Yale Capitalizes Off Columbia’s Turnovers For The Win

(Photo by Karen King – Double G Media)

Columbia fought hard and almost completed the comeback, but in the end they fell to Yale  31-23. Yale took advantage of five Columbia turnovers, used a 152-yard, three-touchdown passing performance from backup freshman quarterback Kurt Rawlings. Columbia did all it could to get back in the game, but that 24-0 hole was just too much to over come in the end.

Quarterback Anders Hill threw for career-highs of 289 yards and three touchdowns. It was the second time he threw for over 200 yards this season. He also finished with career-highs for completions (24) and attempts (46). The last time a Columbia quarterback passed for three touchdowns in a game was on Oct. 11, 2014 when Trevor McDonagh threw for four against Monmouth. Columbia’s defense held it’s own for much of the first half, but it was again the three turnovers on offense that did the team in. Columbia’s defense totaled a season-high 12.0 tackles for loss for 34 yards, three sacks for 12 yards and six pass breakups. Yale could not gain any momentum offensively in the second half. Yale would close out the game by recovering a last-ditch onside kick, holding on for a 31–23 win.

Columbia (2-5, 1-3 Ivy League) out gained Yale 381-249 in total offensive yards and finished with 20 first downs to Yale’s 14. Hill notched career-highs for completions (24), attempts (46), passing yards (289) and touchdown passes (three). He also rushed for 54 yards on 18 carries. Smith caught a career-high six passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns.

The Yale (2–5, 2–2 Ivy) defense, ranked last in the Ivy League entering this game, had its best performance of the season versus the Lions (2–5, 1–3). Yale forced five turnovers en route to a 31–23 victory, despite the offense totaling just 250 yards.

Columbia is back in action when it travels to Cambridge, Mass. to take on Harvard on Saturday, Nov. 5.