NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Penn's high-powered passing attack, which is among the best in the nation, was on full display Saturday at Yale Bowl, Class of 1954 Field. Quarterback Aidan Sayin threw for 364 yards and two touchdowns, and receiver Jared Richardson had a school-record 17 receptions for 191 yards as the Quakers knocked off the Bulldogs 27-17.
The loss snapped Yale's three-game winning streak. The Bulldogs are now 3-3 overall and 1-2 in Ivy play. Penn improved to 5-1 overall and 2-1 in league games.
TURNING POINT
Jack Bosman kicked a 23-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter to pull the Bulldogs within 20-17. The Quakers, though, answered with a 15-play, 78-yard drive that ended with a 15-yard Bryce Myers touchdown reception on a 3
rd-and-goal play.
Graham Gotlieb's extra point increased Penn's advantage to 27-17. It was the first time in the game either team had a two-score lead. The Bulldogs couldn't score on their ensuing possession, and the Quakers ran out the clock to seal the victory.
BACK AND FORTH FIRST HALF
Penn scored the first points of the day on a Malachi Hosley 13-yard TD run. Yale answered midway through the first quarter on
Joshua Pitsenberger's 3-yard touchdown reception. The Quakers regained the lead early in the second when Gotlieb booted a 33-yard field goal.
Jackson Hawes' 9-yard touchdown reception gave Yale a 14-10 lead, but the Quakers took the lead before the halftime break on a Richardson 3-yard touchdown reception.
QUAKERS CONTROL CLOCK IN THIRD
After a strong Bosman punt pinned Penn at its own 4-yard line, the Quakers managed a 16-play, 85-yard drive that used up nearly half of the third quarter. Yale's defense stiffened at the end of the drive, and Penn was forced to settle for a 28-yard Gotlieb field goal, which increased the Quakers lead to 20-14.
QUOTING RENO
"The bottom line is they made plays at the end, and we didn't," said
Tony Reno, The Joel E. Smilow '54 Head Coach of the Bulldogs. "We pride ourselves on being a team that finishes and today they did, and we didn't. We had an opportunity on multiple occasions on both sides of the ball to put ourselves in an advantageous situation, whether it was put points on the board or make a stop, and we just didn't. Give credit to Penn. They played a heck of a game.
"It's obviously disappointing how we finished the game, and now we have a great opportunity to respond. We'll look at this game today and tomorrow and come back and get ourselves ready to be a better version of ourselves next week against Columbia."
NOTES
• Yale quarterback
Nolan Grooms threw two more touchdown passes, giving him 14 on the season. He also rushed 12 times for 61 yards.
• Both teams were efficient on third down. The Quakers were 11 of 16, while the Bulldogs converted 8-of-14 times on third down.
•
Joseph Vaughn finished with 12 tackles, including 10 solo, to lead Yale's defense. He also had a sack.
Hamilton Moore added nine tackles.
• Yale captain
Wande Owens faced off against his younger brother Bisi, a receiver for the Quakers. Bisi finished with three receptions for 51 yards, while Wande made four tackles, including one for a 12-yard loss.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Bulldogs are right back in Yale Bowl next Saturday to host Columbia in a noon kickoff. The Lions lost 20-9 at Dartmouth on Saturday.
SPECIAL VISITOR
Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Foyesade Oluokun, Yale Class of 2018, was back at the Bowl. Oluokun returned an interception for a touchdown in Thursday night's 31-24 Jaguar victory over New Orleans and was back at his alma mater to take in Saturday's game. Oluokun also was recently featured by NFL Films.
