BOZEMAN, Mont. – Yale outgained second-seeded Montana State and pushed the reigning national runner-up into the final minutes before falling 21–13 on Saturday in the second round of the FCS playoffs.
The Bulldogs became the first team this season to gain more yards than the Bobcats in Bozeman, finishing with a 351–341 advantage.
“Our kids just played 12 weeks in a row,”
Yale Head Coach of Defense Sean McGowan said. “I think there’s a little bit of a misnomer about the Ivy League itself. I don’t think there’s a lot of respect for the league, and our kids did a great job of making sure people are aware of the competitive level that we play on. It should be noticed.”
Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year Josh Pitsenberger led all rushers with 124 yards and a touchdown, marking his 10th 100-yard rushing effort of the season. He finished his Yale career with 3,435 rushing yards, seventh most in Ivy League history.
Montana State capitalized on two turnovers to build a 14–0 lead. Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year Caden Dowler intercepted backup quarterback Marshall Howe and returned it to the Yale 40-yard line to set up the Bobcats’ first touchdown. An interception on a tipped pass in the red zone ended another Yale drive and led to Montana State’s second score.
The Bulldogs responded to the second Montana State touchdown, scoring quickly in five plays, capped by a 25-yard dime from Dante Reno to Nico Brown. Brown, the national leader in receiving yards per game, hauled in 11 catches for 107 yards to mark his seventh 100-yard receiving effort of the season. Reno was 20-for-35 with 198 yards passing.
Montana State extended its lead to 21–6 with a 73-yard touchdown drive early in the fourth quarter.
Yale refused to go away.
Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year Abu Kamara forced a fumble with 4:10 remaining, setting up a short Yale drive capped by Pitsenberger’s 6-yard touchdown run that cut the deficit to one score with 2:09 left.
Yale was unable to recover the ensuing onside kick but forced a punt and regained possession with 1:00 remaining before time expired.
The Bulldogs concluded its historic season with a third Ivy League title in the last four seasons. Yale earned the league’s first-ever FCS playoffs win with an incredible 28-point comeback over Youngstown State on the road.