Game 6: Penn at Yale
October 26  |  12:00 p.m.  |  Yale Bowl
TV: NESN
Live Internet Video: ESPN+
Live Internet Audio: Quaker Audio Network (Free)
Live Stats  |  Tickets

Setbacks pave the way for comebacks! A tough loss last weekend at Columbia is in the rearview mirror as the Quakers head to New Haven to take on Yale. Penn has dropped its last two meetings with the Bulldogs, both at Franklin Field. The Red and Blue are hoping this trip to the Yale Bowl follows suit of their last — a 35-point win.

The Penn-Yale Series — 87th Meeting
A series that began in 1879 reconvenes for the 87th time this weekend as the Quakers and Bulldogs do battle. Yale holds a 49-36-1 advantage in the all-time series, thanks in large part to a 16-1 run from 1879-1937. Since 1982, Penn is 25-12 against Yale and the series is tied 2-2 since Ray Priore took over at Penn in 2015. The Quakers are 15-22 all-time at the Yale Bowl and are 5-2 in their last seven visits.

KK2K
Senior Karekin Brooks continues to climb Penn's all-time rushing charts. For his career, Brooks has run for 2,533 yards which ranks No. 4 all-time by a Quaker — 185 yards away from passing Terrance Stokes '95 who is currently in the fourth spot with 2,717 career rushing yards. His 432 career carries rank No. 10 all-time by a Quaker and are 9 away from moving into the No. 9 spot. Brooks enters today with 25 career rushing TDs, tied which is No. 6 all-time by a Quaker and three away from former NFL star Jim Finn '99 who ranks No. 5 with 28.

Climbing The Ivy Ranks
With his 2,533 rushing yards entering today's game, Brooks ranks No. 27 all-time among Ivy League running backs. He is 25 yards away from moving into the No. 26 spot (John McNiff, Cornell '92) and 44 away from the No. 25 spot (Rich Diana, Yale '82).

Actively Leading
Brooks ranks No. 7 among active FCS running backs in yards-per-rush (5.86), is No. 9 in career rushing yards, and is No. 13 in career rushes and career rushing TDs.

An Above-Average Average
Brooks enters today on pace to become Penn's all-time leader in career yards-per-rush. His 5.86 yards-per-carry is ahead of Chris Flynn '88 who currently holds the top spot at 5.68. Brooks is also on pace to finish No. 2 all-time in the Ivy League in yards-per-carry, behind only Dartmouth's Rick Klupchak (6.06) from 1971-73.

Leading The Country
Brooks is averaging 137.8 yards-per-game on the ground this season, No. 2 among FCS rushing backs. His 156.2 all purpose yards-per-game rank No. 5. Brooks also ranks No. 18 in total rushing yards among FCS players despite 12 of the 13 backs ahead of him playing at least two more games so far this season. 

Release The Cragun
Sophomore Ryan Cragun has caught 19 passes for 340 yards over his first three varsity starts. Cragun went over 100 yards in each of Penn's first two games after the Quakers only produced one 100-yard receiver in a game all of last season. Cragun was the first Quaker to go over 100 yards in consecutive games since Justin Watson '18 did so in three straight games from 10/21-11/4 in 2017. Despite missing the Dartmouth game with injury, Cragun still leads the Ivy League in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving yards-per-game (99.0) and is No. 14 in the FCS.

Third Down Thoughts
Penn enters the week ranked No. 28 in the country in third down conversions, converting on 32-for-74 for 44%. Opponents are 28-for-72 on third down (39%).

Zach Attack
Senior linebacker Zach Evans has 44 total tackles in five games this season after totaling 39 in 12 appearances over the previous two seasons combined. He had 12 tackles against Dartmouth, and his 5.0 solo tackles-per-game rank No. 29 in the country while his 8.8 total tackles-per-game rank No. 36. He leads the Ivy League in solo tackles (25), total tackles and tackles-per-game.

Red (Zone) Alert
Penn enters the week 12-for-16 on red zone opportunities, with touchdowns on all 12 scoring drives inside the red zone. Penn's first red zone stop on defense was Sam Philippi's interception late against Sacred Heart in Week Four, ending a 14-for-14 run by opponents dating back to the season finale at Princeton in 2018. Overall this season, opponents are 13-for-14 in the red zone with 12 touchdowns.

Rushing To Conclusions
The Quakers rank No. 23 in the FCS and lead the Ivy League in Rushing Offense, averaging 197.0 yards-per-game. The bulk of that work has come from Karekin Brooks — he accounts for 70% of Penn's rushing attack with his 689 yards. Penn's second-leading rusher this season is still Isaiah Malcome who had 73 yards rushing at Delaware in Week One before suffering a season-ending injury.

Youth Movement
Six of Penn's top-15 tacklers this season are either freshmen or sophomores making their first varsity appearances. With the loss of Mohammed Diakite, both of Penn's starting cornerbacks —Jason McCleod, Jr. and Kendren Smith —are first-year starters. McCleod and Smith have combined for 35 tackles and three pass breakups.

Turning On The Turnovers
After going three games without causing a turnover, the Quakers have recorded five over their last two games — four interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Turning Off The Turnovers
On the flip side, the Quakers have run into trouble with fumbles. Opponents have returned a fumble for a touchdown in each of the last three games and Penn's -0.6 turnover-per-game ranks No. 101 in the country.