PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- For the second straight week, a Peter Veldman field goal was the difference in a game that the Penn football team dominated for three quarters. Penn again found itself fighting for its life in the final minutes, as the Quakers topped Brown, 24-21.
The win is Bagnoli's 83rd as head coach of the Quakers, surpassing George Munger to take second place on the all-time win list in Penn history.
Penn (7-0, 4-0 Ivy) allowed 14 unanswered points to Brown (2-5, 1-3) in the fourth quarter, one week after a 34-31 overtime victory over Yale in which Penn gave up 28 points in the last quarter.
"We have to concentrate on being perfect every play," senior defensive lineman Ryan Strahlendorff said. "We have to be able to close the door on teams when we're up going into the fourth quarter."
A balanced offensive attack keyed the Quakers win with sophomore running back Sam Mathews leading the way with 173 yards on the ground and 20 yards receiving. He also scored two touchdowns on the day.
Senior quarterback Mike Mitchell battled through an ankle injury, completing 25-of-37 passes for 225 yards with one touchdown, two interceptions and a lost fumble.
The team captain completed a number of third down conversions to keep drives alive as Penn only punted the ball twice in the game.
"I think we've been doing a good job all year on the balance of the offense," senior offensive lineman Chris Kupchik said. "Sam's doing a great job reading holes, Mitch is doing a great job with the checks, so things are clicking right now."
After the Penn defense halted Brown on its opening drive, Penn's offense then set the tone with a 62-yard drive that ended with a 7-yard touchdown pass from Mitchell to senior wide receiver Brian Adams.
In Brown's first scoring opportunity, Brown coach Phil Estes decided to go for it on a fourth-and-goal from the Penn 3-yard line after his team drove 50 yards.
Penn junior defensive end Kevin Junge stopped Brown running back Nick Hartigan three yards behind the line of scrimmage on a screen play to end Brown's drive.
On the ensuing possession, Penn drove 94 yards on 15 plays capped with a Mathews 2-yard touchdown run as the Quakers went up 14-0 going into halftime.
Penn took its opening possession of the second half into the end zone on a 68-yard drive. Mathews took it into the end zone from four yards out.
Brown finally got on the scoreboard with their next possession that was highlighted by a 62-yard pass from senior quarterback Kyle Slager to sophomore wide receiver Lonnie Hill. Hartigan punched it in two plays later from Penn's 2-yard line, narrowing Penn's advantage to 21-7.
Penn's final scoring tally came on its next drive as Veldman kicked a 33-yard field goal to extend the lead to 24-7 with 6:51 left in the third quarter.
After a blocked punt by Penn sophomore Casey Edgar, the Quakers had excellent field position at the Brown 31-yard line, but were unable to put the game away. Brown freshman Zak DeOssie gave the Bears new life with an interception.
Brown capitalized on the turnover by driving down the field, as Slager found senior tight end Nick Christ on the opposite side of the field for a 24-yard touchdown pass with 8:46 to play.
Brown was then able to stop Penn, forcing a punt. The Bears took advantage, again moving down the field through the air before Hartigan ran the ball into the end zone with 3:50 left in regulation to make the score 24-21.
The ensuing onside kick was not going to go the required 10 yards, but the ball touched a Penn player and Brown recovered.
On that critical possession, the Penn defense held. Senior linebacker Steve Lhotak deflected a fourth down throw and senior defensive back Pat McManus was the beneficiary, picking off his second pass of the season.
The Quakers offense sealed the win, rushing the ball before kneeling down to run the clock out.
