Penn has chance to clinch share of

ELFL title with win over Princeton This season has been different than past years for the Penn lightweight football team. The most noticeable difference? They're good. The Quakers beat Army for the first time in 26 years, and they have a chance at a share of the Eastern Lightweight Football League title for the first time in coach Bill Wagner's Penn career. Those accomplishments won't mean anything to Princeton, the Quakers' opponent tomorrow, when the teams square off on Franklin Field at 1 p.m. The Tigers have only two wins in the past two years. Those wins, however, came in the season finales against Penn. This year, Princeton will be looking to spoil the Quakers' dream season. The Penn coaching staff and the veteran players realize this weekend's game will not be as easy as the 30-12 dismantling of Princeton on October 4. For the benefit of the younger players, the coaches have been putting a lot of emphasis on the fact that the Tigers will be more intense for their final game of the season. "It's a Penn-Princeton game. It's going to be a knockdown, drag-out fight," Penn quarterback Matt Veneri said. For the six graduating seniors, including Veneri, the game is a final chance to prove that this season is no fluke. There is also the added emotion from knowing that this will be their final game in the red and blue. "The game means a great deal to me since it's my last chance to compete in organized athletics," Penn senior nose guard Cameron Reilly said. "It's sad to think it's my last game, but I'm glad I took the opportunity to play," Veneri said. Penn senior co-captain Zach Chan will not get the opportunity to play his final game tomorrow. He suffered a completely torn medial collateral ligament in his knee against Army last week. Chan's loss will be felt on offense, where he started at tight end, and on defense, where he had returned to his all-ELFL defensive end position. Chan has found the injury tough to accept yet he has been helping out as a coach in the final week of practice. "I still feel like I want to weigh in just for that chance to play," Chan said. "I'll be playing vicariously through the guys on the field." Although the Quakers are banged up at several positions, they will have to step up their collective effort to cover for the loss of Chan. Sophomore George Clark will fill in at tight end, and sophomores Jordan Woods and Chris Graham will play for Chan at defensive end. With a complete team effort, Penn hopes not to notice the loss of a key contributor. "It's hard without Zach in there, but George Clark has got great hands, and he's a big target. In the past, tight ends have had big games against Princeton," Veneri said. On offense, the Quakers will stick to their solid running game with senior Joel Correia, sophomore Greg Grabon, and freshman Tim Ortman while mixing in the occasional pass to standout wide receiver Clint Schmidt, freshman David Chu or Clark. The Quakers special teams were more successful than the well-reputed Tigers special teams in the last meeting of the two teams. Schmidt alone amassed 119 yards and one touchdown off returns. When Penn moves into field goal range, they will rely on senior Dan Malasky, whose field goals have won the last two games for the Quakers. On defense, Penn hopes that Reilly and the defensive line can duplicate their strong performance against the option from the first clash against Princeton. Also Penn sophomore linebacker Keith Crivello will be expected to provide the solid run-support that earned him ELFL Defensive Player of the Week honors last week. The Quakers secondary, which intercepted Princeton quarterback Richard Barnett three times in their October 4 meeting, must also play well. Princeton hopes the game follows the trend of the past two season finales, both Tigers wins. Wagner and the coaching staff want things to be different. If they get their wish, the seniors will be able to hang up their cleats with the knowledge that they were leaders of one of the best teams in Penn lightweight football history.