Image courtesy of Sean D. Elliot/Getty ImagesBy Craig Boland
NEFJ CorrespondentNEW HAVEN – With four minutes left in the fourth quarter, Yale running back Hugo Kemeni punched in a nine-yard touchdown to give Yale a 41-24 lead over the Merrimack Warriors, which would be the final score on what was an emotional day for the program.
Notably, it was the only Yale touchdown where quarterback Dante Reno – who lost his father and former Yale head coach – Tony Reno less than 24 hours before – was not involved.
“Dante is the toughest guy I know,” said Kemeni following the victory.
The aforementioned Reno turned in an incredible performance, passing for four touchdowns and leading the Bulldogs to a massive second half comeback victory. Dante transferred to Yale last June to play for his father, who stepped down as head coach this past winter due to illness. Tony and Dante won an Ivy League title together in 2025, along with an FCS playoff game, the first in Yale history.
The elder Reno, honored before the game, was the head coach of the Bulldogs for 14 seasons, over which they captured five Ivy League Championships.
“No chance,” said Reno, also battling an elbow injury, about potentially missing the game. “I got cleared this week by the doctors and they let me play. Even with everything else happening, I was going to play regardless….his spirit is everywhere in this program and was everywhere today. Definitely during that tip ball touchdown in the endzone, with Kemp catching the ball like ‘this’ (on his back).”
The touchdown referenced by Reno put Yale ahead 31-24 early in the fourth quarter. Reno also hit tight end Graham Smith for a two-yard score on the first drive of the third quarter, with two field goals from Noah Piper (who also hit all his extra points), accounting for Yale’s other second-half points. Despite a huge secnd half for Yale, Merrimack jumped out to a 21-7 lead early and there was a point where it seemed the Warriors were in the driver’s seat.
“We always try to play a four-quarter football game, always talking about complementary football,” said wide receiver Jaxson Santiago. “When the offense is doing well, the defense has to have our backs, and vice versa. We want to have the defenses back when they’re struggling.”
The aforementioned Santiago had an excellent game, snagging two touchdowns in the first half, ripping off a few long punt returns, and other big catches. The other first-half points for Yale came from Piper, who also hit a 37-yard field goal in the second quarter.
On the Merrimack side, quarterback AJ Hairston started the game strong, hitting Kenyon Massey for a 79-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter and Dennis Morgan for a 40-yard touchdown pass in the second. These scores sandwiched a 75-yard pick-six from linebacker Will Claude. Merrimack kicker Guytano Bartomoleo also hit a field goal and all three of his extra points.
“Very proud of our team, and very proud of Dante,” said Yale head coach Kevin Cahill. “It was a battle all the way through and we knew it would be. Merrimack is a very good football team, and they’ve played a very challenging schedule, so my hats off to them coming prepared and ready to play.
“With that said, it was just our day, for a lot of different reasons.”
Yale moves to 2-1 with the victory and will face Dartmouth next week. Merrimack drops to 2-4 and will have a week off before also facing Dartmouth on October 17.