PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Senior RB
Laquan McKever accounted for 146 yards of total offense and a trio of touchdowns to help the University of Pennsylvania sprint football team power past visiting Caldwell, 40-10, on Friday night at Franklin Field.
McKever rushed for 121 yards and scored twice on the ground to help the Quakers (4-1) score their fourth straight win, while the Cougars (4-1) saw their four-game winning streak come to an end.
Quaker Notemeal
*Penn is 4-0 all-time against Caldwell.
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Laquan McKever has scored two or more TDs in four consecutive games for the Quakers. He also had two catches for 24 yards and his first receiving TD of the fall.
*The Penn defense had a season-high six sacks.
Matt McKillop led the way with two.
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Sam Mintz had his team-leading third INT of the season.
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Lewis Evans had a team-high eight tackles including one sack, two TFLs and a forced fumble.
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Andrew Paolini was 12-of-19 passing for 159 yards and three TDs. He also had 25 rushing yards and a touchdown.
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Ben Klaus caught four passes for 41 yards and TD. He now has five receiving TDs on the season.
*Penn forced three turnovers and did not commit any. On the year, the Quakers have forced 11 turnovers and turned it over just twice.
How It Happened
Caldwell opened the scoring late in the first quarter after a bad bounce on a Penn punt saw the Cougars take over at the Quaker 11-yard line. On the second play of the drive, Frank DeMaio found Jeremy Colon for a TD to put the guests up 7-0.
Penn answered on the next drive.
Brendan McCaffrey returned the Caldwell kick 80 yards to the Cougar 19. Junior QB
Andrew Paolini connected with
Jake Wang for an 11-yard pitch and catch on first down and on third and goal, Paolini would roll out and find
Ben Klaus in the corner of the endzone to tie the game at seven.
The Quaker defense forced a three-and-out on the next Caldwell possession after
Nick Bauman had a big sack on third down. Following the Cougar punt, it would take Penn just three plays to take the lead. On second and four,
Laquan McKever took a handoff to the house. He cutback after crossing the line of scrimmage and broke free for a 44-yard touchdown run.
The Red and Blue stretched their lead to 14 at 21-7 on their next possession. Penn marched down the field 80 yards in just four plays. Paolini and McCaffrey connected for a 48-yard gain on first down. Two plays later, Penn was inside the 10 following a personal foul and a pass interference call against Caldwell. Thomas Rebstock put Penn up two scores with a five-yard TD catch. He ran a dig route and fought through a trio of Caldwell defenders to score.
Caldwell had a solid two-minute drive to cut the deficit to 11 at 21-10 heading into the half. The Cougars went 63 yards in 10 plays with George Escobar connecting on a 32-yard FG as time expired in the second quarter.
On the opening drive of the third quarter, the Penn defense came up big once again. A play after Caldwell botched a handoff, but fell on the loose ball, Penn's
Lewis Evans punched the ball out and a
Sam Mintz recovering gave the Quakers the ball in plus territory.
Andrew Paolini capped the drive with a seven-yard TD run on a designed QB keeper. A missed PAT gave the Quakers a 27-10 lead early in the third.
Caldwell went three and out on its next possession and the Quakers took over on a short field after blocking the punt. On the second play of the drive, Paolini rolled out and hit McKever and the senior RB took care of the rest for a 13-yard TD to put Penn up 34-10.
McKever was back at it in the fourth quarter, scoring on a one-yard plunge to give the Quakers a 40-10 advantage with 10 minutes remaining.
Up Next
Penn hits the road to square off with Alderson Broaddus next Friday night in West Virginia.
#FightOnPenn
