Game 9: Penn at Harvard
November 16  |  12:00 p.m.  |  Harvard Stadium
TV: NESN
Live Internet Video: ESPN+
Live Internet Audio: Quaker Audio Network (Free)
Live Stats  |  Tickets

Back-to-back home wins have the Quakers holding momentum heading into Week Nine in Cambridge. The Red and Blue have won three of their last four games against Harvard, and are looking for a win to secure a fifth consecutive season with five wins.

The Penn-Harvard Series — 90th Meeting
A rivalry that began in 1881 reconvenes for the 90th time as the Quakers and Crimson meet at Harvard Stadium. The Quakers are 37-50-2 all-time against Harvard, and are 14-20 in Cambridge. Penn is 17-10 against Harvard since 1992, and most importantly the Red and Blue are 3-1 against Harvard since Ray Priore took over in 2015 — including wins in both of Priore's prior visits to Harvard Stadium as head coach.

Quakers Repel Cornell On Homecoming
One week after a two-point win over Brown at Franklin Field, the Quakers cut it even closer in a 21-20 win over Cornell to retain the Trustees' Cup on Homecoming in Philly. A game that was tied at the end of the first, second, and third quarters flipped to Penn's favor via an 80-yard touchdown pass from wide receiver Owen Goldsberry to fellow wideout Eric Markes on a trick play early in the final period. The Big Red rallied with a 94-yard drive that found the end zone with 0:50 left in regulation but freshman Kendren Smith broke up the 2-point play to keep Penn in front.

KK2K
Senior Karekin Brooks continues to climb Penn's all-time rushing charts. He has 806 yards and eight TDs in 2019 and for his career, Brooks has run for 2,650 yards which ranks No. 4 all-time by a Quaker. He is now 68 yards away from taking over the No. 3 spot held by Terrance Stokes '95 who finished his illustrious Penn career with 2,717 yards. Brooks enters today with 26 career rushing TDs, two away from tying Jim Finn '99 who had 28 touchdowns before embarking on his NFL career.

Climbing The Ivy League Ranks
Not only is Brooks climbing the Penn all-time charts, he is making his move up the Ivy League's all-time record books. His 2,650 yards rushing rank No. 23 all-time among Ivy running backs. He recently passed Harvard's Gino Gordon '11 (2,643) and would move into No. 22 if he can surpass his fellow Quaker, Stokes.

Among The Nation's Best
Karekin Brooks ranks No. 5 in the country in rushing yards-per-game (115.1) and sophomore wide receiver Ryan Cragun ranks No. 6 in the nation in receiving yards-per-game (108.0).

Zach Attack
Senior linebacker Zach Evans has 69 total tackles in eight games this season after totaling 39 in 12 appearances over the previous two seasons combined. He had 12 tackles against Dartmouth, and his 8.6 total tackles-per-game rank No. 30 among FCS defenders. He leads the Ivy League in solo tackles (38), total tackles and tackles-per-game.

Red (Zone) Alert
Penn enters the week 23-for-27 on red zone opportunities, with touchdowns on 22 of 27 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 24-for-26 in the red zone with 22 touchdowns.

Youth Movement
Seven 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 67 tackles and eight pass breakups —including Smith's PBU on Cornell's attempted 2-point conversion with 0:50 left.

Turning On The Turnovers
After going three games without causing a turnover, the Quakers have recorded 10 over their last five games — seven interceptions and three fumble recoveries. Two of Penn's nine turnovers have led to touchdowns, including Brian O'Neill's 21-yard fumble recovery against Brown.

Sack Lunch
As a team, Penn ranks No. 17 in the FCS with 2.9 sacks-per-game despite going without a sack over three games from 10/4-10/19. Two weeks ago, the Quakers had eight sacks against Brown. Last week they dialed up four.On the flip side, the offense ranks No. 24 in sacks allowed, conceding just 1.5 per game.

Mowing Them Down
Benji Mowatt has four sacks over the last three games, giving him 6.0 for the season. He has 17.0 total tackles over his career as a pass-rushing specialist with 10.0 of them being sacks.

Prince Emili, Fabulous He!
Senior Prince Emili has set career highs in tackles (52), sacks (4.5) and tackles for loss (11.5). His previous high in tackles for loss was 3.5 in 2018. He has at least 1.0 TFL in each of the last seven games and has 7.5 over the last three —including 2.5 sacks last week against Cornell.

Winner, Winner!
Sophomore Daniel Karrash made his first career field goal attempt one to remember as he connected on a 22-yarder with 0:02 left to secure a 38-36 win for Penn over Brown on Nov. 2. He is 10-for-11 on PATs, with the one miss a block at Yale. 

Doubling Up The 1000s?
Ryan Cragun (756 yards) and Karekin Brooks (806 yards) are both within range of reaching the 100-yard mark for the season. If they both were to do so, it would mark only the second time in program history that Penn produced both a 100-yard receiver and running back. The only other time the Quakers have done so was in 2003 when WR Dan Castles (1,067) and RB Sam Matthews (1,266) both crossed the century mark.