Volume LXVVIII, No. 3
September 30, 2017
YALE FOOTBALL NEWS Published by the Yale Football Association
Bulldogs Roll - Beat Fordham 41 - 10
Publication authored by Chip Malafronte
There was little concern Yale would be able to score points on Saturday night at Coffey Field in the Bronx. Fordham had allowed at least 45 points in its three losses, with a formidable challenge in the Bulldogs’ multi-faceted offense. The real interest was whether Yale’s defense could withstand Fordham’s own offensive weapons, which included two-time All-American tailback Chase Edmonds, heralded freshman Zach Davis and a veteran quarterback in Kevin Anderson. As it turned out, there was little reason for trepidation. Yale dominated both sides of the ball, racking up yardage and points at will while limiting Fordham to a field goal and a garbage time touchdown in a convincing 41-10 victory. “We gave up a touchdown late with our second string in and I think the defense put in a great effort all day, put great pressure on Fordham,” said Joel E. Smilow ’54 Head Coach of Football Tony Reno. “We did a much better job covering space and covering routes, their receivers had very good speed. I think our kids did a good job of staying with routes and making plays with the ball.” The Bulldogs (3-0) have avenged losses from last season three times in three games. Fordham (1-4) was 25-2 in its last 27 games at home, last losing to No. 2 Villanova in 2015. On Saturday, Yale eased off the gas pedal on offense after taking a 41-3 lead early in the second half, and did what few teams have accomplished defensively against the Rams – hold Edmonds, on the verge of becoming the Patriot League’s career rushing leader, to under 100 yards. Edmonds, who went for 121 yards in Fordham’s win over Yale last season, had missed the previous two games with an injury. Andrew Breiner, Fordham’s coach, kept mum about Edmonds leading into Saturday to keep Yale guessing, though Davis, an all-state high
Fordham, an FCS power under former coach Joe Moorhead, now the offensive coordinator at Penn State, is struggling badly on defense. Yale led 21-0 after one quarter. By the time the Bulldogs tacked on two touchdowns on their first two possessions of the second half, it was 41-3 and time to call off the dogs. “The mentality of this team is just to come in and take it over and this week the focus was doing it from the start,” Rawlings said. “We were a little slow against Cornell and we knew we had a lot of stuff to work on. There’s still going to be a lot of stuff to work on but I think we did a better job coming out from the first play and taking it to them right away. Now I’m just hoping to keep all of us healthy and all come back next week.”
school back in Connecticut who led the country with 359 yards rushing per-game last fall, was a potent understudy. “Edmonds played, he’s a heck of a football player, really made us work on some plays,” said Joel E. Smilow ’54 Head Coach of Football Tony Reno. “For the most part, we did a good job as the game wore on, tackling him. He had some really good plays. He’s one heck of a back.” Yale’s defense notched four more sacks, raising the season total to 15 in three games, which is one less than it managed in 10 games last season. Edmonds (16 carries, 82 yards) and Davis (8-50, one touchdown) were taken away as primary options. As the Bulldogs piled on the points, Fordham became more reliant on the passing game, which never got started. “Everything was just moving on all cylinders,” said Yale defensive back and captain Spencer Rymiszewski. “When the offense is playing like they are, I think the energy just flows throughout the entire team. We were just able to capitalize on defense on third downs which was huge for us to just get off the field and get our offense the ball and have them keep rolling. So, it was a great day.” Yale’s offensive line continued to lay waste whatever the opposition throws on its defensive front, paving the way for another big day for Yale running backs DeShawn Salter and Zane Dudek. Salter needed only eight carries to roll off 118 yards and three touchdowns (his second three-touchdown performance in a row) while Dudek added 56 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries. When sophomore quarterback Kurt Rawlings dropped back to pass, he picked apart Fordham’s secondary at will, completing his first 14 passes until as interception spoiled the perfect day. He finished by connecting on 18-of-20 passes, a Yale record for completion percentage, for 189 yards and a touchdown pass to Jaeden Graham.
“We gave up a touchdown late with our second string in and I think the defense put in a great effort all day, put great pressure on Fordham.” Tony Reno, Joel E. Smilow ‘54 Head Coach of Football