As 13 seniors take the field in their final game wearing the Red and Blue, the Penn sprint football team looks to send them off as winners.
This class of seniors is the last class to have won the Collegiate Sprint Football League Championship, which they did as freshmen.
However, it is more than the football that the players leave behind with the program.
"It's really tough to part with Wags," senior wide receiver Tim Murphy said about coach Bill Wagner. "He's been like a father to me, and I really want to give him a win in my last game."
But Friday's matchup at Princeton (0-5, 0-3 CSFL) has more than just sentimental value for the Quakers and their seniors. They are looking to retain their hold on the Ivy League Sprint Football Trophy, which is contested among the three Ivy League sprint football teams: Cornell, Princeton and Penn.
The Quakers (2-3, 1-2) are the logical favorites in this matchup of traditional rivals. In early October, Penn shut out Princeton, 44-0, on Franklin Field. However, Wagner has some reservations.
"Even though we beat these guys last time, this will be a challenge," he said. "We are playing on grass this time, which will slow us down and could give Princeton the edge it needs against us."
However, not all of Wagner's players feel the same way.
"Princeton is really hungry for their first win of the year," sophomore center Jordan Cloyd said. "But I don't see any way that they are going to beat us."
Although Princeton is winless this year, they have a very potent threat in running back Matt Worley, who has averaged "50 or 60 yards" per game on the ground and "eight to 10" tackles when playing linebacker, according to Wagner.
"Worley is a really tough opponent," Wagner added. "You have to always remember to tackle him on offense, and block him on defense."
Penn's game plan against Princeton is simple. The Quakers are looking to score early and force Princeton to play catch-up the whole game. The Quakers hope to use the run game to keep their offense on the field for as long as possible and not give Princeton's offense any chance to put points on the board.
The Quakers seniors do not need the extra motivation that comes from playing Princeton in their last game.
"We want to go out on a high note," senior defensive lineman Matt London said. "We have never lost to Princeton, and we should beat them handily tomorrow."
The Quakers look to finish out their season at .500 with a win tomorrow night.
"We have 13 seniors who don't want to lose," Wagner said. "But we have to do it and prove it on the field tomorrow night."
