After a last-second win this weekend, there was plenty to be happy about for Penn football.
Notably, junior linebacker Brian O'Neill stepped up in key moments of the game to help stop the potent Brown offensive attack, earning himself Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week honors.
O’Neill played a crucial part in the Quakers' win on Saturday. He filled the stat book to help the Red and Blue hit a last-second field goal in their 38-36 victory, finishing the game with two interceptions, two sacks, and a fumble return for a touchdown.
In the third quarter, O'Neill picked off Brown junior quarterback EJ Perry to set up the Quakers in scoring position at the Brown 11-yard line. The offense then scored on the next play to extend the lead. Then, three Brown offensive plays later, O'Neill was at it again with a 21-yard fumble return to put the Red and Blue up 35-19.
However, O’Neill was not done yet. After sophomore kicker Daniel Karrash made a 22-yard field goal with two seconds remaining in the game, O'Neill secured the win for Penn with an interception — stopping any hopes for a miracle for Brown.
O'Neill now leads the Ivy League and ranks No. 26 in the FCS in interceptions per game with 0.4 per contest. He is also No. 3 in the Ivy League in tackles for loss per game with 1.4.
O’Neill will look to continue to power the Penn defense this weekend in the Quakers' Homecoming game against Cornell.
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