Last week, the Brown Bears dealt Penn football its first loss of the season. But whether that game is just a blip or a harbinger of things to come will depend on this Saturday’s road matchup against Cornell.
Penn football (6-1, 3-1 Ivy) will head to upstate New York to take on the Big Red (4-3, 1-3 Ivy) over the weekend. While Cornell has been near the bottom of the Ivy standings for much of the year, this game is still a crucial test for Penn as it looks to stay near the top of the table heading into clashes against Harvard and at Princeton to close out the season.
Standing in Penn's way is a Cornell team that has ranked near the bottom of the Ancient Eight in most key metrics this year. The Big Red rank second to last in both points per game scored (22.3) and points per game allowed (28.1). Beyond just points, Cornell has allowed more rushing yards than it has compiled in all but one Ivy game this season, and has been out-gained through the air in each of its first four conference games as well.
Despite this, Penn coach Ray Priore is planning not to take chances on the Big Red.
“They’re a good, physical football team,” he said. “On defense … they have good strength to defend the run well.”
Senior wide receiver Rory Starkey Jr. echoed that sentiment, noting that factors beyond strategy could be a crucial factor against Cornell.
“I think it'll be one of those games where we have to out hit them,” he said. “Be more physical [and] bring our strength and power.”
Schematically, the Big Red offense is different from almost everything the Quakers have faced so far this season. According to Priore, Cornell puts sophomore quarterback Jameson Wang under center for many plays, something that few other college football teams do. This strategy, as opposed to a shotgun-based scheme favored by Penn and most of its opponents thus far this season, leads to different play concepts being run.
“They're more of a pro style approach,” Priore said. “So the delivery of the play is a little bit different, and how on defense your linebackers hit seams are a little bit different.”
Despite this novel scheme, Cornell has struggled to find success. On the ground, where Wang also leads the team with 373 net yards this year, the Big Red averages under four yards per carry and under 150 yards per game. The aerial attack hasn’t fared much better, recording only nine passing touchdowns and just over 180 yards per game.
This week, that offense will confront a Quaker defense near the top of the conference in many key metrics. The unit ranks second in the Ivy League with only 17.1 points and 302.9 yards allowed per game. Against the run, a preseason priority of defensive coordinator Bob Benson, the Quakers have surrendered just a shade over 80 yards per game, and the pass defense has surrendered only six touchdowns, while intercepting opposing passers five times.
On the other side of the ball, the Quakers should match up well against a Big Red defense giving up nearly 30 points and almost 375 yards per game.
So far this season, Penn has relied on its passing attack, led by sophomore quarterback Aidan Sayin. Penn currently ranks in the top three of the Ivy League in pass yards per game, passing touchdowns, and completion percentage.
But while the passing offense has been robust, it could be even more crucial for Penn this weekend. Senior halfback Trey Flowers, who rumbled to 336 net rushing yards on nearly five yards per carry in the first four weeks of the season, has been sidelined from the past few games with a lower-body injury. Priore said that Flowers was a likely game-time decision, declining to elaborate further.
Possibly without its leading rusher, Penn will have to rely on fundamentals in order to defeat the Big Red.
“I think our game plan this week is just to just expose their weaknesses,” he said. “I feel like … in past times [Penn played Cornell] they played a lot of man.”
Despite being dealt the season’s first loss last week, Starkey explained that the team is focused on what lies ahead.
“Obviously, [losing] leaves a salty taste in your mouth, but you can't do anything but move forward,” he said. “We still are fighting to get to that main goal, which is … beating Cornell.”
The Quakers will take on the Cornell Big Red this Saturday at 1 p.m. at Schoellkopf Field in Ithaca, NY. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
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