If Saturday night is any indication, the Penn sprint football team knows how to make a statement.
Playing against an Army team that had beaten them three straight times, the Quakers rolled to a 31-17 win at Franklin Field in a game following that of Penn's other football team.
"This team responds to the fact that opportunities only come around so often," Penn coach Bill Wagner said in a press release. "The guys really stepped up tonight and soundly defeated Army. Hopefully, we can keep this type of play up as we head to Cornell next weekend."
Penn (3-0, 1-0 CSFL) had been stuck in a rut for the past three seasons. From 2001 to 2003, Penn failed to beat Army and played .500 ball in the Collegiate Sprint Football League.
But wins over Cornell and Princeton suggested that the Red and Blue meant business in 2004, and they had been eagerly awaiting to capitalize on their chance to knock off the Black Knights (3-2, 1-1).
In the opening minutes, however, it appeared that the Quakers were once again overmatched against their rivals.
Army took the opening kickoff and drove 60 yards in 12 plays, setting up Kurt Cheeseman's 26-yard field goal. Following a Penn turnover, Army quarterback Abe Payne found David Roller with a 36-yard touchdown pass, and the Black Knights led 10-0 less than six-and-a-half minutes into the game.
But the Quakers responded with a 17-point second-quarter explosion. Toward the end of the first quarter, the Penn offense started to build momentum. After a long drive, sophomore quarterback Mike Loguidice scored the Red and Blue's first points on a 17-yard run.
Four minutes later, the Quakers were back in the end zone, as Loguidice hit senior wide receiver Pat Monaghan with a six-yard touchdown pass. Following a turnover, Penn kicker Peter Stine kicked a 38-yard field goal to give the Quakers a 17-10 lead at the break.
Rather than rest on their halftime lead, the Quakers came out and took complete control of the game in the second half.
Specifically, it was Penn sophomore J.T. Hutchinson who took the game in his own hands. He scored two third-quarter touchdowns, a 40-yarder midway through the period and a five-yarder that gave Penn an insurmountable 31-10 lead.
A late touchdown by the Black Knights did not spoil the Quakers' satisfaction, especially for the seniors, who finally beat Army in their fourth and final try.
Hutchinson was the star offensively, running for 186 yards on 22 carries in addition to his two touchdowns. He also added 33 yards receiving.
Monaghan was Loguidice's favorite target on the day, with 10 catches for 87 yards and a score. Loguidice finished 19-for-22 for 173 yards and a touchdown. Two interceptions were the only blemishes on his record.
With the win, Penn is in command for the CSFL title going into this weekend's game at Cornell.
Army 10 0 0 7 -- 17PENN 0 17 14 0 -- 31
First Quarter:
A -- 9:09 - Cheeseman 26-yd field goal
A -- 8:43 - Roller 36-yd pass from Payne (Cheeseman kick)
Second Quarter:
P -- 12:57 - Loguidice 17-yd run (Stine kick)
P -- 8:06 - Monaghan 6-yd pass from Loguidice (Stine kick)
P -- 5:12 - Stine 38-yd field goal
Third Quarter
P -- 8:07 - Hutchinson 40-yd run (Stine kick)
P -- 3:44 - Hutchinson 5-yd run (Stine kick)
Fourth Quarter
A -- 8:29 - Hall 3-yd run (Cheeseman kick)
