GAME 1: Penn at Bucknell
September 18 | 6 p.m. | Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium
TV: None
Live Internet Video: ESPN+ (subscription)
Live Internet Audio: Penn Audio Network (free)
Live Stats
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Game 1 Notes
Week One of the 2021 season is here for the #UPrising! The game on Saturday evening will be the first for the Quakers in 665 days! Penn will open its 144th season on the road against Bucknell. The two teams first met in 1895 and are playing this week for just the second time since 2010.
The Penn-Bucknell Series
The Quakers are Bison are playing for the 36th time on Saturday. Penn has won 30 of the 35 meetings, including each of the last seven contests. The series began in 1895 with the Red and Blue scoring a 40-0 triumph at Franklin Field. Penn is 5-2 all-time at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. The meeting is just the second between the two teams since 2010.
Looking Back on the 2018 Meeting
Penn and Bucknell last played in the 2018 season opener for the Quakers. In that game, Penn scored a 34-17 victory, thanks to scoring 27 first-half points. In the win, Penn rushed for 136 yards and forced a pair of Bison turnovers.
Brian O'Neill had 11 total tackles, including a sack and is one of two current Quakers (
Prince Emili) that saw action that day on the defensive side of the ball.
Season-Opening Success
Under George A. Munger Head Coach of Football
Ray Priore, Penn has won two of its last three season-openers. In 2017, The Quakers raced past Ohio Wesleyan, 42-24, and the Red and Blue took down Bucknell, 34-17, in 2018. Â
The Captains
It is an historic season for the Quakers in 2021. For the first time in the program's 144-year history, Penn will have five captains this fall. In a vote by teammates,
Brian O'Neill,
Prince Emili,
Isaiah Malcome,
Jake Heimlicher, and
Trevor Radosevich were named captains for the year. Every member of the senior class on the team received at least one vote from their teammates.
Preseason Honors
A quartet of Quakers were named to the 2021 Phil Steele Preseason All-Ivy League Team.
Brian O'Neill and
Prince Emili both garnered first team honors on defense, while wide receivers
Ryan Cragun and
Rory Starkey, Jr. each landed on the first team as well.
Dynamic Duo
Penn returns a strong contingent of pass catchers in 2021, highlighted by 2019 Second Team All-Ivy honoree
Ryan Cragun and classmate
Rory Starkey, Jr. Cragun had a breakout season as a sophomore, catching a team-best 58 passes for 885 yards and three TDs. Cragun averaged 98.3 yards receiving per game and her ranked third in the Ivy League in receptions, receiving yards, and receiving yards per game. He was also second in the Ivy League with 6.4 catches per game. Starkey also had a breakout sophomore season, thanks to hauling in 39 passes for 643 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns. Starkey was a force during the stretch run of the season for the Quakers as he had at least one touchdown reception in each of the final five games of the season. His seven TD grabs were tied for third-best in the Ancient Eight.
Lightning In A Bottle
Isaiah Malcome is back with some unfinished business for the Red and Blue after seeing his 2019 season ended after just one game due to an injury. In his lone appearance during that campaign Malcome put on a show, rushing for 73 yards on nine carries, catching a one-yard TD and returning a punt 69 yards for a score late in the fourth quarter against #20 Delaware. He has appeared in 21 games and is averaging over eight yards per carry and 12 yards per punt return in his career.
In The Trenches
The Quakers will look to a trio of returning upperclassmen to lead the way on the defensive line this year.
Prince Emili,
Jake Heimlicher and
Micah Morris each played in all 10 games in 2019 with Emili serving a starter up front for the second year in a row. Morris had 13 tackles with 1.5 TFLs and 0.5 sacks, while Heimlicher racked up 14 tackles, including 2.0 TFLs and 1.0 sacks.
Prince of Thieves
Prince Emili was a 2019 First-Team All-Ivy selection after finishing with 65 tackles, including a team-high 14.0 TFLs and 4.5 sacks. He ranked second in the Ivy League in TFL and had a team-high seven QBH.
Ball Hawks
The Penn secondary returns plenty of talent in 2021. The strong group features
Jason McCleod, Jr.,
Mohammed Diakite,
Kendren Smith, and
Jaden Key. McCleod had a team-high nine pass breakups in 2019, while Diakite was named one of 25 finalists for Jerry Rice Award presented annually to the Most Outstanding Freshman in FCS football in 2018. During his freshman campaign, Diakite earned All-Ivy honors after intercepting three passes.
QB 1
Entering preseason camp, the Quakers had an open competition for the starting quarterback position. In each of the last three seasons under Head Coach
Ray Priore, the Red and Blue have seen at least two different QBs see significant time under center.
John Quinnelly is the most experience signal caller returning for the Quakers, having spent three seasons with the team. Sophomores
Hugh Brady and
Ryan Zanelli showed signs of brilliance and took large steps forward in the spring and again during training camp. Leading into this week's game, Quinnelly was named the Quaker starter.
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