Senior Terrance Stokes rumbled for 192 yards Saturday at Franklin Field. Sophomore quarterback Mark DeRosa was 22 for 34 with 263 yards against a porous Columbia secondary. Despite this 453-yard offensive explosion, the scoreboard read Penn 12, Columbia 3 when the final seconds ticked off the clock. The Quakers were not the victims of poor scoreboard operating, however. They were victims of the Red Zone. Excluding the final possession of the game, when the Penn offense was simply trying to run out the clock, the Quakers had the ball inside the Lions 25-yard line eight times. The results: zero touchdowns, four field goals, one missed field goal, two interceptions and one turnover on downs. "Thank God Andrew [Glockner] was kicking the ball well," were the first words from relieved Penn coach Al Bagnoli following the game. "It's a little frustrating to have the ball inside their 20-yard line -- I lost track of how many times -- and come away with four field goals." The reasons for the impotence of the Penn attack inside the Red Zone were multiple -- from spectacular defensive plays to errand passes to plain bad luck. Most importantly, credit must go out to a much-improved Columbia bend-but-don't-break defense. With Penn leading 6-3 early in the fourth quarter, DeRosa dropped back on a second and seven from the Columbia 16-yard line. He stepped up in the pocket and fired to junior all-American wid receiver Miles Macik in the right corner of the end zone. "When I threw it, I thought it was a touchdown," DeRosa said. It wasn't. Columbia senior free safety Jim Hudnall made a great break from his spot in the Lions zone defense and stepped just in front of Macik to record his sixth interception of the season. Hudnall leads the nation in picks. "I take my hat off to that guy," DeRosa said. "He made a great play. They played us tough all afternoon. They definitely wanted to send a message, and we got the message." Earlier in the ball game, Columbia tackle Eric Keck set the tone for the Lions defense when he made consecutive third- and fourth-down stops on Stokes deep in Columbia territory. Time and time again, the Lions were able to pressure DeRosa with blitzes, forcing incompletions and third-and-long situations that Penn was unable to convert. Columbia, like most teams, was more willing to blitz in the Red Zone where the field is shortened and the threat of getting beaten deep is lessened. "We don't let anyone in the end zone," Hudnall said. "That's what we strive to do." The Quakers made their share of offensive faux pas while they were knocking on the Lions' den as well. Most blatantly, DeRosa threw a short out pass nearly five yards behind fullback Michael "Pup" Turner. The pass landed in the hands of Columbia strong safety Jim Lill, leaving DeRosa burying his helmet in his hands and Turner still searching for his first career reception. The interception was DeRosa's first as a Quaker. "That was a really bad ball on my part," DeRosa said. "It's one of the worst passes I've ever thrown." Lady Luck was also a little bit mean to the Quakers. Glockner's 39-yard field goal attempt with 38 seconds left in the first half solidly struck the right upright and bounced back into the field of play, leaving the game tied at 3 as the teams entered the locker room. "We had no trouble moving the ball all day, but we didn't execute in the Red Zone," Macik said. "We made a few mental mistakes down there. We will have to improve on that." The Quaker attack knows the only offensive statistic that ultimately matters is points. This potent unit is also aware that its performance in the Red Zone was truly offensive -- everybody expects very different results this Saturday at Brown.
The Daily Pennsylvanian is an independent, student-run newspaper. Please consider making a donation to support the coverage that shapes the University. Your generosity ensures a future of strong journalism at Penn.
DonatePlease note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.
