Penn football takes down Cornell in Bagnoli's final game

It wasn’t the cleanest game from either side, but coach Al Bagnoli is heading out with a win.

Four failed extra point attempts. Nine fumbles. Questionable calls from the referees.

In the end though, Penn would prevail over Cornell , 34-26, behind a career day for senior receiver Spencer Kulcsar in his final collegiate game. The converted running back notched 11 receptions for 187 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Quakers.

“If you had told me before this game that I was going to get three touchdowns, I would have called you a liar,” Kucsar said of his own performance.

“It was really great to go out on a high note both personally and as a team, send [Bagnoli] off on the right note.”

The teams played close for most of the first half, trading touchdowns and turnovers.

The Big Red (1-9, 1-6 Ivy) opened up the scoring on their first drive, taking the ball 67 yards down the field in just six plays. Sophomore quarterback Robert Somborn capped off the drive with a 32-yard pass to fellow sophomore receiver Collin Shaw.

The Quakers (2-8, 2-6) started out slow on offense, but responded following a strong defensive drive to force a three-and-out. Taking the ball on Cornell’s 23-yard line, sophomore quarterback Alek Torgersen drove Penn to the end zone to take the lead.

On the Big Red’s next drive, Penn forced a fumble, but due to the referees’ questioning the original fumble call, Kevin Ijoma’s return (for a touchdown) was nullified. Torgersen proceeded to throw an interception on the next play.

“We left so many points on the field — I’m sure they feel the same way too — we’ve been doing that for two or three games,” Bagnoli said of all the fumbles in the game.

“It’s one of those [games] where just the consistency factor was just not something we’ve been good at and today was pretty reflective of it.”

The rest of the half saw the two teams trade touchdowns and fumble the ball five times with only one fumble changing hands.

The second half saw Penn’s defense take over. The Quakers held the Big Red offense to just 29 total yards over its next three drives and held Cornell off on fourth and goal in another.

Torgersen found Kulcsar deep midway through the third quarter for the pair’s third touchdown connection of the day — a 78-yard burner. A fourth quarter drive from the Red and Blue resulted in sophomore Brian Schoenauer’s first career touchdown, as Penn solidified a 34-18 lead.

Despite a late touchdown and two-point conversion from Cornell, the Quakers would hold on for the win.

“It validates all the hard work,” Bagnoli said. “We’ve been getting a lot better the past three or four weeks, but we don’t have a ‘W’ to show for it.”

The team celebrated the win, and Bagnoli’s final game, with a Gatorade bath for the outgoing coach.

“We had been talking about it all week. Coach Bagnoli’s had a great career, you can go on and on about coach,” senior defensive back and captain Evan Jackson said.

“It just felt right to get the [win] and celebrate the way we would if we had won the championship.”

It was the grand finale to a historic coaching career. Bagnoli ended his career with 234 career victories and 148 at Penn — the most for a coach in the program’s history . It may have been the last time Bagnoli took the field to coach, but his legacy will continue to live on.

“For anyone that’s ever played for him, they always have stories. He’s a phenomenal coach and a legend,” Kulcsar said.

“To be able to play under him and with him in our final year, is something I won’t forget.”

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.