Penn football behind at halftime to Princeton, 19-10

Penn football started its game vs. Princeton on a big drive into Tigers’ territory. But the Quakers couldn’t score.

And on Penn’s second drive, the Red and Blue got all the way to the two, but a fumble dashed hopes of points.

All in all, some miscues in Princeton territory held Penn back as the Quakers fell behind the Tigers in the first half, 19-10, at Princeton Stadium despite forcing their first turnover in almost a month.

On the Quakers’ opening drive, sophomore quarterback Alek Torgersen got going quickly, throwing a big 46-yard pass to sophomore Danny Ferens. The drive stalled after a sack and junior Jimmy Gammill missed a 42-yard field goal.

The Tigers responded with a field goal drive and Penn promptly drove down on the heels of a wide-receiver pass by senior Conner Scott to fellow-senior receiver Eric Fiore. Fiore helped Penn get all the way to the two-yard line.

However, disaster struck as sophomore run-and gun QB Adam Strouss fumbled at the two. The Tigers’ Dorian Williams brought the ball all the way to Penn’s nine-yard line and got another field goal. A drive later, Princeton senior QB Quinn Epperly helped the Tigers extend their lead with a one-yard field goal.

Torgersen wouldn’t let his squad fall behind too far as he found a groove following the 12-0 deficit. Penn’s drive was methodical with Torgersen converting a fourth down deep in Princeton territory before hitting Conner Scott for five-yard touchdown.

But Princeton wouldn’t let Penn stay within five for long. Two drives later, Epperly and fellow senior QB Connor Michelsen brought the Tigers down with a long drive capped by a Epperly pass to senior receiver Connor Kelley, making it 19-7.

The two teams exchanged turnovers as Torgersen threw his first interception in 173 passes, with Williams picking him off. Junior safety Ian Dobbins responded for Penn with an INT of his own, getting a pick for Penn’s first forced turnover since facing Fordham on Oct. 11.

Torgersen took over at his own 19 and helped cut into the Tigers’ lead. Passes to Scott, freshman Justin Watson and senior Matt Schwartz brought Penn into Princeton territory but the Quakers settled for a field goal. Gammill redeemed his early miss with a 44-yard field goal.

Torgersen now has six straight games with a touchdown and over 200 yards passing, going 22-for-35 with 223 yards in the first half. He now has over 2,000 yards passing this season, the first 2,000-yard passer for the Quakers since 2006.

Scott also moved up Penn's record books, becoming the fifth receiver in program history with 1,700 receiving yards. 

Meanwhile, Epperly and Michelsen combined for 200 yards in the first half, with a touchdown and interception respectively.

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