One final nonconference game awaits the Penn Quakers in 2018, Penn looking to get back in the win column following a loss to open Ivy League play at Dartmouth last weekend. For the third year in a row, the Quakers take on a first-time opponent as the Red and Blue visit Connecticut to take on the Pioneers.
The Penn-Sacred Heart Series — First Meeting
The Quakers are back in Connecticut to take on a NEC foe for the second year in a row. Last year, Penn was downed by Central Connecticut State in New Britain, 42-21. The Quakers and Pioneers have never met, and Penn is 3-1 all-time against NEC opponents — 1-1 against CCSU and 2-0 against Duquesne.
Quakers Looking To Avoid 2017 Skid
Penn lost last week to Dartmouth, just as it did in 2017 where a loss to the Big Green started a four-game losing streak. The Quakers are 5-5 all-time after a loss in the
Ray Priore era, including a 0-2 record in games following a loss to Dartmouth.
Sack Lunch
No defense in the country is averaging more sacks per game than Penn's 5.7. The Quakers have racked up 17 total sacks, through three games — despite going without a sack in Week Three at Dartmouth. Penn's 10 sacks in the opener are the most by any FCS team this season, and the Red and Blue's seven sacks in Week Two are tied for No. 5. No team in the country has multiple 7+ sack games this season. The Quakers are one sack away from matching their total (18) from all of 2018.
A Look at Sacred Heart
The Pioneers are in the middle of a three-game run inside the Ivy League, looking to rebound after a 43-24 loss to Cornell last week in Ithaca. That defeat ended a three-game winning streak to open the season as Sacred Heart conceded more points to the Big Red (43) than it did to its first three opponents combined (34). The Pioneers are averaging 436.8 yards a game, allowing just 287.0 — allowing only 136.8 yards passing per game.
Seeking Nonconference Perfection
Penn is 2-0 outside the Ivy League for the second year in a row. A win today will give Penn is first 3-0 non-conference slate since 2003 — a season where Penn went undefeated en route to an Ivy League title. Since 1986, Penn has posted six undefeated non-conference seasons. The Quakers won the Ivy League title in five of those six seasons.
Party In The Backfield
Penn's defense dialed up 10 sacks in Week One, most since a 10-spot against Yale in 2001. The Quakers followed that up with seven against Lehigh on Week Two. 17 sacks through two games is one away from tying Penn's total from all of 2017. 10 different players have at least a half sack, led by
Cooper Gardner with 4.0— already more than any Quaker had in 2018. He leads the Ivy League and his 1.3 sacks per game are No. 5 among all FCS players.
Brooks Brings It Into The End Zone
For the second year in a row,
Karekin Brooks has rushed for five touchdowns over two games to start a season. Each year, he posted a three-TD game against Lehigh to follow up a two-TD opener. Dating back to the Cornell game to close 2017, Brooks has eight touchdowns over his last four games dating back to the 2017 season finale.
Back-To-Back Sacks
Penn's 17 sacks over two games were the most in a two-game span since accumulating 13.0 against Harvard (6.0) and Cornell (7.0) in 2003.
Gardner Racks Up Sacks
Senior
Cooper Gardner had 2.5 sacks over 29 career games entering 2017, and he has 4.0 in three games this season. His four sacks over two games were the most in back-to-back outings since Steve Lhotak had 6.5 in the Harvard and Cornell games to close 2003.
Spreading The Wealth
Ryan Glover completed passes to eight different receivers against Lehigh, the most Penn receivers to catch at least one pass in a game since Andrew Lisa completed passes to eight receivers against Fordham in 2015.
Jack Attack
Jack Soslow is 13-for-17 on field goals for his career, and had made nine in a row dating back to 10/21/17 against Yale before a 41-yard attempt hit the right upright at Dartmouth. His 76.5% field goals percentage for his career has him in range to be Penn's all-time most accurate kicker. Peter Veldman (2001-03) was 27-for-35 (77.1%) to set the current Penn all-time record. The Ivy League's all-time FG% record (minimum 20 FGs) is held by Princeton's Patrick Jacob who was 29-for-36 (80.6%) from 2008-11.
Miller Time
Senior linebacker
Nick Miller has 10+ tackles in all three games this season and has done so in 11 of his last 13 games dating back to the start of 2017. A first-team All-Ivy linebacker and finalist for Ivy League Defensive Player of the Year in 2017, Miller four forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries over his last 13 games.
Protect The Quarterback
The Quakers have allowed just one sack over three games in 2018, No. 6 in the nation in sacks allowed per game (0.33). Penn went 67 pass attempts into 2018 before allowing its first sack in Week Three at Dartmouth. Penn's 2.67 TFLs allowed through three games ranks No. 3 in the country.
Thrown For A Loss (TFL)
The Quakers aren't getting in the backfield only for sacks, Penn's 9.3 TFLs per game rank No. 2 in the country. 12 different players have at least 1.0 TFLS and nine have more than two.
Bank On Brooks
Karekin Brooks as six touchdowns this season — each a rushing score. His overall touchdown number ranks No. 15 in the country and his rushing touchdown total is No. 8. He is averaging 12.0 points per game — No. 2 among all FCS players.
M&Ms
Nick Miller (10.7) and
Jacob Martin (10.0) rank No. 14 and No. 19, respectively, in the country in tackles per game. Penn is just one of two schools in the country with two players among the Top-20 in tackles per game.
