ITHACA, N.Y. -- A 99-yard Cornell scoring drive set the Schoellkopf Field Homecoming crowd on fire, but Yale's defense dominated and its offense methodically allowed the Bulldogs to pull away for a 38-14 victory on Saturday afternoon. The Bulldog win evened both teams' record at 1-1 in the young season, while Yale claimed the Ivy League opener for both squads.

Yale piled up a balanced 453 yards while controlling the line of scrimmage and the defense surrendered just 184 yards - with 99 coming on the five-play drive that evened the game at 7-7 late in the first quarter. The visitors built up a 28-7 halftime lead, and with neither team forcing a turnover in the contest, the Big Red was never able to change the momentum.

Jameson Wang led the Big Red with 63 rushing yards and completed 9-of-14 passes for 68 yards and two scores - one apiece to Nicholas Laboy and Eddy Tillman. Defensively, Rasean Thomas made eight tackles with one for a loss, with Paul Lewis III and Jake Stebbins being credited with seven stops apiece. Max Lundeen posted five tackles and a sack, his second of the season.

Nolan Grooms was 12-of-17 passing for 187 yards and two touchdowns, with Joshua Pitsenberger scoring three times for Yale. The freshman tallied 93 yards and two scores on the ground and caught a 5-yard touchdown in the win. The other touchdown reception went to Mason Tipton, who caught six passes for 133 yards. The Bulldogs' defense posted nine tackles for loss and four sacks, with two of those coming from Osorachukwu Ifesinachukwu. He and Hamilton Moore each had a team-high six stops. 

The Bulldogs scored on six of its first seven possessions, discounting a kneel-down to end the first half, with the visitors racking up 34:42 of possession time. Yale was able to stay on the field by converting 8-of-14 third downs, while turning around two-of-three fourth down chances.
 

First Quarter

• A three-and-out by the Big Red offense allowed Yale to strike first.
• The Bulldogs began with a 20-yard gainer from Grooms to Tipton, then Grooms kept it himself for 11 more for consecutive first downs to begin the drive. 
• Grooms and Pitsenberger did all the work the rest of the way, with the freshman scoring on a 5-yard pass with 8:15 left in the quarter.
• Cornell answered right back after a special teams miscue had the Big Red open at its own 1. After gaining three yards on two plays to get out of the shadow of the end zone, Wang broke free for 43 yards on third-and-long.
• Two plays later, Wang went up top to a wide open Nicholas Laboy for the junior's first career touchdown catch to even the score at 7-7.
• The Bulldogs methodically marched 75 yards down the field with the big gainer a 14-yard dash by Pitsenberger on fourth-and-1 to keep the drive going.
• The rookie scored from a yard out and the PAT made it 14-7.
 

Second Quarter

• Cornell punted two plays in to the second quarter and the Big Red defense notched its only three-and-out of the game, with back-to-back hurries by Noah Taylor and Malin White to give Cornell the ball back.
• Yale blew up the drive with two negative plays after three straight successful runs to force an Ayden McCarter put which traveled 47 yards and pinned the Bulldogs at their own 17.
• The Bulldogs made up those 83 yards in 3:00, scoring on a 17-yard pass from Grooms to Tipton.
• A quick three-and-out by the Big Red put Yale back on the attack.
• The visitors added to their lead with a nine-play, 63-yard drive.
• A 26-yard completion from Grooms to Pantelis on fourth-and-5 made it first and goal from the 6.
• Three plays later, Pitsenberger again found himself in the end zone to make it 28-7.
 

Third Quarter

• Yale opened the second half with a field goal after and 11-play drive, then after a Cornell three-and-out, capped its scoring with a three-play, 63-yard quick score to make it 38-7.
• The big play was a 50-yard completion from Austin Tutas to Tipton all the way down to the 1, with Tre Peterson going the final yard.
• Cornell's offense settled in for a 15-play, 71-yard touchdown drive that bridged the final two quarters and chewed up 8:36 of game clock.
• Wang converted a second-and-16 when he pulled the ball down for 18 yards to midfield to keep the drive going, then went 9 yards on third-and-8 before the quarter expired.
 

Fourth Quarter

• Cornell opened the final 15 minutes by converting a fourth-and-1, then four plays later Wang found Tillman in the flat and the sophomore scampered untouched for the score.
• The Big Red only saw the ball another 2:15 of the contest, as Yale ran 18 plays and sucked 10:35 off the clock to keep Cornell at bay after its own long scoring drive.
 

Next Up

• The Big Red steps back out of conference when it visits Colgate on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 1 p.m. at Andy Kerr Stadium in Hamilton, N.Y.
• The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
• The Central New York rivalry will be played for the 103rd time on the gridiron with Cornell holding a narrow 50-49-3 lead after last season's 34-20 Big Red victory at Schoellkopf Field.