Coach Kevin Cahill's Yale Bulldogs put a hurting on the visiting Merrimack College Bulldogs in Week 5 action, winning 41-24 just days after the death of legendary coach Tony Reno. The win came during an exciting slate of games and gave quarterback Dante Reno a chance to remember his legendary father.
Dante Reno shared a photo of himself hugging his father along with a message on October 2 that was followed with another message after the Bulldogs' big win.
“No words can describe this dude. He left this Earth better than he found it. My dad, my best friend, my guy. I love you forever pops. Fly high,” Dante Reno said with a heart emoji on October 2.
“This one's for you pops,” he added with another heart emoji after October 3's win.
Article Continues BelowDante Reno left it all out on the field vs. Merrimack a day after his dad and former Yale football coach Tony Reno died 🙏 pic.twitter.com/RofpbNlavD
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 3, 2026
Tony Reno passed away on October 2, months after stepping down due to Kreutzfeld-Jakob Disease, a neurodegenerative condition. His son Dante Reno's Bulldogs dominated the visiting Warriors with 476 yards on the day compared to 322 for their opponents. Dante Reno completed 22-of-39 passes for 298 yards, four touchdowns and one interception as he guided his team to 17 unanswered fourth quarter points to secure Yale's second win of the season in three tries.
The Ivy League season will take center stage for the Bulldogs as they prepare to face Dartmouth on October 10 before Rhode Island, Penn, and Columbia come calling.
The program, its supporters, and locals who knew Tony Reno for his record-setting ways at Yale won't soon forget him, but his son Dante has the skills, and the perspective, to prove a worthy successor. The Bulldogs' victory over the Warriors was a perfect way to remember a coach who gave so much to a program that has brought so much joy to so many people and will continue to do so in the near future and beyond.