NEWARK, Del. – So close.
 
The University of Pennsylvania football team went toe-to-toe with No. 20 Delaware, coming up one point short in a 28-27 loss to the Blue Hens that served notice to Ivy League football fans.
 
The Quakers (0-1) outgained the Blue Hens (3-1), 462-360, and were especially dominant on the ground where the Red and Blue amassed 269 yards to Delaware's 100.
 
If there was any questions about the mindset and attitude of the Quakers this season, they were answered when Isaiah Malcome took a Delaware punt 69 yards to the house for a touchdown to bring the Quakers within one with 2:24 to play. The offense went on the field, looking for the 2-point conversion and the lead. Nick Robinson's pass was just short to Karekin Brooks and the Blue Hens gained the one first down needed after a failed onside kick attempt by Penn and held on.
 
The Malcome punt return sparked a Penn team which had seen a 21-7 lead turn into a 28-21 deficit with 7:36 remaining in the game. A pair of Nolan Henderson third-quarter touchdown passes had tied the game, 21-21, and a Will Knight six-yard touchdown run had given Delaware its first lead since a 7-0 advantage just 2:29 into the game.
 
After Delaware touchdown, Penn had an apparent 3rd-and-9 conversion called back for an illegal shift, and the Quakers eventually punted to the Delaware 19. Adan Conyer eventually would haul down Henderson for a 12 yard loss and force the Blue Hens to punt.
 
Malcome would take that punt at his own 31, shake by the first man and then blow through the remainder of the defense for Penn's first punt return for a touchdown since 2010 to setup the deciding two-point play.
 
In his first start since 2017, Robinson was 18-for-27 for 193 yards and three touchdowns. His three touchdown passes helped the Quakers turn a 7-0 deficit into a 21-7 lead early in the third quarter.
 
Karekin Brooks ran 28 times for 158 yards, averaging 5.6 yard a rush. In addition to his 69-yard punt, Malcome ran nine times for 73 yards and caught one pass – a 1-yard touchdown in the second quarter.
 
Ryan Cragun made quite the impression in his first varsity game as the sophomore caught eight passes for 145 yards. Senior Kolton Huber caught three passes – two of them for touchdowns.
 
Defensively, Mohammed Diakite was busy in the secondary with 11 tackles. David Ryslik had seven tackles and a sack, while Adam Conyer had six tackles and a sack for a loss of 12 yards.
 
How It Happened
The Blue Hens looked like a team with three games under their belts in 2019, marching 70 yards in 2:29 to take a 7-0 lead on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Nolan Henderson to Thyrick Pitts.
 
Delaware marched again inside Penn territory on its second drive, but the Quakers held and the Blue hens attempted a 38-yard field goal which sailed wide ride.
 
With momentum, the Quakers took advantage and marched 78 yards on 11 plays for their first touchdown of 2019. Nick Robinson threw for 50 yards on the drive, including a 4-yard pass to Kolton Huber to get Penn on the board.
 
Penn looked to add points on its next drive, but a Robinson pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and returned to the Delaware 27. The defense picked up the offense, though, with a big hit from Jason McCleod, Jr, on first down followed by a similar stick from Jake Heimlicher on third down to force a Delaware punt.
 
On their next drive, the Quakers cashed in for a 14-7 lead. Isaiah Malcome was the story of the drive with a 46-yard run to open it and a 1-yard reception to end it. All total, the Quakers covered 66 yards on seven plays in 2:51 for the lead.
 
The Red and Blue again held on defense and forced a punt, but a second turnover ended the Penn drive. Cragun caught a pass over the middle for what would have been a first down, but Noah Plack got his helmet on the ball and knocked it loose with 0:56 left in the half. For the second time, though, Penn's defense answered and forced a Delaware punt. Malcome bobbled the punt, but was interfered with and the Quakers took the ball and a 14-7 lead into halftime.
 
The Quakers marched down the field to open the second half, with Robinson throwing a second touchdown pass to Huber – this one a 12-yarder on 4th-and-1 to give Penn a 21-7 lead.
 
Delaware would answer with two consecutive scores to tie the game with 3:10 left in the third quarter. Each score was a pass from Henderson, with a 17-yarder to Bryce De Maille bringing the score level, 21-21.
 
The Red and Blue were stopped on 4th-and-2 from the Delaware 43 early in the fourth quarter, Brooks coming up just short. Again, Penn's defense stood tall and forced a Delaware field goal, and again Roth missed – this time a 44-yarder that sailed wide right with 11:20 left in the fourth quarter.
 
Delaware regained the ball as Penn's ensuing drive stalled quickly, and a 45-yard Henderson pass to Pitts quickly had the Blue Hens on the doorstep. One play later, Knight scampered in from six yards out to give Delaware the lead, 28-21.
 
Two Karekin Brooks rushes for 31 yards to open Penn's next drive had the Quakers quickly into Delaware territory, but the penalty on third down forced a Penn punt and set the stage for the defensive stand which led to Malcome's return score.
 
Notes To Know

• Karekin Brooks now has run for 2,002 yards over his Penn career – making him just the 11th Quaker all time to reach the 2,000-yard mark.
• The Quakers last two losses have come to ranked teams following a loss at No. 9 Princeton to close 2018 and the loss at No. 20 Delaware today.
• Isaiah Malcome's 69-yard punt return touchdown was the first by a Penn player since Bradford Blackmon ran one back 53 yards at Yale in 2010.
• Robinson's 12-yard touchdown pass to Kolton Huber on 4th-and-1 was Penn's first 4th down conversion since the 2017 season. The Quakers were 0-for-7 on fourth downs last year.
• Robinson's three touchdowns match his total from all of last season and tied his career high for a game. His 18 completions are a new career high in a game.
• Malcome set career highs in rushes (9), rushing yards (73), longest rush (46) and punt return yards (69). His touchdowns were the first of his career.
• Kolton Huber's two receiving touchdowns match his career total entering the game.
• Karekin Brooks ran for 158 yards, his first 100-yard game since going for 191 at Sacred Heart last season. In his three most recent games, Brooks had rushed for 108 yards total.
• The Quakers hit the road for Week Two, visiting Lafayette on September 28 at 3:30 p.m.