ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The University of Pennsylvania sprint football team made it interesting early in the first quarter to make it a 7-7 ballgame, but a 35-7 scoring run to conclude the contest allowed Navy to come away with a 42-7 victory Saturday night at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
 
With the win, the Midshipmen (4-0, 2-0 CSFL South) are now a victory away from clinching the CSFL South Division title for a fourth straight season. The Quakers (3-3, 2-1 CSFL South) will conclude their regular season next Friday night against Mansfield at Franklin Field.
 
Quaker Notemeal
*The loss to Navy is Penn's fourth straight as the Midshipmen extend their dominant all-time series lead to 76-8-2.
 
*Senior QB Andrew Paolini totaled two touchdown passes to up his season total to eight, his third straight game with at least one TD strike.
 
*Rookie of the Year hopeful at linebacker, Charles Tauckus got it done on the offensive end for the first time this season, tallying his first career receiving touchdown on his first career catch.
 
*It's the second straight year Alex Totta rushed for multiple touchdowns against the Penn defense, tallying four last season and three on Saturday night.
 
*It was a strong night for Quaker receivers with touchdowns from Tauckus and Kyle Zeitlian. Jake Wang (9) and Brandon Graves (7) combined for 16 of Penn's 20 receptions on the night. Graves led the way with 91 yards, Wang second with 80.
 
*Jake Inserra led the Penn defense with 12 total tackles (eight solos) and two tackles for a loss. Eight of Tauckus' nine total tackles were solos with a forced fumble registered as well.
 
*Penn totaled 293 yards of offense with 216 through the air. Navy limited the Quakers to just 77 yards rushing, 51 for Paolini.
 
How It Happened
Penn got the ball first in the contest, but quickly gave it away as Paolini threw his third interception of the season. The Midshipmen needed just three plays and 10 yards to score their first touchdown and take an early 7-0 lead.
 
The Quakers weren't fazed by Navy's short scoring drive, as they had one of their own the very next series, getting 68 yards down the field to score as Paolini completed a 10-yard strike to Tauckus to tie the game at 7-7.
 
Late in the first quarter, Navy extended its lead to 14-7 after Totta sprinted 13 yards into the end zone for his second TD of the night.
 
It was all Navy in the second quarter, with consecutive points on two more rushing touchdowns to take a 28-7 lead into the locker room.
 
The Midshipmen made it 28 unanswered points following an 11-play, 65-yard opening drive to kick off the second half with a nine-yard TD pass from Atwood to Tyron Francis, taking a 35-7 lead.
 
Navy scored again with a little over 11 minutes to go in the fourth quarter – a fifth rushing touchdown for the team – with a one-yard run from Victor Otero to put the Mids up 42-7.
 
With under two minutes to play in the fourth quarter, the Quakers put up their final score of the night, a 24-yard completion from Paolini to Zeitlian to make it a 42-14 contest.
 
Up Next
Penn closes the book on the 2022 regular season next Friday at Franklin Field against visiting Mansfield for Senior Night. The game kicks off at 7 p.m., streamed live on ESPN+ (subscription required).