Dante Reno's Record-Breaking Performance Powers Yale Past Harvard in Thrilling 141st The Game

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In a thrilling encounter, No. 25 Yale secured a spot in the Ivy League FCS playoffs with a resounding 45-28 win over No. 10 Harvard in the 141st edition of The Game. The Bulldogs' success was largely attributed to quarterback Dante Reno, who set the stage ablaze with 273 yards and three touchdowns. The game kicked off with a spark as Harvard's first play was turned over on a forced fumble by Brandon Webster, allowing Reno to quickly connect with Jaxton Santiago for a 21-yard touchdown. He later found Nico Brown for a 64-yard score and Lucius Anderson for the freshman's first career touchdown, showcasing his impressive skills as he completed 15 of 19 passes at an average of over 14 yards per attempt. Brown emerged as the top receiver with 189 yards. Yale's dominance on the field was spearheaded by running back Josh Pitsenberger, who carried the ball 38 times for 143 yards and three touchdowns, moving him to second on Yale's all-time list with his 35th career rushing score. He added touchdowns from the 1 and 4 yards, catapulting the Bulldogs to a 38-14 lead. Harvard attempted to mount a comeback with quarterback Jaden Craig's impressive performance, throwing for 266 yards and three touchdowns, while also adding a 26-yard scoring run. However, the Crimson's efforts were insufficient as they struggled to keep pace with Yale's offense and ultimately fell short with only 94 rushing yards. The loss marks the end of Harvard's bid for an unbeaten season, a feat last achieved in 2014. In contrast, Yale secured the Ivy League FCS playoff spot through a head-to-head tiebreaker, cementing their position in the upcoming playoffs.