Lwt. Football falls to Navy for second time this year

The results just don't seem to vary for the Penn lightweight football team. Last Friday, while non-football fans travelled far away from Penn campus to begin Fall Break, the Quaker lightweight football team took to the field against Navy in an attempt to salvage its season and avenge a prior loss to the Midshipmen. The attempt was in vain, though, as the Quakers (0-2 Eastern Lightweight Football League, 1-3 overall) dropped a 28-6 decision to Navy (1-0, 3-0), which dominated the Quakers from start to finish. Penn lost its first meeting with the Midshipmen by an almost identical 27-6 score three weeks ago. "We played a better game against them this time," freshman wideout Clinton Schmidt said. "Our defense was fantastic, we just had trouble putting points up against Navy. The offense could not move the ball well." The tone was set in Navy's first possession, in which the Midshipmen executed their power running game to perfection, going 71 yards in 5 minutes 29 seconds for the score. For the most part, the damage was done by Navy running back Billy Simmons, who carried the ball 24 times on the day, picking up 118 yards and two touchdowns on the ground as well as an 85-yard kickoff return for a TD. On the opening drive, Navy senior quarterback Matt Kirby combined with Simmons to rip the Quakers apart. Kirby only threw twice in this drive, but both were huge completions for first downs. He ended the day with 9 completions on 15 attempts for 110 yards and an interception. Meanwhile, Penn's offense was ineffective on its first possession. Three attempted rushes by senior tailback Tom Morrin (27 carries, 128 yards and one TD) failed, and Penn was forced to punt. The game then evolved into a defensive slugfest, with Navy absorbing the bulk of the blows. On Navy's next possession, Penn junior defensive back Stephen Barry intercepted a Kirby pass. But on third and three, Morrin fumbled, and Navy senior defensive lineman Kevin Jankowski recovered. An incompletion on third down forced the Midshipmen to punt, but Penn junior QB Carmine Greco (3 of 4, 24 yards, one interception) was picked off to end the first quarter. On the next three possessions, the teams traded sacks. First Penn junior defensive end Matt Astrom nailed Kirby for his third sack in as many games, but Greco was dropped by Navy DE Pat Haney on third down. Finally, Penn senior linebacker Roger Chiang sacked Kirby on third and seven. "Our defense has carried us all season long," Schmidt said. "They played very well against Navy. Without their effort, their offense would have put up a lot more points." On Penn's next possession, Penn coach Bill Wagner made a significant change – Greco was removed from the game and replaced by freshman Greg Small, who woke up the dormant Penn offense with some spectacular plays. How spectacular? Observe his statistics. In just two and a half quarters of play, Small completed 17 of 25 passing attempts for 185 yards. Against Navy's defense, this is no small feat. Unfortunately for the Quakers, however, Small was also picked off four times. In Small's first drive, the Quakers moved to within field-goal range only to have the kick blocked by a bull-rushing Midshipman. After a defensive stuff, Small again led the Quakers to the field, but threw the first of his interceptions with 1:17 left in the half. Before the half ended, Penn junior defensive end Pat Kelly recovered a Navy fumble, but the offense went nowhere, and when the half ended, Penn trailed 7-0. The second half was, yet again, another story entirely for the Quakers. A close game quickly became a rout as the Midshipmen kept pouring on the offense. Penn's 'D' struggled to keep the Quakers in it, but had to yield as Navy's time of possession mounted. With only 14 seconds remaining in the third quarter, and with Navy still leading 7-0, Penn had the ball at its own 33. Navy's Jeff Howard then recovered a Penn fumble and rumbled 33 yards into the endzone for the easy score. After Navy kicker Frank Santana nailed the extra point, Penn took over. The rapidly improving Schmidt ripped off a huge kickoff return, setting up Morrin's 35-yard TD sprint. When Penn senior kicker Victor Hsu's extra point attempt was blocked, Penn trailed, 14-6. On the very next play, Simmons, who had 210 all-purpose yards, ran the kickoff back 85 yards for a touchdown and a 20-6 lead. Santana drilled the extra point. The scoring was capped with 2:20 remaining in the game, when Simmons ran the ball in from the one-yard line. Santana's extra point made the final score 28-6 in Navy's favor. At this point in the season, it is safe to say that Penn's title aspirations are history. But it is still possible to regain a certain measure of respect. With victories over Princeton and Army, the two remaining foes, Penn could climb back to .500. But for now, the Quakers have an off week. And aside from Morrin, Schmidt and Small, the offense needs help. Lots of help. Wagner has two weeks to come up with something good to salvage the team's season. If he does not, Penn will find itself at the bottom of the ELFL, looking up at the titans who beat them.