Yale runs roughshod over Penn football, 43-21

NEW HAVEN — Entering Saturday’s game against Yale, Penn football knew it couldn’t try to tackle running back Tyler Varga one-on-one or allow quarterback Morgan Roberts to make big plays if it wanted to pull off an upset.

The Red and Blue couldn’t do either of those things, and a familiar result ensued.

Varga steamrolled Penn for 140 yards and two touchdowns and Roberts completed 26 of 29 passes for 346 yards and four scores as the Bulldogs emphatically put an end to the Quakers’ aspirations of ascending the Ivy standings, 43-21.

It only took three series until it became apparent that this would be a long afternoon for Penn (1-5, 1-2 Ivy).

After a Penn three-and-out , the Bulldogs (5-1, 2-1) took advantage of good field position at the Quakers’ 46 and let Varga do what he does best: truck defenders. The senior took the ball off left tackle on a 4th and one and sprung free for a 23-yard touchdown, easily fending off an attempted strip from Penn safety Evan Jackson.

"He's just a big, strong running back, runs hard, keeps his balance pretty well," Jackson said. "[You]  just have to wrap up and swarm to the ball if you're trying to tackle that kid."

The Quakers promptly took the ball down inside the Yale 20 after a 41-yard hookup between quarterback Alek Torgersen and wide receiver Conner Scott, but disaster ensued.

Kicker Jimmy Gammill’s 31-yard field goal attempt was blocked at the line, and the Penn field goal unit stood around in a stunning lack of awareness. Bulldogs linebacker Matthew Oplinger alertly scooped up the live ball and rumbled to the Penn 49. Roberts promptly connected with wideout Grant Wallace on an 18-yard strike to give Yale a 15-0 lead.

Penn’s offense was able to shake off the shock and rally — somewhat. Torgersen and Scott connected eight times for 156 yards in the first half, including a pair of touchdowns that drew the Quakers within margins of 15-7 and 29-14, respectively.

But Roberts was more than able to match Torgersen in a shootout. The Ivy League’s leading passer picked apart Penn’s secondary seemingly at will all game long, hitting wide receiver Deon Randall for one touchdown and backup running back Candler Rich for another.

His favorite target, though, was Wallace, who abused Quakers cornerback Kevin Ijoma so badly in the first half that the senior was benched. Wallace caught 10 balls for 173 yards and added another touchdown in the second half.

 "I knew [Roberts would] make the right reads," Wallace said. "Our gameplan was really solid, so I was open based on what they were giving us and what the play calls were.

Ijoma — who would return to the field late in the third quarter — was not the only Penn defensive back to have a bad day at the office. Dan Wilk, Trevor Niemann and Dylan Muscat all gave up big plays as Penn coach Al Bagnoli shuffled the secondary to no avail. Even freshman Brandon Michel got burned on Wallace’s second score, which made it 43-14.

"We've got to find some consistency back on the third level," Bagnoli said. "We're not playing as consistent as I'd like to see us play. And so we're looking at some answers, we'll go back, look at the film and see where we are.

"We've just gotta be more in sync back there than what we are, and obviously that's my fault."

Despite all of their defensive struggles, the Quakers still had a chance to make it a game late in the first half.

After a big fourth down stop of Varga, Torgersen took over from his own 22 to engineer a no-huddle drive and pull the Quakers within eight points.

Penn seemed to lose its momentum, though, after the game was stopped for several minutes due to an apparent head injury to Yale cornerback Spencer Rymiszewski. The sophomore was stretchered off the field and had the face mask cut off of his helmet before being transported to a local hospital for concussion tests.

Once play resumed, Scott slipped coming out of his break on what would have been a first down reception, dashing the Quakers hopes.

By the end of the afternoon, Penn’s dream of seriously contending for the Ivy title had suffered a similar fate.

The Quakers will take on Brown next Saturday for Homecoming.

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