NEW YORK — Cole Freeman connected with Bryson Canty for a crucial 44-yard touchdown pass with just under five minutes remaining, leading Columbia to a narrow 13-10 defeat of Yale on Friday night.

Freeman’s critical touchdown came shortly after a significant punt from Yale’s Shamus Florio, which had pinned Columbia deep in their own territory at the 4-yard line. This victory marked Columbia’s first win over Yale in five attempts and their first win in a night game since 2021. Historically, the Lions had struggled in Friday night home games, having lost all four previous encounters.

The game opened with Freeman showcasing his dual-threat capabilities, throwing for 26 yards and rushing for another 32 on Columbia’s initial possession. However, disaster struck when he fumbled during a first-down attempt at the Yale 14-yard line, allowing Abu Kamara of the Bulldogs to recover.

Columbia attempted to capitalize on their ensuing possession by advancing to a first-and-goal situation at the Yale 7-yard line but could only manage a 22-yard field goal from Hugo Merry, giving them an early 3-0 advantage in the second quarter. Yale responded before halftime with a touchdown, as Grant Jordan hit Nathan Denney with a 24-yard pass to establish a 7-3 lead.

The third quarter saw Nick Conforti convert a 38-yard field goal for Yale just before the period ended, extending their lead to 10-3 going into the final quarter.

Columbia fought back in the fourth, narrowing the gap to 10-6 when Merry successfully kicked a 43-yard field goal with 9:55 remaining.

Freeman finished the game completing 12 out of 20 passes for 156 yards and led the team in rushing with 82 yards on 14 carries. Canty was a standout receiver, gathering five catches for 107 yards. On the other side, Jordan completed 18 of 27 throws for 151 yards but threw one interception.

With this result, Yale maintains a commanding lead in their all-time series dating back to 1872, boasting a 72-23-2 record. Yale had previously secured victory in their last two contests against Columbia, winning by an average margin of 26.5 points.