Favored Penn 'must win' in New Haven

On paper, Yale should be a pushover, but Penn is not taking a win over the 1-5 Elis for granted. Yale represents a test of mental fortitude for the Quakers football team this weekend. Marching up to New Haven, Conn., for a 12:30 p.m. game at the Yale Bowl will prove to be anything but relaxing, even though the Elis have been unable to post a league win. The play of the Quakers (3-3, 2-1 Ivy League) in their 31-10 manhandling of Brown last weekend certainly rekindled hopes of an Ivy League title run. However, every game remains a must-win situation, regardless of an opponent's record. "We've been telling [the players] that we have absolutely no margin for error," sixth-year Penn coach Al Bagnoli said. "Yale Bowl has always been a difficult place for a Penn team to go to play, historically speaking." Yale (1-5, 0-3) has been far from impressive in its play this season, but it has more incentives to defeat a Quakers squad just beginning to reach the top of their game. In addition, the coaching staffs of the two squads are uncommonly familiar with each other and feature similar styles of play. The Penn coaches have a friendship with those that will be on opposing sidelines tomorrow. Yale head coach Jack Siedelecki and assistants Rick Flanders and Duane Brooks (both former Penn assistants) should have their players juiced for this game for personal reasons and for a glint of Ivy League respect. "Anytime you play a team that has nothing to a lose, it becomes a much, much more difficult game," Bagnoli said. "We fully expect it to be a very hard game, and that is what we are trying to impress upon our kids." The Quakers' approach this week revolved around fine-tuning the methods that were successful against Brown. Holding the Bears to only 62 passing yards in the first three quarters, the Penn defense gave the offensive side of the ball adequate chances to move the length of the field. The task will come against the young left-handed signal caller of the Elis, sophomore Jack Walland. The defense will also need to contain the running of Jake Fuller, who has stepped in as the main ball carrier for Yale. The defense held the Bears to only about 23 minutes of possession time. The Penn offense impressed in the other 37 minutes with the ball, posting a season-high 31 points. The Quakers can credit this successful ball control to the turnaround of a once suspect ground game. The rediscovery of junior Jim Finn as a running back has given the Penn offense a legitimate way of controlling the clock, and likewise made the passing game more effective. "I think we are going to have to establish the run," Penn quarterback Matt Rader said. "That will establish the play action so we can open it up, spread it out, and pass the ball." Keeping the Yale defense honest with a running game will be necessary, as their one strength thus far has been defense. The Elis have shown hints of excellence on this side of the ball with 21 sacks. In light of that, the offensive line will be called upon to continue its improvement. "I think it is just experience for [the lineman], because coming in they really didn't have a lot. [Mike] Soyster was the only one that had any," Rader said. "They've really come together, and that is really why our offense has clicked, along with the receivers starting to be able to catch the ball has really helped us a lot." This offensive line has played a large part in the surging Quakers offense. Rader's 334-yard passing performance came at the hands of only one sack. The previous week the offensive line was nearly as successful, allowing only two sacks at the hands to Columbia. "Everyone speaks of the inexperience at running back and the inexperience at wide receiver," Bagnoli said. "Our offensive line only had two starters. It took a little while for [Adam] Conish and [Chris] Cooney to kind of gel with [Jason] Lebron. But as they get better and better, we get better opportunities." As four of the starting linemen are seniors, the emphasis on the present is clear. "I think we have developed a tougher mental attitude as a team in general, but especially the offensive line," Quakers right tackle Chris Riley said. "We're not going to try to finesse a team, we are going to try and power them." The trip to New Haven will give the Quakers a chance to show this "power" mentality, and prove that last week will be a gauge for the rest of year. Riley best described the significance of tomorrow's game. "If we don't win now, we don't have a chance at anything," he said.