Christina Lee, Senior Photographer

In a nail-biting second half, Yale’s football team surged ahead to victory over the Youngstown State Penguins in the first round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs.

Team 152 made history as the first Yale squad to play in the FCS playoffs and as the first Ivy League team to take part in the postseason since the Ivy League athletic conference was formed in 1945. Last weekend, the Bulldogs secured the Ivy League’s first-ever automatic qualification to the playoffs with its win over Harvard in the 141st playing of The Game.

The final score was 43-42. Follow the News’ live updates below.

— Brody Gilkison and Sabrina Thaler, Staff Reporters

4:03 p.m. | Youngstown, Ohio

At a press conference following the game, Youngstown State players and coach Doug Phillips were deflated.

YSU Quarterback Beau Brungard described the end of the game as a “nightmare.”

— Sabrina Thaler, Staff Reporter

3:40 p.m. | Youngstown, Ohio

A group of alumni and fans break out into the Yale fight song as the team revels in their win on the field. “What a comeback,” someone comments. “What a game,” another chimes in.

Players come to the stands to greet family. Marshall Howe ’26 climbs up the side of the stands to embrace his mother. 

— Sabrina Thaler, Staff Reporter

3:20 p.m.

BULLDOGS ARE HEADED TO MONTANA. 43-42 Yale.

— Liza Kaufman, Staff Reporter 

3:19 p.m. | New Haven, Conn.

With just over a minute left in play, the mood at Trinity is jubilant as spectators anticipate Yale’s impending win.

“You only need to win by one,” Doug Hausladen ’04 said.

— Henry Liu, Staff Reporter

3:17 p.m.

Yale is at the 1-yard line after a short run by Pitsenberger. He chooses to go down at the 1 rather than score a touchdown to run down the clock. 

— Eli Ratner, Contributing Reporter

3:15 p.m. | Youngstown, Ohio

The crowd is singing Yale’s fight song. When Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” blares over the stands just after, fans dance and sing along with palpable excitement.

— Sabrina Thaler, Staff Reporter

3:12 p.m.

The Bulldogs are using the Penguins’ chippy attitudes to their advantage. As unsportsmanlike conduct is called against the Penguins, the Elis now have a new set of downs. YSU only has one time out left and the two minute warning. 43-42, 2:00 left in the game.

— Eli Ratner, Contributing Reporter

3:07 p.m. | Youngstown, Ohio

YSU looks nervous as Yale has all of the momentum. After leading by three scores, the Penguins are now struggling to make anything happen on offense. 

“That’s the defense that I know,” a parent says in the crowd. 

— Brody Gilkison and Sabrina Thaler, Staff Reporters

3:04 p.m.

JOSH. PITSENBERGER. TOUCHDOWN. 43-42 ‘DOGS ON TOP WITH 2 MINUTES TO GO.

— Brody Gilkison, Staff Reporter

2:57 p.m.

GRAHAM SMITH TOUCHDOWN! On fourth down, Reno connected with his tight end for another Bulldog score, making the score 42–36 in favor of YSU. Since halftime, the Bulldogs have narrowed the Penguins’ lede from 28 to 6.

— Brody Gilkison, Staff Reporter

2:52 p.m.

Former Bulldog Dathan Hickey ’24, who transferred to YSU after graduating from Yale, was not called for targeting after a shot against Jaxton Santiago ’28, who was carried off the field and carted out of the stadium.

— Eli Ratner, Contributing Reporter

2:44 p.m. | Youngstown, Ohio

YSU misses a field goal, and the Bulldog defense is finally able to get off the field. Dante Reno will lead the offense back onto the field down just 13 points as Yale is battling to come back in the fourth quarter. When the Penguins miss a three-point attempt, the team and the crowd shriek with joy. 

— Brody Gilkison and Sabrina Thaler, Staff Reporters

2:38 p.m. | Youngstown, Ohio

Yale’s crowd is emphatically rallying around the defense — more so now than at any earlier point in the game — as the Penguins move down the field. Prolonged cheering proceeds every YSU snap as Yale’s defenders block several passes and a touchdown attempt.

— Sabrina Thaler, Staff Reporter 

2:31 p.m.

The Elis are rolling to start the fourth quarter, starting with a 10-yard touchdown off a Lucius Anderson ’29 jet touch pass to make the score 42–29 in favor of Youngstown State.

— Brody Gilkison, Staff Reporter

2:30 p.m. | Youngstown, Ohio

Abu Kamara ’27 scoops up the ball after Youngstown State fumbles, and the Bulldogs retake possession in Penguin territory.

Yale’s crowd immediately jumps to their feet and erupts with cheers, and a player on the sideline picks up and starts slapping a tin trash can with “Team 152” spray-painted on its side.

As the third quarter ends, the Bulldogs seem to have a new burst of life as they march down the field. The score is 42–22 Penguins,  after Graham Smith ’27 scored a 2-point conversion. 

— Brody Gilkison and Sabrina Thaler, Staff Reporters

2:22 p.m. | New Haven, Conn.

At bars surrounding Yale’s campus, interest in the game appears low. BAR, Jack’s Bar and Steakhouse, and Sports Haven Bar are all showing the Ohio State-Michigan matchup instead. Employees at BAR and Sports Haven said they lack the ESPN+ subscription needed to stream Yale’s match.

At Trinity Bar & Restaurant, eight people were gathered to watch the Yale-Youngstown State game, though the mood was dismal.

“We’re losing our interest,” one spectator said.

— Henry Liu, Staff Reporter

2:20 p.m.

Yale quickly marches their way down the field, and Pitsenberger punches it in for his second touchdown of the day, cutting YSU’s lead to 42–21. The offense seems to have woken up.

— Brody Gilkison, Staff Reporter

2:14 p.m. | Youngstown, Ohio

Yale’s Cameron Charron ’26 was escorted off the field with what appears to be a leg or ankle injury. He entered a medical tent on the side of the field.

— Sabrina Thaler, Staff Reporter

2:11 p.m. 

Reno completed a pass to Spencer Mermans ’27 for a 4-yard touchdown, bringing the score to 14–35. However, the Penguins answered back minutes later when Brungard once again found Tomczak to extend Youngstown State’s lead to 42–14 at 7:40. The play marked Tomczak’s third touchdown of the day. 

— Liza Kaufman, Staff Reporter 

2:02 p.m. | Youngstown, Ohio

YSU goes into the break up 35–7. Penguins quarterback Beau Brungard is 14/18 for 230 yards and has accounted for all five touchdowns so far, using both his legs and his arm. On the other side, Dante Reno ’28 has completed 8/16 of his passes for 80 yards, including two picks and a fumble. Team captain Josh Pitsenberger ’26 has accumulated 60 yards on 11 carries, including a touchdown run, but the Yale coaching staff has been hesitant to give the ball to him the entire half. Notably absent is Nico Brown ’26, who has yet to see the field after coming down with an illness all week; the Bulldog offense seems to be missing their star wideout.

On defense, Yale has simply had no answers for Youngstown State’s multidimensional offense in the first half. Brungard has been in complete control all game, and has shown no signs of slowing down. He has been aided primarily by Yale’s uncharacteristic three turnovers thus far in the game, as they have applied little to no pressure to the Penguins’ defense and have allowed Youngstown to chew up both clock and yardage.

Bobbi Castor, an alumna of YSU, said she was surprised by the magnitude of the Penguins’ success thus far.

“I think we were the underdogs coming into this. People had counted us out, think we’re the low men on the totem pole,” Castor said. “But something we’re known for in Youngstown is grit, and I think you’re seeing that on the field tonight.”

Khalil Cannon ’17, a Yale football alum, also emphasized the power of grit — but on the Yale side.

“I think the big thing is that the resilience is showing,” Cannon said. “Right now we’ve got a freshman at left tackle, and Dante Reno is under a lot of pressure, but you see everybody kind of rallying around him after some of those turnovers. It’s tough, but everybody’s sticking together through this. It’s a team effort.”

— Brody Gilkison and Sabrina Thaler, Staff Reporters

1:28 p.m.

Brungard waltzes into the end zone yet again, putting the Penguins up 35–7 at the half. The Bulldogs’ first playoff game is not looking good.

— Brody Gilkison, Staff Reporter

1:22 p.m.

Dante Reno committed his third turnover of the day after the Bulldogs marched their way deep into the red zone. The Penguins scooped up the fumble and returned the ball to the Yale 35-yard line with 1:12 to go in the half.

— Brody Gilkison, Staff Reporter

1:10 p.m.

Brungard hit his running back on a wheel route for a 32-yard completion, setting the Penguins up with first and goal on the 1-yard line. On the next play, Brungard scored on the tush push, putting YSU up 28–7. This is the worst defensive showing all year for Yale.

— Brody Gilkison, Staff Reporter

1:05 p.m. | Youngstown, Ohio

Yale scored its first touchdown of the day with a Pitsenberger-rushing touchdown to cut into the Penguins’ lead. The Bulldogs found success running the ball on this drive, with Pitsenberger picking up several chunk yardage plays.

In the stands, thrill and relief are palpable. A group of players’ parents high-five, cheers explode and a mother embraces her son.

— Brody Gilkison and Sabrina Thaler, Staff Reporters

12:59 p.m. | Youngstown, Ohio

Brungard and Tomczak connected for their second touchdown of the day, putting YSU up 21–0. After a few solid series by the Bulldog defense, the Penguins regained control. Yale is slowly digging itself into a hole that will be tough to get out of as time ticks off the clock.

Bulldogs fans in the stands are visibly frustrated, silent and frowning as they watch the play pan out.

— Brody Gilkison and Sabrina Thaler, Staff Reporters

12:55 p.m.

Reno threw his second pick of the day after staring down his receiver for far too long. The Penguins are setting up shop deep in Yale territory. Star running back Josh Pitsenberger ’26 has hardly touched the ball thus far in the game. It’s unclear why the coaching staff is hesitant to give the ball to the Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year.

— Brody Gilkison, Staff Reporter

12:48 p.m.

After picking up a first down before the end of the first quarter, Yale’s next three plays resulted in negative yards, and the Bulldogs were forced to punt at the beginning of the second quarter.

— Brody Gilkison, Staff Reporter

12:45 p.m. | Youngstown, Ohio

Yale ended the first quarter with a 14-point deficit. After getting off to a nightmarish start, the Bulldogs are starting to settle in. The Youngstown State offense imposed its will upon Yale’s defense in the first two Penguin drives, but after making a few adjustments, such as bringing a heavier blitz, the Bulldogs were able to pick up their first stop of the day and are now beginning to make their way down the field. 

Yale crowds remain spirited. A Yale football alumnus’ “Go ‘Dogs” rings out over the stands.

— Brody Gilkison and Sabrina Thaler, Staff Reporters

12:40 p.m.

After a tumultuous drive, the Penguins missed a field goal, and Yale retook possession.

— Brody Gilkison, Staff Reporter

12:33 p.m. | Youngstown, Ohio

After what appeared to be a perfectly defended pass, Webster picked off Brungard. However, the referee called defensive pass interference and wiped out the turnover. The team, fans, and coaches look to be in disbelief at the call.

Yale crowds are booing and jeering at the referee. “You a cheater, ref!” one man yelled. 

— Brody Gilkison and Sabrina Thaler, Staff Reporters

12:22 p.m.

The Bulldogs seem to have no answers for Brungard’s dynamic style of play. After bobbing and weaving his way down the field, he punched the ball in for the Penguins’ second touchdown of the day, putting YSU up 14–0.

— Brody Gilkison, Staff Reporter

12:18 p.m.

On a high throw from Dante Reno ’28 that tipped off of Josh Pitsenberger’s ’26 hands, Youngstown State picked the ball off and returned it for a touchdown. The touchdown was called off due to a penalty on the return, but the Penguins were set up with a first down near midfield.

— Brody Gilkison, Staff Reporter

12:10 p.m.

The Penguins draw first blood with a 23-yard Beau Brungard to Max Tomczak touchdown pass, putting YSU up 7–0 with 11:35 to go in the first.

— Brody Gilkison, Staff Reporter

11:40 a.m. | Youngstown, Ohio

Both football teams have finished warming up and left the field. As fans file into the stadium from outside, Youngstown’s marching band is spreading across the field to begin a pregame show and perform the national anthem. 

While most YSU fans are sitting in the western stands, some YSU fans have joined Yale’s assigned visitor section in the eastern stands and are sitting feet away from Yale crowds. 

— Sabrina Thaler, Staff Reporter

11:36 a.m. | Youngstown, Ohio

Several Yale football alumni have also traveled to Youngstown for the historic game. 

Khalid Cannon ’17, who was part of head coach Tony Reno’s first recruiting class when Reno started his tenure at Yale in 2012, flew in from Orlando, Fla. on Friday night, he said. 

Cannon recalled that when Reno first recruited him in 2012, Reno told Cannon that there was a chance the Bulldogs could make it to the playoffs during Cannon’s years with the team.

“It didn’t happen in the four years when I played, but here we are now, almost a decade later, fulfilling all those promises,” Cannon said. “He’s delivering on the program that he said he was going to build. And it’s just special to see it all from those early days, and it was just this vision he was putting together.”

At least six alumni who played on the football team in the early ’80s also traveled to the game.

Fred Leone ’82 said he made the decision to fly to Youngstown early Saturday morning, waking his wife up at 2:30 a.m. to announce he was flying to Ohio from New York. 

“These kids have shown that we can really play,” Leone said, recalling the three Ivy league titles Yale won in 1979, 1980 and 1981 while he was on the team. 

“Winning is contagious. These are lifelong friendships, largely due to a successful football program. It brings us together,” Bill Kirk ’82 said after snapping a photo with his former teammates outside the Yale tailgate.

— Sabrina Thaler, Staff Reporter

11:14 a.m. | Youngstown, Ohio

On Friday, members of Yale’s cheerleading squad took a nearly 10-hour long bus ride from New Haven to Youngstown to support the Bulldogs. They were joined by a special guest — Yale’s mascot, Handsome Dan, who sat in a travel crate during the bus ride.  

The cheer team typically only joins the football team on the road for the Yale-Harvard game, cheerleader Kenna Morgan ’26 said. The same goes for Handsome Dan, according to his handler, Kassandra Haro ’18.

“I hope he raises some Bulldog morale, and brings some good luck. And I hope the team is really excited to see him,” Haro said. “We just wanted to kind of mark this really special occasion in his history, in his tenure as Dan, too.”

— Sabrina Thaler, Staff Reporter

11:01 a.m. | Youngstown, Ohio

Tailgates have been full swing in the parking lot outside Stambaugh Stadium since 8:30 a.m. A group of family members and football alumni are gathered around a white tent with drinks, coffee and a spread of catered food. Music is blaring from speakers inside the tent.

Ahead of the game, families of the football team participated in regular tailgate traditions, according to parent Jenny Fortner. Parents greeted the team as they came off of their bus to the stadium, and the moms of the team huddled in a prayer circle for the Bulldogs.

Fortner, her husband and at least 10 other family members came to the game to support Fortner’s son, Joey Fortner ’27.

“It doesn’t matter who they’re playing. The fact that it’s the first, I think everyone wanted to be here for that,” P. Jay Fortner, Joey Fortner’s father, said, referring to the Bulldogs’ first-ever playoff game set to kick off at noon.

— Sabrina Thaler, Staff Reporter