Huge first half powers Yale past Fordham

Offense erupts for 45 points in first two quarters

NEW HAVEN — There was a sense of unfulfilled promise from the offensive stars as the Yale football team prepared to wrap up a threegame homestand to kick off the Bulldogs’ 147th season of football.

One touchdown and a field goal was all that the Bulldogs had to show for the first half of play in the first two victories of the season. There were no such issues as the Bulldogs kept the scoreboard operator rather busy with 45 firsthalf points en route to a convincing 4824 win over Fordham on Saturday at the Yale Bowl.

The offense was aided by the return of senior running back Alan Lamar, who played one series against Holy Cross and was held out of the Ivy League opener against Cornell. Lamar had a gamehigh 53 rushing yards including a rough and tumble 26yard gain to set the tone early on as Yale scored on its first seven possessions.

“It is really nice to see the whole group back out there and we will continue to build on that this season,” Yale senior receiver JP Shohfi said.

Shohfi and offensive lineman Dieter Eiselen missed the season opener with Lamar out last week. With the exception of injured tight end JJ Howland, the Bulldogs had all hands on deck and it showed with an electrifying first half of football.

“I just wanted to get everyone back in the lineup and for me just getting people back healthy,” Yale coach Tony Reno said. “We finally got the pieces “back and you see what can happen. We were really in a good flow offensively and we have guys who can make plays in space.”

Yale (30) jumped out to the early 100 lead on a 3yard scoring run by Reed Klubnik and Sam Tuckerman’s 33yard field goal. The second score was set up when Spencer Matthaei blocked a 48yard field goal.

The Rams answered back on a 70yard scoring pass from Tim Demorat to Fotis Kokosioulis.

The next time the Bulldogs got the ball, Yale quarterback Kurt Rawlings followed up completions of 21 and 39 yards with a 3yard touchdown run. A Dathan Hickey fumble recovery set up another Yale score as Rawlings connected with Mason Tipton on a 48yard touchdown. Rawlings would hook up with Shohfi on a 69yard scoring pass and added a 1yard scoring run. Kyle Ellis returned an interception 23 yards for a score to cap a 21point outburst in a span of 3:18 for the Bulldogs to push the lead to 4510.

Rawlings became the fifth Yale quarterback with 400 career completions and moved into sole possession of fifth place in program history with 36 touchdown passes. He had 288 of his 301 passing yards in the first half with completions of more than 40 yards to Tipton, tight end D. Major Roman and Shohfi. Klubnik would add a 61yard reception from reserve quarterback Griffin O’Connor.

The defense got into the act as well as 70 of Fordham’s 222 yards through the first three quarters came on one play.

Fordham finished with 36 rushing yards, 27 coming from former Sheehan star Zach Davis.

Rodney Thomas II led the way with 11 tackles, three tackles for loss and a sack. Ellis had six tackles to go with the interception, Ryan Burke had six tackles including three behind the line of scrimmage.

“I think we came out with a great mentality today,” Burke said. “We were all focused, we knew what we had to do, we came out with our hair on fire. We were flying around making plays, we were confident with what we were doing.”

Ryan Greenhagen had 12 tackles to lead Fordham (24). Former Xavier star Glenn Cunningham had five tackles while North Haven’s Jeremy Imperati had 1 1⁄2 of the Rams’ five tackles for loss.

The game marked the return Fordham coach Joe Conlin, Yale’s offensive coordinator from 201217, to the Yale Bowl.

“I wish it had gone better,” Conlin said. “Obviously it’s good to be back. I certainly have a lot of respect for the team that’s on the other side and I have a lot of great memories of this place. I wish them well and I hope they go on and win an Ivy League championship.”

That championship quest will kick into high gear when Yale, the preseason pick to win the Ivy League, plays at Dartmouth, the squad selected to pick second, next week.