Penn football playing for pride at Harvard

Two games out. Two games left.

The situation is much bleaker this year for Penn football as it enters a late-season matchup with Harvard. Instead of playing for another Ivy title, the Red and Blue (4-4, 3-2 Ivy) are looking to play spoiler after their loss to Princeton last week. The Crimson (7-1, 4-1), who have played great football all year, can claim the title by winning and getting help from conference leader Princeton.

Despite Penn’s slim title chances, a win Saturday would be huge for a team that has fallen short of expectations. With a victory over the Crimson, the Quakers — especially the team’s seniors — would salvage a chunk of pride and rest assured knowing they can put up more than just a fight against the Ivy elite.

Taking down Harvard will be no easy task for the Quakers, however. To win, the Red and Blue will have to play their best game of the year.

The turnover trends for the two squads do not bode well for the Quakers, who need to drastically cut down on mistakes if they want to dash Harvard’s Ivy hopes. Penn’s offense has turned the ball over nine times in its last two games — both Ivy losses — while the Crimson’s defense leads the conference in fumble recoveries and ranks second in interceptions.

“Coming off last week, we need to learn from our mistakes,” senior quarterback Billy Ragone said. “We’ve got to go up there, give it our best effort and just be smart with the football.”

Penn cannot afford to give extra possessions to a Harvard team that is second in the Ivy League in scoring at 37.4 points per game.

The Crimson offense is led by junior quarterback Conner Hempel and sophomore running back Paul Stanton, both of whom were backups last season.

Hempel is a threat with both his arm and his legs. His 238.3 passing yards per game are second in the Ivy League, and he has rushed for four touchdowns.

Stanton, who has rushed for 758 yards, ranks second in the Ivy League in both yards per carry (6.3) and rushing touchdowns (11).

“They’ve both done a terrific job,” Harvard coach Tim Murphy said of the pair. “They’ve both proved that they are high-level players.”

The Quakers offense also revolves around a pair of players that saw limited roles last season, both running backs. Juniors Spencer Kulcsar and Kyle Wilcox have combined for 1188 all-purpose yards this year and have added a dimension of speed to Penn’s offense.

While the Quakers like to set the pace with a strong rushing attack, Billy Ragone and company will likely find more room for success in the air against the Crimson. Harvard’s defense ranks first in the Ancient Eight against the run and dead last against the pass.

Saturday’s contest is a test of will and character for a team that has little to play for in the standings. It’s also the last chance for the proud and accomplished Penn senior class to take on a familiar foe.

“Our kids are a proud group. They want to send the seniors out in good fashion,” coach Al Bagnoli said. “We’ve had an unbelievable run, and we want to pay tribute to the seniors. It’d be nothing better than going out and winning the last couple games.”

While their ultimate goal — another outright Ivy title — is out of reach, Penn’s seniors will be carrying a positive mindset up to Cambridge.

“The fact that we’ve got nothing left to lose makes us a lot more dangerous,” fifth-year senior nickelback Sam Chwarzynski said. “Being a senior — and I know the other seniors feel the same way — it comes time where you just gotta get your last licks in.

“We’ll be playing as hard as ever.”

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