After several heartbreaking losses this season, the Penn sprint football team is hoping to close out its season with a 3-3 record with a win at archrival Princeton, whom they beat 42-0 earlier this season.
The Quakers are seeking redemption after three straight losses to Army, Cornell and Navy in Collegiate Sprint Football League play, destroying their chances to winning the CSFL championship this year. Princeton was able to break its own curse last week by winning a game against Virginia Military Academy, 19-7, after 40 straight losses in CSFL play.
During the game, part of Penn's strategy will be stopping Princeton's offense in its tracks by hindering their passing game and preventing them from throwing the ball deep to ensure the Quakers a win.
According to Penn coach Bill Wagner, the Quakers will try to establish a good ground game by having running backs senior Scott Pickett and junior J.T. Hutchinson run the ball. Penn will also emphasize the use of special teams and punt-and-kickoff return groups to add a little more to the Penn game.
The overall feeling of the Quakers is that of sadness toward the fact that it is the last game of the season. Although they are slightly disappointed that the season did not turn out the way that they wanted, as they are not in a position to play for the championship, for many players it has still been a great learning experience -- especially for the freshmen, whom Bill Wagner said he considered to be the lifeline of the team.
"It's been a great year and I've learned a lot. I've had a tough stretch for the last few games but I've learned a lot from the older guys, a lot of great leadership," freshman defensive tackle Christian Corrigan said. "Sprint football has been a lot of fun and I can't wait to come back next year."
For the members of the team, this year has not only been about learning but also it has been a bonding experience that has hopefully developed friendships that will last a lifetime.
Senior captain Duncan Pelly spoke of the feeling of camaraderie that develops among the players during the season as team members become brothers to one another and the coaches become fathers who nurture and support their players.
The players of the team are very aware of the importance of winning this last game, especially because they hope to send off their 17 senior players with a win that they will remember. For these seniors, the Penn-Princeton game is not only their last collegiate football game, but it will probably be the last football game they will ever play competitively.
"I've played football for eight years, and I've poured my soul into it," Pelly said. "Sprint football is probably the greatest experience in my life; I don't know what I'm going to do without it."
