WPCNR SIGNALS FROM THE SIDELINES Special Sports Report to WPCNR from Beyond The Game’s John Vorperian: In a Saturday afternoon heartbreaker at New Haven before 43,406, the Princeton Tigers (8-1, 5-1 Ivy) roared back with a 34-31 win over Yale (7-2, 5-1 Ivy). The Elis led all day due to the explosive ground game of Sophomore running back Mike McLeod (New Britain H.S.). The 5’-11” 200 lbs, 2005 Ivy League Rookie of the Year entered the contest with over 1,096 yards rushed (a new school record), 13 TDs, and ranked fourth among NCAA Division I-AA runners.  By halftime McLeod scored four touchdowns and the Yale offense had 355 total yards and a comfortable 28-14 lead.  The Bulldog Star is complimented by Matt Murray, the Chappaqua Flash and Rodney Reynolds of Mount Vernon who is being looked upon as a Big Bulldog of the future.

The (Princeton) Tiger Defense fared no better in containing 6’-1” 215 lbs, Senior tailback Matt Murray (Horace Greeley H.S.). Against Columbia the Chappaqua native had 12 carries for 55 yards and a TD. In what may have been his last appearance at the Yale Bowl, Murray racked up 61 yards in 8 carries. The Greeley grad had played football and lacrosse there and did develop a reputation at Yale as a versatile player handling halfback and end duties.

Johnny Verporian of WPPA-TV, Channel 76 Interviews Horace Greeley's "Go-To Guy" Matt Murray -- now a Bulldog Main Man for a future episode of Beyond The Game. Photo Courtesy, Kevin McCarthy, Yale University

Matt Murray Moving and Rumblin. Photo by Kevin McCarthy, Yale University.

A 32-yard run by Murray set up one of McLeod’s TDs but in the second half Princeton’s no-huddle offense kept to the air. With less than eight minutes to go in the fourth the Bengals made a 30+-yard touchdown pass reception and two-point conversation. They got and kept the advantage.

The Bulldog offense went with a shift in play calling. Our Westchester County ballplayer Murray was doing more blocking assignments in protecting Yale QB Matt Polhemus.

Yale’s twelfth player, the faithful fans made noise at the right moments and in fact at 1:37 left in the game got the entire Princeton offense line offside. But with the final gun Yale now must win next week in Cambridge over Harvard to take the Ivy League Crown.

A BEYOND THE GAME playbook against the Crimson would be for the Bulldogs to stick with their strength. McLeod on the ground balanced with carries by the Chappaqua carrier Murray.

Mount Vernon's Rodney Reynolds coming on strong for 2007. Photo by Kevin McCarthy, Yale University

An advance 2007 Yale scouting report is McLeod will still be the primary running back with a Westchester County resident complimenting the ground game. Freshman Rodney Reynolds (Rye Country Day) 6’ 200 lbs, from Mt. Vernon has been doing good things for the Bulldog J.V. football team.