Penn football makes quarterback switch, falls to Yale by double digits

New quarterback, same result. 

Even with a new quarterback taking snaps for the Quakers (2-4, 0-3 Ivy),  Yale (3-3, 2-1) accumulated an impressive 42 points to the Quakers' 28. 

The opening minutes of the first quarter looked promising on offense for both sides as the teams each found the end zone to bring the score to seven points apiece. Yale’s Nolan Grooms, who was also making his first start, completed a pass to Ryan Lindley for 11 yards for a touchdown. Yale kicker Jack Bosman hit the extra point to bring the score to seven to nothing. Penn answered back when new starting quarterback Aidan Sayin handed off to running back Trey Flowers, who ran two yards to make Penn’s first touchdown of the game. Kicker Daniel Karrash made the extra point, evening the score at 7-7.

Sayin, a freshman from Carlsbad, Calif., started for the Quakers after senior John Quinnelly started the first five games of the season. Quinnelly, who had been 57 of 115 for 782 yards, three touchdowns, and five interceptions on the season, suffered an injury last week but was in uniform for the game today. Sayin finished the day 12 of 28 for 114 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.

Maurcus McDaniel, a high school quarterback turned college defensive back who has been increasingly involved in the offense as a running quarterback, saw action again today as he rushed the ball seven times for 15 yards. He also attempted two passes, completing one — the first of his collegiate career — for 25 yards. 

The second quarter was plagued by penalties for Penn, disadvantages that Yale took advantage of. The quarter began with Grooms throwing a pass that was intercepted by Shiloh Means at the Penn 12 yard line. On the next play, Penn was called for a pass interference from Mohammed Diakite, with a 15 yard penalty bringing Yale to the Penn 30-yard line and giving them an automatic first down. 

With seven minutes left, Grooms ran for eight yards, scoring another touchdown for Yale, with Jack Boseman adding an extra point to make the score 14-7. Later in the quarter, Yale converted on 3rd & 15 and scored another seven, bringing the score to 21-7. 

Determined not to let the gap get too big, Sayin found fifth-year running back Isaiah Malcome, who ran 16 yards for Penn’s first touchdown in the second quarter. The kick from Karrash was good, giving Penn 14 points. Yale drove for one more touchdown from wideout Mason Tipton, ending the second quarter with 28 points to Penn’s 14.

In the third quarter, Sayin completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Owen Goldsberry, with an extra point from Karrash. Yale followed with a successful drive, capped off with a four-yard TD run for Grooms and a PAT, bringing the score to 35-21. The Bulldogs weren’t done, as Elliot McElwain scored again on a five-yard run. The third quarter ended with the score at 21-42 and the Quakers trailing by 21. 

Penn refused to give up as the fourth quarter began, and tried even harder to change the score around in their favor. After an 18-play scoring drive ended with a pass from Sayin to Malcome from two yards out and an extra-point kick from Karrash, the Quakers were able to bring their total to 28. Unfortunately for the Red and Blue, Penn couldn’t catch up, resulting in its third consecutive loss in the Ivy League Conference.

Malcome shined on the ground for the Quakers, toting the ball 17 times for 81 yards and a score. His counterpart Flowers had a tougher time, carrying 13 times for just 37 yards, although he did make it into the end zone. Fifth-year linebacker Brian O'Neill stood out for Penn on defense, registering 7 total tackles.

Penn will look to get back on track at home against Brown (2-4, 1-2) team that just won a shoot out over Cornell 49-45. The Quakers kick off on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 1 pm.