Sprint ends season with Princeton

It would be fitting if the Penn-Princeton sprint football rivalry were likened to the perennial grudge match that the basketball teams, or even the football teams engage in.

The fact is that it takes two to tango, and in recent memory, the Quakers have been the only team that has shown up to the dance.

In the last three seasons, the Red and Blue have thrashed Princeton by a combined 92-6 score, and have caged the Tigers in each of their last 12 matchups. Judging from the extreme mediocrity exhibited by Princeton up to this juncture, tomorrow night's contest at 7:30 p.m. at Franklin Field will follow this pattern.

Princeton (0-5) has scored a meager 11.6 points per game this year, getting shut out twice. By contrast, the Penn (3-2) defense has held every opponent to 17 points or less until last week's 48-point letdown to Navy.

The comparison on the other side of the ball is hardly one at all. Princeton's defense has been pedestrian at best this year, at times acting as bystanders, watching opossing offensive teams rack up over 30 points-per-contest.

The Penn offense, led by wide receiver Jeff Bagnoli and running back Mark Gannon, has the ability to stun defenses with a wide array of weapons. The only possible liability for the Quakers may be Jimmer Donapel, who has not practiced all week and is not expected to play tomorrow.

In last year's edition of the annual blowout, Gannon racked up 158 yards and two touchdowns, as the Red and Blue steamrolled over Princeton, 35-6.

In that game, defensive lineman John Pinto led a stalwart Penn defense, which held the Tigers to 179 yards of total offense. Both Pinto and Gannon were given CSFL Player of the Week honors for their performances.

The Red and Blue will try to duplicate that achievement on Friday, an effort for which there is plenty of motivation to go around.

This is Penn's final game of the year, and the Quakers certainly do not want the sour taste of last week's whitewashing against Navy in their mouths for the next ten months.

"This game means a lot to us," Gannon said. "We want to show that we can play to our potential. Not like last week."

For at least two of the Quakers, tomorrow's game will be extra special. Gannon and fellow captain Bagnoli will have their illustrious careers come to a close on Franklin Field, and neither wants to finish with a loss against a team which has never beaten them.

"We have one more chance to show what we can do," Gannon said. "We want to play our hearts out."

To avoid jeopardizing their 12 game winning streak against Princeton, Gannon and Bagnoli will have to finish this season by playing up to their All-CSFL status.

With all the potential for emotion and passion during Friday night's game, it would be hard to fathom that the co-captains would let this one slip away, especially against their rival.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.