ON THE SIDELINES: Stokes shows who the best runner is

In the week leading up to the Penn-Princeton clash, all the pre-game hype and attention was given to the Tigers' potent running back, Keith Elias. Whether it dealt with his harsh comments regarding the intelligence of the Quaker team, or the story on ESPN's SportsCenter, Elias was the only topic of conversation. But, when gametime arrived at Franklin Field, it was not Elias, his mohawk, or his running skills that were displayed before the boisterous crowd of 35,810. Instead, a small 163-pound sparkplug by the name of Terrance Stokes showed that actions speak louder than words in the game of football, especially when a possible Ivy League title is on the line. Stokes, who came into the game with a hefty 111.4 yards per game average, still barely measured up to the mighty Elias, who was averaging 183.7 yards against weak Ivy and Patriot League opponents. But on Saturday, Stokes proved who was the better man, as the Trenton native scorched the Princeton defense for 272 yards and a touchdown on 42 carries, breaking the Penn single-game record of 249 yards set by Bryan Keys in 1989. "I didn't feel tired at all," Stokes said. "I didn't know that I had 40 carries, and I didn't even think I was close to 200 yards. I was just really excited when I heard them announce [the record] on the loudspeaker, especially with the way the game was going. That's what made the record even more special." Special is exactly what Stokes was on Saturday, as he excited the Homecoming crowd with several long runs. He first gave the Quakers a 14-0 lead with a seven-yard touchdown run on a third and goal draw play. He also had a 62-yard scamper in which he broke several Tiger tackles, setting up a Jim McGeehan touchdown pass to Chris Brassell just before halftime. In all, Stokes had seven double-figure runs totaling 174 yards. And while it was no secret that Stokes would be featured in the Quaker offense, not even Penn coach Al Bagnoli had any idea how good a game he would have. "Terrance just played his heart out," Bagnoli said. "We went into the game knowing that he would carry the ball a lot. But we had no idea that he would carry the ball forty-something times and have the type of success that he did. "We saved [Stokes] for this game. If you look at the carries he had in the previous couple of games, we didn't give him the ball a lot because we knew the team would need him today." The plays that Stokes burned the Tiger defense with most often were draws and delayed handoffs. With standout Penn receivers Miles Macik and Brassell drawing the attention of the Tigers, the draws froze the Princeton defensive line, and allowed Stokes the chance to do what he does best – roam free in the open field. "He had really good vision of the field, better than anyone we've seen this year," Tiger senior defensive tackle Reggie Harris said. "Just because the play was being blocked in a certain direction didn't mean Terrance would go that way. He found his holes, and that's what made the draw play so effective. Instead of one hole, he had two or three to choose from. He simply had a tremendous game." While Stokes was busy setting records, Elias, who was sporting a new mohawk haircut, was unusually quiet. Surprisingly, Elias, who had been getting the ball 25 or 30 times a game, carried the ball only 15 times for a meager 59 yards, hardly awe-inspiring. But, while Elias was quiet on the field, he certainly wasn't silent in the locker room after the game. "I was really frustrated because I wasn't getting the ball," a dejected Elias said. "And then when I was getting the ball, I wasn't doing anything with it. It just wasn't a very good situation. I'd never second-guess the coaches on how many carries I had, but I really don't know what their thinking was. Anyhow, whatever Penn was doing defensively took us out of the flow of our game." While Elias had very little positive things to say about his Tiger teammates, he did manage to sneak in a few words in praise of his running back adversary. "[Stokes] ran really well out there today," Elias said. "Hey, he ran for 272 yards. He was really effective." While that comment may be the understatement of the year, the 5-10, soft-spoken junior proved that a back his size could be a workhorse. "Getting the ball that many times definitely surprised me," Stokes said. "I guess a guy my size isn't supposed to carry the ball 42 times. I ran hard every play but I don't feel banged up. I feel like I could go back out there and carry more." With his tremendous game, Stokes figures to gain a lot of attention now on campus, whether it be in his classes or when he is walking down Locust Walk. "I haven't been faced with that type of stuff this year," Stokes said. "That's the good thing about coming to an Ivy League school. And I definitely prefer it that way. I really don't want that attention that goes along with being a great athlete. I rather just be another face in the crowd." After Saturday's performance, that may be impossible. Terrance Stokes has arrived. Take notice.