Villanova Preview | Hoping to break through

Penn has endured many heartbreaking losses since senior linebacker and defensive captain Jay Colabella first arrived in West Philadelphia four summers ago. But perhaps no losses have been more frustrating than the ones at the hands of the Quakers' cross-town rival, Villanova.

He and his classmates know the story of the burgeoning rivalry all too well.

In 2005, Pat McDermott executed a bizarre last minute drive under the lights at Franklin Field, including a facemask penalty and a 42-yard Hail Mary, which brought Penn down to the Wildcats' three-yard line with time to run one more play. Down 28-24 with a chance to complete a miracle comeback, McDermott was dragged to the turf on a sack to end the game. Just as in Penn's 16-13 loss to Villanova at Franklin Field in 2004, the Quakers fell just a bit short.

2006's contest at Franklin Field was just as crazy, as the Quakers squandered four opportunities from Villanova's 10 yard-line in the final moments to lose, 27-20.

And then there was last season's meltdown at Villanova Stadium, in which Penn's quarterbacks combined for seven interceptions and watched a halftime lead quickly slip away. Unable to recover from offseason shoulder surgery, Quarterback Robert Irvin's last pass of the game, an interception deep in Villanova territory, would also be his last toss of the season.

"We definitely owe 'em," Colabella said. "I'd love to get them back."

The Quakers will have a chance to do just that tomorrow in their season opener, when the No. 19 Wildcats (1-1) make the trip in from the Main Line yet again. Now healthy, Irvin is looking forward to a shot at redemption.

"Missing all of last year and not really having a chance to play in about a year, I'm just getting really excited," Irvin said.

But he might also have some company under center. In the past several weeks of preseason, junior college transfer Kyle Olson has emerged as a candidate for the starting quarterback job.

Though Penn coach Al Bagnoli said that "the quarterback situation has resolved itself," he would not reveal his decision to the public until game time.

Regardless of who gets more snaps, the Quakers will place a premium on playing more conservatively than they did against Villanova last year in order to keep themselves alive.

"We've got to be smarter," Bagnoli said. "If we can manage the game and keep the score somewhere so it's not tilted, I think it gives us a pretty good chance to be in it at the end of the game."

The nationally-ranked Wildcats already have two games under their belts - a 48-21 loss at West Virginia and a decisive 33-14 victory at home over Lehigh. Their secondary, led by Salim Koroma, remains very strong, intercepting four passes last week against Lehigh.

Irvin emphasized the need to take care of the football against a Villanova team that loves to capitalize on turnovers - junior linebacker Osayi Osunde returned a Villanova pick 56 yards for a touchdown last week.

"Maybe you don't take as many chances," Irvin said. "We're going to be careful with the ball and not try to force anything or do too much."

Bagnoli spoke to Lehigh coach Andy Coen, one of his former offensive coordinators at Penn, to get an assessment of this season's Villanova squad.

"He said it's a typical Villanova team," Bagnoli said. "Very athletic, very fast, big-play capability ... We know we're going to have our hands full."

Offensively, the Wildcats are led by speedy junior quarterback Antwon Young, who threw for 218 yards and rushed for a touchdown at West Virginia and went 22-for-35 with a touchdown pass against Lehigh. Young also has a deep receiving corps, as six different Villanova wideouts have caught at least five passes in the first two games.

Though the Wildcats come into the game the favorites, Bagnoli is upbeat about Penn's chances.

"Our kids have prepared really well in the offseason and the preseason," he said. "We recognize it's going to be a tough game - it's a great challenge for us."

And if the game turns out anything like the last few Penn-Villanova match-ups at Franklin Field, don't be surprised if it comes down to the wire.

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