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Now Senior Ryan Cragun is helped up after a play during a game against Lafayette on Sept. 28, 2019. Credit: Alec Druggan

This Saturday, the Red and Blue will travel an hour north to Fisher Stadium to take on Lafayette (0-3). After a convincing 30-6 win in their opener last Saturday, the Quakers are looking to ride the momentum to a 2-0 start and head into their first league game, against defending co-champion Dartmouth on Oct. 1, undefeated.

This Saturday’s matchup is the 40th between these two teams since 1946 and the first since 2019. The teams have split the last 10 matchups, but Penn leads the all-time series 27-13. The Quakers are looking to add on to their two-game series winning streak and spoil family weekend at Fisher Stadium. Meanwhile, the Leopards are searching for their first win of the season.

Last weekend, the Quakers, led by a combination of veterans and rookies, were able to easily triumph over Bucknell (0-3). Prince Emili, a sixth-year senior and a leader on the defensive unit, opened the season with a sack and two tackles for a loss.

This performance capped a team defensive effort which shut out the Bison following a Bucknell touchdown on the second drive of the game. Senior quarterback John Quinnelly, making his first collegiate start, threw for 273 yards and two touchdowns. Even special teams got in on the action, with kicker Daniel Karrash scoring 12 points, going three for three on field goals and three for three on extra points.

Lafayette, on the other hand, has been struggling this season. Winless through three games, the Leopards have had three separate quarterbacks see major game action this year. Sophomores Rent Montie and Aaron Angelos split time in the Leopard’s first two games, a 14-35 opening weekend loss to Air Force and a 3-24 loss to William and Mary the next week. 

This past weekend, in a matchup with New Hampshire (3-0), head coach John Garrett decided to give freshman Ah-Shaun Davis a shot under center. The 18-year-old from New Jersey performed well in his first college start, going 16/23 with 192 yards passing and one interception. Despite this, the Leopards still lost by a score of 19-13 to drop to 0-3 on the season.

In this final tune-up before league play, the Red and Blue are going to look to solidify themselves as a strong contender on their quest for a record-setting 19th Ivy League title.