When Yale faced Lehigh last weekend, the result was anything but predictable.
Saturday's matchup was decided by one touchdown in overtime, an ending that was a repeat of last season's outcome between the two teams.
But this time it was the Elis, not the Mountain Hawks, that came out on top as sophomore running back Mike McLeod's one-yard lunge over the opposition scored the winning touchdown on Yale's first possession in overtime.
McLeod not only made the difference in that game, but could be a game-changer against the Quakers this weekend as well.
Penn blew out Yale last year, but those Quakers faced a much different offense than they will when the two teams meet this Saturday, one that was centered around quarterback Jeff Mroz's passing ability.
This year, following Mroz's graduation, the Elis have changed the game plan dramatically to an offensive scheme based on the athleticism of McLeod.
"Mike has a great combination of speed and power," Yale coach Jack Siedlecki said. "His contribution has been immense."
McLeod is leading the Ivy League in rushing yards per game with 148.2, surprisingly beating out league standout Clifton Dawson of Harvard, who has 137.2. Penn's Joe Sandberg is third, with 107.6.
McLeod's "a complete back," Penn coach Al Bagnoli said. "He's fast; he's got good vision, good balance; he's strong; he runs through tackles. I'd say he is the mainstay of that offense and the go-to guy."
But the sophomore is used to the attention - his productivity on offense has been his key attribute since his high-school days in Connecticut.
In his senior year, the running back was named Connecticut's Player of the Year and the Most Valuable Player of the state championship game.
McLeod's college campaign start at Yale was equally impressive; his 68.9 rushing yards per game and six touchdowns earned him Ivy League Rookie of the Year honors.
And he has only gotten better since.
McLeod's ten touchdowns, nine of them rushing, make him the Elis' top scorer through five games this season.
The running back's contribution came right in time, since his productivity has helped facilitate junior Matt Polhemus's adjustment into his newly assumed role under center.
"With a first-year starter at quarterback, they really don't want to throw the ball 40 or 50 times," Bagnoli said. "They'd rather give the ball to McLeod for 40 yards, have the quarterback run for 10, then have [Polhemus] throw 20 to 22 passes, and that's been a pretty good recipe for Yale the last couple of weeks."
Yale opened the season with a loss to San Diego but has won its last four games.
McLeod touched the ball 43 times in the win over Lehigh, with 40 carries and three receptions to account for over half of Yale's offensive yards.
He rushed for 204 of the Bulldogs' 257 yards on the ground, a personal best for the sophomore that earned him the fourth spot on Yale's all-time single-game rushing list.
But Penn defense's has already proven its ability to smother the opponent's running game this season, having held Columbia to just 28 yards rushing in the shutout last weekend.
So while McLeod's performance has been impressive this season, the Bulldogs might want to avoid Bucknell's and Columbia's mistake and consider alternatives before the two Ivy unbeatens clash on Saturday.
