, E

Winterbauer, Dick ’58, QB

1958-77

Balme, Ben ’61, G

Blanchard, Bob ’61, FB

Carfora, Steve ’78, G

Dowling, Brian ’69, QB

Fencik, Gary ’76, WR

Gallagher, Jim ’71, DE

Gee, Kyle ’69, OT

Green, Rudy ’75, HB

Hill, Calvin ’69, RB

Jauron, Dick ’73, RB

Mercein, Chuck ’65, FB

Pagliaro, John ’78, RB

Pyle, Mike ’61, C

Singleton, Tom ’61, QB

Staffieri, Vic ’77, OG

Weinstein, Bruce ’69, TE

Will, Hardy ’61, C

Wolfe, Ken ’61, HB

1978-97

Athanasia, Dean ’88, TE

Crowley, Bill ’79, LB

Czinger, Kevin ’81, MG

Diana, Rich ’82, RB

Grieve, Curt ’82, WR

Hetherington, Chris ’96, QB

Hill, Ken ’80, RB

Leone, Fred ’82, DE

Reese, Jon ’90, LB

Rogan, John ’82, QB

Rohrer, Jeff ’82, LB

Rudolph, Jeff ’89, OG

Ryan, Kelly ’88, QB

Skoronski, Bob ’79, DT

Spagnola, John ’79, TE

Streit, Clint ’79, DE

Tumpane, Tim ’80, LB

1997-Present

Abare, Bobby ’09, LB

Carr, Robert ’05, TB

Cowan, Alvin ’05, QB

Hennessey, Rory ’05, OT

Hollander, Brandt ’08, NT

Johnson, Eric ’01, WR

Lawrie, Nate ’04, TE

McCarthy, Ed ’07, OT

McLeod, Mike ’09, RB

Merrill, Than ’01, DB

Murawczyk, Mike ’01, K

Plumb, Ralph ’05, WR

Tomich, Todd ’01, DB

Walland, Joe ’00, QB