In clash of CSFL titans, Sprint takes on once-beaten Navy

The senior class of the Penn sprint football team has never lost to Navy.

On Saturday, the Quakers hope to keep that tradition alive, and add one more notch to their three-year streak.

The Penn-Navy game kicks off at 6:30 p.m. at Franklin Field.

"There is no doubt that we are going to win this game," Penn senior captain David Berkley said.

In past years, Berkley might not have been so confident.

Two teams have traditionally dominated the Collegiate Sprint Football League -- Army and Navy. Besides last year, when Penn won the title, either the Cadets or Midshipmen have shared or claimed the CSFL title outright since 1983.

But in the past few years, the Quakers have slowly but surely chipped away at this two-team reign of dominance.

Last year, in a nail-biting one-point overtime game, Navy almost shattered the Quakers undefeated record. But Penn hung on, handing the Midshipmen a 28-27 loss.

This season, Navy is looking for two things -- revenge and a halt to Penn's three-year winning streak. After having lost only to Army this season, Navy believes it can do both.

"[Navy] is going to be playing their butts off because we've beaten them for three years now," Penn coach Bill Wagner said. "A win for us won't come easy."

Penn is motivated to continue its streak and to claim a possible share of the title. Like the Midshipmen, the Quakers have also beaten every team except Army. Thus, in the standings, Penn and Navy are neck-and-neck, a game behind the Cadets.

Both Penn and Navy have two contests remaining in the season. Penn plays Navy and Princeton. Navy plays Penn and Army. If Penn wins both games and Navy beats Army, the Quakers share the title with Army. But if Navy wins both games, the Midshipmen wear the ring with Army.

"The season is now down to a two-game playoff for us," Navy coach Major Austin Renforth said. "We need to win both games; winning one will not be acceptable."

Before Navy looks ahead to Army, it must first beat Penn, and to do that the Midshipmen need big games from sophomore quarterback Chris Ashinhurst and running back Chris Rush. The two Navy players have combined for 417 out of their team's 957 total yards this season.

But the Quakers are confident they can shut down the formidable pair.

"If our defense continues the way they've been playing this season, then we are going to shut them down," Berkley said. "Their quarterback is definitely good, but our defense is more than capable of stopping him."

Penn's offense will look to sophomore starting quarterback Jimmer Donapel, junior running back Mark Gannon, junior tight end Tim Murphy, junior wide receiver Jeff Bagnoli and freshman wideout Patrick Monaghan to run the ball and the clock, limiting Navy's offensive opportunities.

"We are looking to move the chains, get the first downs, get good field position and work the ball in," Berkley said. "And then we'll take care of business once we get inside the red zone."

Nine seniors will play under Franklin Field's lights for one last time on Saturday. They each have one wish -- to keep alive the winning streak that started when they were freshmen.

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