LEWISBURG, Pa. – The University of Pennsylvania football team spoiled Family Weekend for Bucknell on Saturday evening, as the Quakers raced past the Bison, 30-6, under the lights at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
The Red and Blue (1-0) won their season opener for the third time in the last four seasons, while Bucknell (0-3) dropped its third straight contest to open the year.
Quaker Notemeal
*Penn has now won eight consecutive games against Bucknell dating back to 1999.
*The Quakers have won four games in a row against teams from the Patriot League.
*Penn was playing for the first time in 665 days and it marked their first victory in 672 days.
*Making his debut as the team's starting QB,
John Quinnelly was 15-of-22 passing for 273 yards and a pair of TDs. He also ran for 30 yards.
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Ryan Cragun caught six passes for 110 yards and a TD. He eclipsed 100 yards receiving for the fifth time in his career.
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Rory Starkey, Jr. had a pair of catches for 113 yards and a TD. Dating back to 2019, he has scored a touchdown in six straight games. His 70-yard score in the third quarter tied his career long.
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Isaiah Malcome ran for 80 yards on 11 carries and he caught three passes for 31 yards.
*Penn ran for 210 yards in the victory.
Jonathan Mulatu added 53 yards on 10 carries, while
Trey Flowers had nine totes for 44 yards and a score.
*Defensively, the Quakers had four sacks and one turnover.
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Khalil Lewis and
Jake Heimlicher both had eight tackles and 0.5 sacks while
Prince Emili had seven tackles, highlighted by his 1.5 sacks.
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Jason McCleod, Jr. intercepted a pass in the third quarter. He also had a game-high three pass breakups. The INT was the first of his career.
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Daniel Karrash was 3-of-3 on field goals and he made all three of his PATs. His 11 points were a new career best.
*The Quakers scored on their first four possessions of the game.
How It Happened
Penn won the opening toss and chose to defer. The Red and Blue wanted their defense to set the tone early and that's just what they did. On the opening possession of the game, the defensive front made a pair of stops on third-and-one and fourth-and-one to give the Penn offense starting field possession at the plus-27-yard line.
Prince Emili and
Micah Morris plugged the middle on both rush attempts to give the offense some momentum.
On their first offensive drive, Penn advanced to Bucknell's 3-yard line before running out of steam. Malcome did most of the work, rushing three times for 23 yards before the Red and Blue settled for a 20-yard field goal from Karrash.
Bucknell responded with a 15-play, 83-yard touchdown drive to take the lead. The Quakers committed a pair of penalties (pass interference on third and long and running into the kicker on a FG attempt) that elongated the drive and allowed the Bison to score their first TD of the season. The PAT sailed wide right, however, and the hosts' lead was just 6-3.
The Quakers answered with another field goal which tied the game early in the second quarter, once again marching into the Bucknell red zone before stalling. Karrash capped the drive with a 24-yard FG.
Penn's defense held its ground on the ensuing possession, forcing a punt. The ball was downed at the Quakers' 31 with the Red and Blue looking to take the lead.
The Quaker drive started with five straight runs as Penn moved into Bucknell territory. On third-and-two from the Bison 44, Quinnelly kept the ball on an RPO and hit a wide-open
Ryan Cragun in stride for Penn's first TD of the day. The score gave the Quaker a lead they would not relinquish in the contest.
Following the Cragun TD, Penn's defense once again forced a Bucknell three-and-out.
Quinnelly led the Quakers into the red zone for the fourth straight drive. The highlight during the field-goal scoring drive came on a 43-yard hookup between Quinnelly and Starkey, Jr. on second and eight. Karrash's third field goal of the day, this one a 32-yarder, capped the scoring in the opening half as Penn took a 16-6 edge into the locker room.
On the first drive of the second half, Starkey, Jr. and Quinnelly were at it again. On third and seven on the Penn 30, RJ broke free in the secondary and Quinnelly found him for a 70-yard bomb. Karrash's extra-point was true as Penn took a 23-6 lead less than two minutes into the third quarter.
The opportunistic Quaker defense gave the ball right back to the offense in plus territory. On third and long,
Jason McCleod, Jr. made a nice play on the sideline to secure his first collegiate interception and Penn took over at the Bucknell 38.
Two plays later, after a 20-yard catch by Cragun and a 10-yard pitch-and-catch between Quinnelly and
Owen Goldsberry, the Quakers were inside the Bucknell 10. On third and goal from the two,
Trey Flowers followed his big men up front to paydirt as Penn capped the scoring in the game. It was the second career rushing TD for Flowers.
Neither team threatened to score in the fourth quarter as Penn closed things out in the victory formation.
Up Next
The Quakres hit the road once again next Saturday to face Lafayette in Easton, Pa. Opening kickoff is slated for 3:30 p.m. in a game that will be broadcast live on NBC Sports Philadelphia.
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