COLUMN: An unforgettable win for three Quakers

Jordan Smith, Commentary The Quakers' great rival was in town, deep into the season, hoping to spoil Penn's chance for an Ivy League title. Beating Princeton is always special for a Penn team, but especially for the football squad, which still remembers Tigers coach Steve Tosches' insinuations of impropriety in Sports Illustrated two years ago. But it wasn't so much who Penn defeated, but how it was done that will make the events of November 8 a lasting memory for many of the 15,000-plus in attendance. If Penn had added to its 10-0 halftime lead or simply held it, the game would likely be remembered only in relation to what happens next week in Harvard, when the Quakers take on the undefeated Ivy League leaders. Of course, Penn didn't hold that lead. Princeton tied the contest and forced placekicker Jeremiah Greathouse to win the game. As his 38-yard boot slipped between the goal posts, the home bench erupted in an emotional display that running out the clock, however appealing to the coaching staff, could never have produced. The win was emotional for no one more than Greathouse, the much-maligned Penn kicker. His struggles this season (8-for-16 on field goals) are well-documented. In the Princeton game, Greathouse had already pushed a very makeable 39-yard field goal wide right. When he strided into the winning kick, moments after Princeton's potential winner was blocked, he finally got even with a nightmarish season. Greathouse was not the only Quaker who got redemption Saturday. Throughout the game, tearing through the Princeton offensive line as we had forgotten he could, was Mitch Marrow. The hulking defensive lineman, a man of many jerseys on this day (No. 97 and No. 65 made appearances), has sat out most of the season, weakened by a virus. Against Princeton, he had six tackles and two huge sacks. The first of Marrow's sacks, midway through the opening quarter, cost Princeton 18 yards and a fumbled ball. Overall, it was the first vintage performance of his senior season. This may not be the end of Marrow's football days; he is an almost sure NFL draft pick, due to his dream body (6'5'', 290 pounds). Saturday, just when it was most necessary, he showed Penn fans how great a football player he could be on his day. It doesn't matter that it was for only one day so far in 1997. Like Marrow, Tom MacLeod has been a missing presence all season. Unlike his more illustrious teammate, Penn's incumbent quarterback was almost completely forgotten. In the excitement over the transfer of former Duke quarterback Matt Rader to Penn, his backup naturally carried a low profile. But when Rader suffered a concussion on his third-quarter touchdown run, MacLeod was pressed into service. It was the first time since week nine of 1996 that the senior had seen action in an undecided game -- and the first time he had played in a title race ever. MacLeod certainly did not threaten Rader for the main job, but, once again, performance was hardly the point. He won. His numbers are, on the surface, poor. Four yards on 1-for-6 passing is nothing to write home about. But he twice handed the ball off to Jim Finn well enough to get Penn into field goal range. The second time, Greathouse made the kick for the victory. Greathouse, Marrow, MacLeod -- and Princeton. For one afternoon, they were unforgettable.