NEW YORK, N.Y. — The Yale football team defeated Columbia, 26-8, in a Halloween afternoon showdown. The Bulldogs improved to 4-3 overall and 2-2 in Ivy League play, while the Lions fell to 4-3 overall and 1-3 in the conference.
Key Performers
- Brandon Webster put together a career performance against the Lions, recording a career-high nine total tackles (six solo), and breaking up six passes.
- Hugo Djeumeni Kemeni went for 155 rushing yards and a career-long 63-yard touchdown. He's rushed for over 100 yards in five-straight games and has recorded a touchdown in six straight.
Turning Point
The Bulldogs initially took a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter via
Graham Smith's fifth touchdown of the season. On Columbia's first play from scrimmage following the kickoff,
Phoenix Grant wrapped up Columbia running back Brody McLaughlin in the end zone for Yale's first safety since October 2024.
That play put the Bulldogs up 9-0 and they never looked back, cruising to the 26-8 win.
Game Notes
- Quarterback Dante Reno has moved up to No. 4 in passing touchdowns for a Yale career, throwing 38 in 18 games with the Bulldogs.
- Djeumeni Kemeni now has a 346-yard lead on second place in the Ivy League rushing yard rankings. He has 921 yards in seven games this season, while Columbia's Griffin Johnson is No. 2 with 575.
- Webster now leads the Ivy League in pass breakups with 14 through seven games.
- Smith has scored a touchdown in five of Yale's seven games this season.
- Osize Daniyan matched his career-high in solo tackles with seven on the day.
- Reese Keeney punted for a career-high 330 yards and saw four kicks be downed inside the 20-yard line.
- Brandon Banks recorded his first career interception with a pick in the fourth quarter.
Hear From Coach Cahill
"I think we just focused on playing better, more sound football," said Kevin Cahill, Joel E. Smilow '54 Head Coach of Football. "We focused on what we needed to improve, eliminating the X plays and just playing fast. All week, our focus was on getting back to who we are and how we can play better, and that showed today."
"We challenged [Webster] all week long," Cahill said. "We told him, 'They're going to go at you.' We put him on [Columbia receiver Bryce Coleman] and said, 'You've got [Coleman]. Go to work.' He did a really good job. You know [Coleman] is going to get his catches. He's a really good player, but I thought Brandon really stepped up to the challenge."
Around the Ivy League
- Dartmouth 24, Harvard 14 (Friday)
- Brown 36, Penn 17
- Princeton 21, Cornell 20
Up Next
Team 153 will return to the Yale Bowl next Saturday, Nov. 7 for a crucial matchup with the Brown Bears. Kickoff is scheduled for noon.
