Box Score Box Score (PDF) I Postgame Press Conference

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Deon Randall scored four times and Yale piled up 566 yards of total offense to overshadow another record-breaking performance by Jeff Mathews as the Bulldogs defeated Cornell 38-23 on Saturday afternoon at the Yale Bowl. The Bulldogs improved to 2-0 (1-0 Ivy), while the Big Red slipped to 1-1 (0-1 Ivy).

Mathews became Cornell's career leader in touchdown passes as part of his 23-of-41 effort for 336 yards and three touchdowns. He surpassed Ricky Rahne's record of 54 with his second score of the day, a diving 22-yard catch by Chris Lenz in the fourth quarter.

But the day belonged to Randall, who missed last season's 45-6 Cornell victory in Ithaca. He caught 11 passes for 148 yards and three scores and ran for another 18 yards and a touchdown. On the day, Yale ran for 213 yards and threw for 353 more as Henry Furman was an effective 29-of-36 for 353 yards, though virtually none of his passes travelled more than five yards beyond the line of scrimmage. Furman also ran for the game's first score.

Becoming almost an afterthought was All-American running back Tyler Varga who put together a workmanlike 105-yard effort on the ground on 21 carries.

Cornell's defense was led by Bobby Marani's 10 tackles and a forced fumble, while JJ FIves also forced a fumble and made a total of six stops. Justin Harris was credited with two pass breakups for the Big Red.

Yale's fastbreak offense, which was neutralized by the Big Red most of the first half, came alive after halftime of a 10-10 tie. The Bulldogs scored on the first four possessions after halftime, while the Big Red punted twice and turned it over twice. By the time Yale finished it off with 9:44 remaining in regulation, it was 38-10. A pair of Big Red touchdown drives cut into the deficit, but never threatened the result.

The Big Red defense dodged more than a couple bullets in the first half -- blocking a field goal attempt, forcing a turnover after a special teams error put Yale in prime position to up its lead and staving off a first-and-goal for a tying field goal in the waning seconds after a quick 66-yard Bulldog drive in the final seconds of the first half.

After a first drive where Yale easily marched down the field for a score, the Big Red defense did everything it could to contain their attack and get the Bulldogs off the field on third down. Yale was just 1-of-6 in the first half. Yale piled up 262 yards to Cornell's 194, but the Big Red was able to win the time of possession battle.

Tre' Minor ended the second Yale possession the game by breaking through a collapsed line for his second career kick block. Jarrod Watson-Lewis broke up a pass in the end zone at the end of the first half to prevent a go-ahead touchdown and JJ Fives forced a fumble that was recovered by Evan Brovender among the Big Red's big plays in the first 30 minutes.

For Mathews, it was a laser-strike to Lucas Shapiro in the final minute of the first half that ended things in a positive manner after a half where the offense appeared just a little out of sync. His touchdown pass tied him with Racky Rahne '02 atop the school's career list with 54. He was just 9-of-20 for 137 yards in the first half.

The opening kickoff of the game went to Yale, and dangerous returner Chris Smith brought it all the way out to over midfield. Five plays later, Bulldog quarterback Henry Furman kept it himself and dove through the line for a 3-yard touchdown. Just 1:38 into the contest, the Bulldogs led 7-0.

After a Big Red punt, the Bulldogs appeared to be closing in on building on its lead, but Minor was able to get his hand on the ball from the interior of the line to neutralize a 36-yard field goal attempt. Cornell answered with its first scoring drive of the day, an eight-play, 64-yard drive that got the visitors back within 7-3 when John Wells connected from 31 yards out.

Cornell took its first and only lead at 10-7 late in the first half when Mathews found Shapiro with 51 ticks on the clock. A 33-yard pass from Mathews to Dillard on a broken play was the highlight. Flushed out of the pocket to the right, Mathews threw all the way across the field to a wide open Dillard in the flat and the senior tightroped the sideline down to the 4. Two plays later the Big Red took the lead.

Not to be outdone, Yale took the kickoff and marched right down the field for the tying score. Starting at its own 26 with 47 seconds left, Furman found Chris Smith twice for a total of 40 yards, then Myles Gaines caught a 33-yard pass to get the Bulldogs down to the 10. Cornell's defense stiffened, and Watson-Lewis had a big breakup in the end zone to force Kyle Cazzetta into a chip-shot 25-yard field goal to knot the score.

The second half was a blur of screens and missed opportunities that sent Yale to the win. The Big Red went three-and-out on the first possession of the second half and Yale answered with an eight-play, 56-yard scoring drive that ended with Furman hitting Randall for an 8-yard touchdown. Cornell took four minutes off the clock on its ensuing eight-play drive, but was forced to punt. The Bulldogs went on a back breaking 13-play, 86-yard drive to go up 14 points, punctuated by a 33-yard Randall score from Furman.

It became 31-10 after a Mathews pass bounced off a receiver's hands and into Yale's. Four plays and 50 yards later, it was Randall finding the end zone on a 44-yard pass from Furman. Cornell started marching, going 45 plays in two plays before Mathews lost the ball on a fumble. Nine plays and 76 yards later, Randall hit paydirt for the fourth time in 16:47 of game action when he ran it in from 10 yards out.

Mathews, hit hard and often, led a pair of late scoring drives, with Chris Lenz and Luke Hagy on the scoring end, but it wasn't enough. The first set the new school passing touchdown record after he tied it with his toss to Shapiro in the second quarter.

The Big Red returns home for two games starting with a non-conference battle with Central New York rival Colgate on Saturday, Oct. 5 at 12:30 p.m. at Schoellkopf Field.