Sprint plays Army for league title

Two undefeated teams take the field with the winner grabbing the first league title. The Quakers are prepared to go to war with Army. The Penn sprint football team (4-0, 2-0 Collegiate Sprint Football League) will face the Cadets (4-0, 2-0) at Franklin Field tonight at 7:30. The winner will be the 1998 CSFL champion, and the loser will go home with but a remote chance at a share of the title. Penn coach Bill Wagner has only beaten Army once in his 29-year career and has never coached a championship team that did not have to share the title with at least one other team. "Wags has never beaten both academies in the same year," Penn senior Howie Goldberg said, adding that the Quakers would really like to win this one for their coach. According to Wagner, going undefeated and beating both academies have been two main goals for him. "This is the biggest game that [sprint] football has played in my tenure, and if we win, it will be the biggest in [Penn sprint football] history," Wagner said. The veterans on the team remember the last time they beat the Cadets, two years ago when they shared the CSFL championship with Army and Navy. According to senior Chris Graham, this time around feels a lot more personal to the graduating class because they are playing more and because this is their last year. Without a doubt, the seniors would like to go out with a championship. After blowing out Ivy foes Cornell and Princeton by an average of 30 points and beating Navy by a field goal, the Quakers are confident in their ability to win this game, especially at home. "We've never gone through any of these games thinking we're going to lose," Graham said. "I always feel I play better in front of my friends and family." Penn running back Tim Ortman agreed, stated that it is a "different atmosphere at home." The Quakers are hoping that the home officials will make good calls tonight so that the game will be settled on the field. Penn has endured questionable officiating while away from the friendly confines of Franklin Field, especially during their match at Navy. This is especially relevant today, as the Quakers said both academy teams are noted for playing rough, physical games. To win this game, the Quakers must overcome injuries they sustained last week at Cornell -- including a sprained ankle suffered by Ortman, the CSFL's rushing leader. The junior said that his ankle was almost 100 percent and would definitely be starting. According to Wagner, the team's injuries were "still healing," and a "cause for concern," but everyone should still start tonight. Penn is expecting another big game out of Ortman, who rushed for more than 200 yards in his first three games this season. Unless the Cadets can stop the running game, the Quakers offensive game plan is to block for Ortman and set up the play-action pass. The Quakers' defensive unit has been preparing to stop the run in practice this week. Army primarily runs from a wishbone formation and Wagner expects no more than five or six passes from the Cadets unless they are losing and have to come back from behind. Penn is determined not to let this opportunity for a conference championship slip away. The team would dearly like to put an end to the academy domination of the CSFL, and the Quakers feel they have the talent this year to win the championship. Ortman said he doesn't predict scores, he predicts wins -- and he thinks that Penn can win this game.