After last week's loss to Villanova at Franklin Field, two of the Quakers' unprecedented streaks are no longer intact: a four-year unbeaten run at home and a 728-day run in the I-AA top 25.
But the most important streak for Penn coach Al Bagnoli's squad is still alive: the Quakers' 15 consecutive Ivy League victories.
The Red and Blue (1-1) will put that win streak on the line for the first time this season when they take on Dartmouth (0-2) tomorrow afternoon at Franklin Field.
In a league where one loss can cost you the title, it is essential for Penn to stretch its Ivy League win streak to 16.
"Big win, little win, it really doesn't matter," Bagnoli said. "If you don't win early, the margin of error is very, very small."
The Big Green come to its Ivy League opener winless. However, its two losses came at the hands of two of the toughest teams in Division I-AA.
In its season opener, Dartmouth fell, 17-15, to current No. 10 Colgate. Last weekend, the Big Green lost to No. 12 New Hampshire, 45-24, a team that has already beaten Division I-A Rutgers and last year's I-AA champion, Delaware.
Dartmouth boasts the sixth most prolific passing offense in the nation, throwing for 314 yards per game. Quarterback Charlie Rittgers has an impressive 104.6 rating.
Three different Big Green receivers are averaging over 50 yards per game.
Dartmouth's running game, however, is currently the worst in the nation, averaging just 52.5 yards per game. The Big Green's leading rusher, senior Chris Little, averages just 26 yards per game.
But Bagnoli insists that Dartmouth should not be seen as one-dimensional. Rather, he said that the Big Green have played from behind for much of the season and have been forced to throw the ball.
"Almost three-fourths of their plays have been pass plays," he said. "I'm not sure that's the ratio they really want."
Still, Penn defensive back Duvol Thompson sees tomorrow's opponent sticking with what's been successful this season.
"I think they are goin---g to keep passing the ball," Thompson said. "That's what they do well, so I don't think they're going to stop"
Penn's pass defense has allowed opponents to throw a league-worst 272.5 yards per game this season. Only five teams in Division I-AA have allowed more yards in the air.
"We've got to try to negate some big plays," Bagnoli said.
However, opponents have been forced to throw more often than usual against the Quakers. This is because their rushing defense has been incredible, allowing just 68.5 yards per game, fourth best in the nation.
Thompson said that the Quakers' secondary is going to concentrate on shutting down 6-foot-3 senior wide receiver Andrew Hall, who is averaging 6.5 receptions and 75 yards per game.
Hall, a Greene, Maine, native is a superior athlete and winner of the first ever Outdoor Heptagonal decathlon last spring.
Dartmouth's defense is statistically among the worst in the nation, allowing an Ivy League worst 395.5 yards and 31 points per game.
For Penn, this is a dramatic shift from last weekend, when it took on the nation's top-rated defense in Villanova.
Bagnoli said that he is more concerned with his own offense, not Dartmouth's defense.
"We need more consistency on offense," he said.
Penn running back Sam Mathews should easily be able to run for more than the 44 yards that he tallied last Saturday against Villanova. The Big Green are allowing over 150 yards rushing this season.
Last week, the Wildcats were able to curb Penn's explosive offense for three quarters. Quakers quarterback Pat McDermott had just 37 yards passing entering the final quarter.
In the fourth quarter, however, Penn's offense came together. McDermott threw for 103 yards and two touchdowns.
The Quakers will look to build on this momentum entering tomorrow's game.
Two players who will most likely not be playing against Dartmouth are linebacker Ric San Doval and fullback Kevin DeSmedt.
San Doval has not played all season due to an off-season injury. He will definitely sit out against the Big Green.
DeSmedt sat out against Villanova after sustaining a bruised knee in Penn's season opener at San Diego. Bagnoli said that his fullback has a "chance to get back" this weekend.
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