PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania sprint football team closed the 2024 season on Friday night, falling 12-7 on Senior Day to Chestnut Hill at Franklin Field.
 
Sophomore JT Goodman scored the sole Penn touchdown against the Griffins to account for the offense in the CSFL South battle.
 
Quaker Notemeal 
*Before tonight's matchup, Penn honored its 10 seniors Kyle Zeitlian, Adrian Montemayor, Cam Janock, Jordan Ortiz, Jake Wang, Matt McKillop, Matt Kentra, Tom Rebstock, Jake Inserra and Alex Schrier. 
 
*The Quakers end the year 5-2, their best record since the 2021 season when they also went 5-2.
 
*Penn accumulated 185 yards against Chestnut Hill's 202 yards. The Red and Blue completed 53 plays compared to the Griffins' 60. 
 
*Quarterback Michael Malone passed for 119 yards and had 13 completions. 
 
*Kicker Montemayor tallied one extra-point kick, two tackles, and two broken-up passes on the field. 
 
*Running back Goodman rushed 31 yards on eight attempts and scored a touchdown. 
 
*On the defensive end, senior Inserra led the charge with seven tackles, followed by senior McKillop, who accumulated six tackles and one sack. 
 
*Wide Receiver Wang carried the receiving room with 44 yards. 
 
How It Happened 
The Quakers won the toss and marched down to the four-yard line to take a risk on fourth down but were unsuccessful. Malone's pass to Rebstock was just short of a touchdown, leading the Griffins to take over. Chestnut Hill's time with the ball was quick after losing two yards on the drive and pushing the ball back to Penn. Goodman found an opening in the pocket with two minutes left in the quarter, rushing for five yards to break the scoreless tie at 7-0.
 
Both teams went back and forth to start the second after unsuccessful opening drives. The Quakers were able to take advantage of a fumble picked up by Jacob Rios. This led to a 31-yard pass from Malone to Jason Sheairs to push the Red and Blue down the field. Montemayor found himself 33 yards out of a field goal, but the offense could not convert.
 
The Griffins took their time on the next drive, winding down the clock for a total of 11 minutes. However, McKillop answered back, sacking rusher Lawrence Howard V for seven yards on third down. Chestnut Hill was not done on the drive as quarterback Andre Cancellare found a wide opening to Kyree Griffin to score in the end zone in the last 15 seconds of the quarter. Kicker Brady Reynolds attempted a field goal but was blocked by Ryan Horvath to end the half with Penn ahead 7-6
 
The Griffins received the ball to start the second half and took their time moving down the field, taking off five minutes on the clock. Montemayor did not let Chestnut Hill find the end zone, breaking up two passes and forcing Chestnut Hill to turn the ball over to highlight the third.
 
Entering the fourth, the Quakers could not capitalize on their play after Malone was sacked by Amir Jenkins. On their next possession, the Griffins took a 12-7 lead after a five-yard dash into the end zone. The Griffins' Cancellare sought a two-point conversion but was intercepted by Ben Effress. The favor was then returned after Malone's pass intended for senior Zeitlian but was intercepted by Dimitri Laylor to put the nail in the coffin of the battle, as the Griffins ran the clock down to hold the game at 12-7.