Game 2: Penn at Lafayette
September 28  |  3:30 p.m.  |  Fisher Stadium
TV: LSN-TV (RCN-4 & 1004 HD, RCN-8 & 608 HD, WBPH-60 HD)
Live Internet Video: Patriot League Network
Live Internet Audio: Quaker Audio Network (Free)
Live Stats  |  Tickets

Week Two for the #UPrising features a short trip to Easton, Pa. to take on one of its oldest rivals in Lafayette. The two teams first met in 1882, and reconvene proceedings this week for the first time since 2013. The Quakers gave No. 20 Delaware all it could handle last week in the opener, and are hunting their first win to set the stage for the Ivy opener next week.
 
The Penn-Lafayette Series — 91st Meeting
Penn has played Lafayette more than any other non-conference opponent, and no non-Ivy opponent has been on Penn's schedule longer than the Leopards as the two teams first met way back in 1882 and have met a total of 90 times entering today. The Quakers own a 63-23-4 record in the series, but Lafayette has won five of the last seven dating back to 2007. The Quakers have lost their last three times traveling to Easton.
 
Looking Back On The 2013 Meeting
The Quakers opened their 2013 season with a 27-21 win at Franklin Field. Billy Ragone threw two touchdown passes and Conor Loftus connected on a pair of field goals to help stake the Red and Blue to a 27-7 lead after three quarters. The Leopards rallied in the fourth with two Ross Scheuerman touchdown runs to make it a 27-21 game with 5:31 remaining, but a Penn defensive stand and a failed Lafayette 4th-and-long conversion in the final minute sealed the Penn win.
 
Last Time At Lafayette
The last time Penn ventured to Fisher Stadium saw the Quakers come up just short in a 28-21 loss on 9.15.2012. Honestly, it was impressive that the Quakers were even in the game as Penn trailed, 21-0, after one quarter. Penn quarterbacks threw four interceptions in that opening frame — one which was returned for a touchdown — and finished with seven total interceptions in the game. Nevertheless, the Quakers showed signs of a gritty resolve that would ultimately pay championship dividends and clawed back to within one score and the ball with 2:30 remaining before the final pick of the day by Lafayette sealed the deal.
 
Denied At Delaware
Last week saw Penn play its first games of 2019 while No. 20 Delaware was taking the field for the fourth time. Yet, it was the Quakers who stormed out to a 21-7 lead before the Blue Hens fought back to take a 28-21 lead late in the fourth. The Quakers were set to get the ball back with under 3:00 to play, but Isaiah Malcome had other ideas and the junior took a Delaware punt 69 yards for a touchdown. The Quakers elected to go for two but were just short. One Blue Hen first down later, the hosts escaped with a 28-27 win.
 
The #UPrising Returns
Since 2015 when Ray Priore took over as head coach of the Quakers, Penn is the only Ivy League team with four consecutive winning seasons. The Red and Blue have won at least six games in all four years with Priore as head coach, and captured Ivy League titles in each of his first two seasons.
 
Championship Experience
Of the 44 players listed on Penn's two-deep to enter the season, 15 were a part of an Ivy League championship during their freshman seasons in 2016. Another — fifth-year safety Sam Philippi — played on Ivy title teams in 2015 and 2016. Overall, the Class of 2020 has won 19 games over its first three seasons.
 
Non-Conference Success
Last season saw the Quakers go 3-0 in non-conference play for the first time since 2003 and just the seventh time since 1986. In five of the seven seasons since 1986 where Penn went 3-0 in non-conference games the Quakers would go on to win an Ivy League championship.
 
Quakers Return Six Total All-Ivy Players
Three Quakers who earned All-Ivy honors in 2018 are joined by a trio of teammates who'd picked up the recognitions earlier in their career to give the Quakers a solid nucleus of All-Ivy players. Senior running back is a two-time All-Ivy selection who earned second-team All-Ivy honors last season. He is joined by 2018 honorable mention All-Ivy defensive backs Mohammed Diakite and Jacob Martin. Other Quakers to earn All-Ivy honors in their careers include senior safety Sam Philippi — a second-team selection in 2016 and 2017 — as well as linebacker Connor Jangro (honorable mention in 2016) and offensive lineman Greg Begnoche (honorable mention in 2017).
 
Something Old, Something New
Of the five offensive linemen expected to start on Saturday, three bring a wealth of experience while two are earning their second starting nod. Greg Begnoche has 20 games of starting experience at right tackle, but is sliding to left tackle to replace graduated All-Ivy honoree Tommy Dennis. Next to him will be Ace Escobedo who started all 10 games last season at left guard. At right guard will be Jeff Gibbs who has played in 26 career games with 21 career starts across the line. The newcomers include right tackle Dan Beaver — who has 11 appearances as a reserve and special teamer — and center Trevor Radosevich who spent last season on the defensive side of the ball. If Trevor needed any guidance on how to adjust to the offensive line, he could ask his older brother, Reilly, who is a first-team All-Ivy tackle at Princeton.
 
Here's To You, Mr. Robinson
Senior Nick Robinson has been named starting quarterback, and will make his third career start this weekend. After appearing in 13 games over the 2017 and 2018 seasons with one start, Robinson was 18-for-27 at Delaware for 193 yards and three touchdowns. He enters this week 93-for-140 (66.4%) for his career with 1,103 passing yards and 12 touchdowns to two interceptions.
 
Flyin' Ryan
How's this for a debut? Sophomore Ryan Cragun had eight catches for 145 yards in his first varsity game at Delaware. His 145 yards last week led all Ivy League receivers. His 145 yards in one game so far in 2019 would have ranked No. 6 among Penn's 11 players who caught passes last season. Because I know what you're wondering, all-everything wide receiver Justin Watson '17 had 3 catches for 21 yards in his first career game at Jacksonville in 2014 and did not have a 100-yard game until his 11th career appearance. Watson, of course, went on to record an Ivy League record 19 100-yard games.
 
Second(ary) To None
It is hard to find a more experienced secondary than the one Penn lines up this weekend with a group of five returners who've combined for 114 games played and 81 starts over their careers. Sam Philippi is the old head of the group, with 32 appearances and 31 starts and fellow safety Jacob Martin is right behind with 24 games played and 13 starts. Cornerback Conor O'Brien has played in 26 games with 20 starts, while backup safety Tayte Doddy started nine games has with 21 overall appearances. Sophomore Mohammed Diakite started 8 of his 10 appearances last season and was a finalist for FCS Freshman of the Year. Sophomore Jason McCleod, Jr. was the lone newcomer in the group in Week One, and he finished with three tackles, including one for a loss.
 
#KK2K
Karekin Brooks — known to his teammates as "KK" — made some Penn Football history in Week One by becoming just the 11th 2,000-yard rusher in program history. His 158 yards against Delaware gave him 2,002 for his career and he is just four away from passing his former teammate, Tre Solomon, and becoming No. 10 all-time. His 2,002 yards are No. 16 among active FCS players and most among active Ivy League backs.
 
Brooks And Fun
Karekin Brooks has rushed 341 times over his Penn career, and he is averaging an astonishing 5.9 yards-per-carry. Among active FCS running backs, Brooks is No. 5 in terms of yards-per-carry and No. 1 among Ivy League running backs. He is trending towards setting a new Penn career record for yards-per-carry (Chris Flynn '88 holds that record at 5.7) and becoming No. 2 all-time by an Ivy Leaguer (Rick Klupchak, Dartmouth '74 owns that record at 6.1 over 295 career carries).
 
Fourth Down Fun
The Quakers were 1-for-2 on fourth down conversion attempts in Week One at Delaware, the one successful fourth down play a 12-yard touchdown pass from Nick Robinson to Kolton Huber on 4th-and-1 in the third quarter. That was Penn's first 4th down attempt of the season, and was Penn's first conversion on 4th down since 2017 — Penn was 0-for-8 on fourth down last season.
 
Line Leading The Way
The Quakers did not concede a sack in Week One, and only allowed one tackle for loss against the Blue Hens. That performance continues a trend from 2018 where the Quakers ranked No. 10 in the nation in TFLs allowed-per-game (4.2) and No. 19 in sacks allowed-per-game (1.1). Penn has held an opponent without a sack in five of its last 11 games.