PHILADELPHIA – The University of Pennsylvania football team came from behind to take down the Yale Bulldogs, 24-21, on Friday night at Franklin Field. The win was the the Quakers first Ivy League victory of the season.
"I'm just proud of the guys, we've faced a lot of adversity in the first half of the season," said head coach
Rick Santos. "I'm so proud of the way they handled themselves. We stuck together, we had each other's back and we used last week as a galvanizing moment. We know we're a heck of a football team and we're four plays away from being a team that's at the top of the league."
Penn's (3-3, 1-2 Ivy League) defense picked off a season-best four passes, including two in the red zone, to keep Yale (3-3, 1-2 Ivy League)Â off the scoreboard.
"Our defense battled their tails off all night and kept us in the game," said Santos. "The defensive line did a great job wreaking havoc and our backend was rock solid tonight."
Freshman
Miles Teodecki entered the lineup once again and got the start at quarterback, throwing for 156 yards and two touchdowns.
Running back Sean Williams carried a bulk of the load, rushing for a season-best 82 yards and the game-winning touchdown.
"I'm so proud of 'Pup' here and how he stayed the course. Going into his senior year, I know he would have liked some more carries early on. But he was ready for his moment tonight," said Santos.
When asked about what he saw on his final touchdown run, Williams said "Green grass, touchdown. Everyone around me, the offensive line and receivers, did a great job and were the reason I was able to score."
HOW IT HAPPENED
Penn got the ball first and went three and out before punting to Yale. Four plays later, the Bulldogs struck first with a 44-yard jet pop pass from Dante Reno to Lucius Anderson to go up 7-0.
The Quakers would respond right back with an eight-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to tie it up. Sean Williams Jr. got it going with a season-best 28-yard run to the Yale 33. A Teodecki strike to
Isaac Lee got Penn in the red zone before Penn worked it to the two.
Jack Donnelly scored on a two-yard pass from Teodecki on fourth and goal.
Yale would go three and out on its next drive, but a miscue by its punter ended with him trying to run for a first down on a bobbled snap. He was tripped up at his own 20 yard line, short of the first down. It left Penn in prime position to strike.
A Teodecki post to
Mason Page covered 18 yards, getting Penn down to the two. Three plays later, Miles found
Dante Barone on a play action pass for a touchdown to put the home team up 14-7. Yale would punt once more after its drive stalled out after one first down.
Penn took a 14-7 lead into quarter two. Its first drive of the quarter stalled out at the Yale 36 yard line. Penn opted to go for it on fourth and 9 in opponent territory, but couldn't convert.
Yale moved the ball into Penn territory, eventually getting to the 32 yard line after a trio of pass plays. Reno tried to take a deep shot but his pass was broken up by
Ty Cortes and intercepted by a diving
Ezra Fearon at the two yard line.
The Quakers went three and out on their next drive and punted back to Yale. Two plays later the Bulldogs tied it up with a 34-yard touchdown run by Hugo Djeumeni Kemeni.
The two teams exchanged punts the next few possessions, but Yale scored again with just 20 seconds left in the half on a screen play that Lucius Anderson broke for a 29-yard touchdown. He had 97 yards and two scores at the half as Yale took a 21-14 lead into the break.
Penn forced a Yale punt on the first drive of the second half. After going three and out themselves, the Quakers tried to flip the field as well, but a shanked punt went just seven yards and the defense had its back against the wall.
They stepped up once again, bending but not breaking as
Josh Narcisse broke up a pass in the end zone and
Derek McCrum picked it off after the deflection to keep points off the board. Penn would drive it into Yale territory, but the drive stalled out and they were forced to punt again.
Yale's next drive ended with yet another interception, as
Brock Cornell picked off Reno for the Quakers' third pick of the game. We went into the fourth quarter with Yale still leading, 21-14.
Penn drove deep into Yale territory before having to settle for a field goal.
Mason Walters drilled a 42-yarder to make it 21-17. Another Penn defensive stop led to a Yale punt, and the Quakers took advantage with prime field position at their own 44 yard line. The home team marched down field on an eight-play, 56-yard drive capped with a Sean Williams 13-yard touchdown run to go up 24-21.
A highlight reel interception from
Devin Malloy stopped Yale's next drive and Penn took over with 1:45 to play. After three running plays and a punt, Yale got the ball back with 0:44 and a timeout. The Quakers marched into field goal range to the Penn 26, but a procedure penalty backed them up to the Penn 31. Yale missed a 49-yard field goal on the next play, giving Penn a 24-21 win.
QUAKER NOTEMEAL
*Penn now trails the all-time series against Yale, 53-38-1. The win breaks a two-game losing streak against the Bulldogs.
*Penn posted a season-high four interceptions.
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Miles Teodecki earned the start at quarterback, throwing for 156 yards and two touchdowns.
*Sean Williams rushed for a season-high 82 yards and the game-winning touchdown.
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Isaac Lee continued his strong play, leading the team in receiving with 63 yards.
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Dante Barone caught his third touchdown passes of the season.
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Jack Donnelly caught his second touchdown pass of the season. He also had a career-high 52 yards.
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Ezra Fearon picked off his second pass of the season, a team-best.
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Devin Malloy picked off his first career pass in the fourth quarter.
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Derek McCrum and
Brock Cornell each picked off their first career pass in the third quarter.
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Zach Darche led the team with 11 tackles while
Cole Olsztyn had seven.
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Nate Kashey had a career-long 63-yard punt in the first half.
UP NEXT
Penn travels to Brown for a matchup on Saturday, Oct. 31. The game starts at noon on ESPN+.
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