Quakers just keep on rolling

Football manhandles Brown Admittedly, the Brown football team that played on Franklin Field Saturday was not nearly as pathetic as the 1992 squad that was humiliatingly shutout 38-0 a year ago. But it hasn't gotten that much better. Penn, ranked 25th in Division I-AA, continued to roll over its opponents with a thorough and methodical defeat of the Bears, 34-9, before a Parents' Weekend crowd of 19,121. The win preserved the Quakers' undefeated record and first-place standing in the Ivy League. Everyone expected Penn (3-0 Ivy League, 6-0 overall) to have no problems with traditionally hapless Brown (1-2, 2-4). The game was never close, with the only uncertainty being how many touchdowns the Quakers would score. Once again, senior quarterback Jimmy McGeehan put on an aerial display as he led the offense to its fifth straight 30-point game. McGeehan (21 for 32, 220 yards, 3 TDs, 1 interception), who will most likely become Penn's all-time leading passer, connected three times in the end zone, including twice to favorite target Miles Macik (5 receptions for 62 yards). The sophomore receiver set a new school record for touchdown catches in a season with nine to date. The M&M; tandem also produced Penn's first successful two-point conversion of the season. The first scoring connection between McGeehan and Macik came with 8:15 left in the half to give the Quakers a 12-0 lead. McGeehan utilized the 6-4 Macik's height as he threw a fade pattern that Macik gobbled up in the corner of the end zone over the outstretched arms of 5-11 Bear cornerback Cal Hankins. Of Macik's nine touchdowns this season, five have come on similar fade routes. "We score on that [play] a lot," McGeehan said. "[Opposing teams] haven't found a defense for it yet." If a play works once, why not try it again? That's exactly what the Quakers did as Penn ran the exact same play to Macik for the aforementioned two-point conversion. That made the score 14-0, Penn, and the Quakers never looked back from there. McGeehan found senior wide receiver Jared DeLancey open for the second touchdown of the day. In all, seven receivers caught passes for the Quakers. "The offense seems to be really clicking now," Macik said. "We're staying focused and we're playing with a lot of confidence. Jimmy threw the ball very well today. As far as catching it, he spread it around a lot. A lot of guys were stepping up to help us out." McGeehan cites Penn's running game as one reason for its aerial success. Junior tailback Terrance Stokes had another solid day, netting 73 yards on the ground on 18 carries. "The pass is effective because [opponents] respect our run so much," McGeehan said. "They can't sit and play pass because they have to be aware of our backs." Also contributing were senior kickers Andy Glockner and Marc Horowitz, who were perfect on their two attempts each. Freshmen Aman Abye and Mark Fabish lit up the crowd with three kickoff returns for 104 yards. Junior Nick Morris (1 for 2 for 36 yards and one interception, 27 yards rushing) and sophomore Jack Friend shared the fourth quarter mop-up quarterback duties. Morris was also impressive on defense, with two interceptions and a tackle. McGeehan, who was slightly banged up by the Brown defense, turned in yet another impressive performance. Even Brown coach Mickey Kwiatkowski couldn't stop talking about him. "[McGeehan] is phenomenal," Kwiatkowski said. "I love his attitude. He has a tremendous amount of self-confidence that spills over to the other players on the offense, and probably the defense as well. He is wonderful to watch. I was impressed – what an improvement from one year to the next." The Penn defense, holding its opponent to under 10 points for the second-straight game, was also effective in shutting down Bear sophomore quarterback Gordie Myers and the rest of the Brown offense. Myers, who won the starting job over senior Trevor Yankoff, completed a paltry 7 of 20 passes for 109 yards. Penn's only lapse came during a 42-yard bomb to running back Kevin Sharkey in the second quarter for the Bears' only touchdown of the day. Brown found much more success in its running game, as Myers scrambled for a net gain of 40 yards and heralded freshman tailback Marquis Jessie continued to find holes in opposing defenses, netting 104 yards on 18 carries. Exemplifying Brown's woes were a missed extra point and a field goal attempt which hit the right upright. In general, the game seemed to be simply a practice for what appears to be an impending showdown with Princeton on November 6. However, as with most sports teams, the Quakers are refusing to look ahead. "In this league, any team can beat any other team at any time," Macik said. "Though it may sound like a clichZ, we are taking things one game at a time."