That's not the start the the Quakers were looking for.
At the half, Penn football trails Harvard 16-0 on Homecoming and Senior Day.
The Quakers’ final home game of the 2018 season got off to a fast start, as the junior defensive back Conor O’Brien intercepted Harvard senior quarterback Tom Stewart’s first pass of the game. But the Red and Blue (6-2, 3-2 Ivy) failed to capitalize on the turnover when sophomore quarterback Ryan Glover tossed an interception on the following play at Penn’s own 29 yard line.
After trading interceptions, Harvard (4-4, 2-3) took advantage of its good field position with a one yard touchdown run by senior running back Charlie Booker to give the Crimson a 7-0 lead with 11:54 left in the first quarter.
On their second drive, the Quakers were forced into a three-and-out after failing to convert through the air.
On the ensuing possession, Harvard kept the ball on the ground with sophomore running back Aaron Shampklin, who had 81 rushing yards on 14 attempts. Shampklin was elusive all half long, and currently leads the Ivy League in rushing.
Despite letting the Crimson inside their own 10 yard line, the Red and Blue defense held firm to force Harvard into a field goal, which junior kicker Jake McIntyre converted to bring the lead to 10-0.
The Quakers started the next possession with good field position, at their own 40 yard line. The strong return set Glover up to complete a 32-yard pass to senior receiver Mike Akai, who made the diving grab at the one yard line.
After the big completion, though, Harvard stopped Penn on three consecutive running plays. On fourth-and-goal, Glover overthrew junior running back Karekin Brooks to turn the ball over on downs.
The second quarter was largely quiet, with both defenses getting stops, until a nine-yard touchdown pass from Harvard’s backup quarterback Jake Smith found senior receiver Brian Dunlap in the end zone to give the Crimson at 16-0 lead at the half.
Full recap with quotes to come after the game.
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