Penn 28, Columbia 13 — Valeri Guevarra, DP Sports editor
This is where execution is critical in Penn football’s quest for its first Ivy League championship since 2016. This weekend begins the team’s uninterrupted stretch of conference games, where every game could be the difference between a title and a playoff run or staying home. And on Saturday, I’m confident that the Quakers will execute another dominant win to spoil Columbia’s Homecoming game.
Penn’s offense will not have trouble getting points on the board against the Lions, who have allowed an average of 24 points per game to their opponents. Reigning FCS Offensive Player of the Week and senior wide receiver Jared Richardson will, of course, be a force to be reckoned with on the field. Last week, Richardson nearly hit a career high with 190 receiving yards and notched two touchdowns, continuing his strong senior year and moving up in the history books. Senior quarterback Liam O’Brien will take aim and fire away frequently to Richardson on Saturday.
Additionally, senior running back Julien Stokes will be one to watch. This season, Stokes set up Penn for six drives past midfield, and the results of those drives have been five touchdowns and one field goal. Stokes is no doubt a difference maker as the nation’s leader in punt returns and punt return touchdowns.
Regarding the Lions, Columbia is coming off of a blowout loss against Lehigh, while Penn notably put up a strong fight in its matchup against the Mountain Hawks just a few weeks ago. The Lions’ struggles extend to their roster, where the status of their top two quarterbacks ahead of Saturday is unknown due to injury.
Penn 34, Columbia 14 — Conor Smith, deputy DP Sports editor
What’s going on with Columbia?
The Lions were dominant last season, winning a share of their first Ivy League title since 1961. That was not the only streak they broke either; against Penn, they snapped a 12-game losing streak at Franklin Field spanning back to 1996. After shocking the conference last year, it seems like second-year Lions head coach Jon Poppe has hit a bit of a sophomore slump as his squad is sitting 1-3 with an all-Ivy slate the rest of the way.
A lot of this has to do with key departures in the offseason. Former running back Joey Giorgi, a 871-yard rusher, graduated earlier this year alongside wideout Bryson Canty, who led the team in total receiving yards. Shaky quarterback play has not helped this evident drop in offensive firepower. Last week, Columbia quarterback Xander Menapace started in place of injured quarterback Chase Goodwin. A starter has not been named for Saturday as the Lions have kept the nature of Goodwin’s injury close to the chest. The two have accounted for six interceptions so far this season.
With all this being said, it should not come as a surprise that Columbia is last in the Ivy League in total offensive yards per game and touchdowns. Penn’s defense, which has shown incremental improvements, should tame the Lions with ease. I expect the unit will show pressure early and often, forcing whoever is starting for Columbia to add to the team’s abysmal turnover numbers.
As for Penn’s offense? I am not worried about it at all. I did not think I would be saying this last year after the transfer of reigning Ivy League Offensive Player of the Year and running back Malachi Hosley, but offensive coordinator Greg Chimera has reinvented Penn’s offense to an efficient pass-first attack led by O’Brien. I expect even more fireworks to come from this unit.
Penn 27, Columbia 7 — Cavance Snaith, DP Sports reporter
The Quakers are entering New York as the better team, eager to beat the Lions. Although the Red and Blue lost to Columbia last year, this year is different for both teams — Penn for the better and Columbia for the worse. The Quakers absolutely dominated Marist, outpassing, outrushing, and outscoring the team last week. On the other hand, Columbia has been underperforming, only winning one out of its four games thus far.
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Penn’s offense is performing significantly better than Columbia’s. Last week, Penn’s 463 offensive yards against Marist more than doubled the Lions’ 228 offensive yards against Lehigh. Furthermore, Columbia’s defense allowed 437 yards last week compared to the 250 let up by the Quakers. The Quakers are entering this matchup with the advantage as the better team. The Lions are on the hunt for their first Ivy win, and I can confidently say that it will not be against dear old Penn.
Penn 24, Columbia 14 — Tyler Ringhofer, deputy DP Sports editor
The Quakers keep on rolling. After finishing off their last non-conference match against Marist last week in emphatic fashion, Penn football enters the heart of its season with Ivy play against Columbia. Against Marist, the Red and Blue continued to stay red hot on offense with senior wide receiver Jared Richardson nearly breaking his single-game receiving yards career high. What stood out most, however, was Penn’s ability to limit Marist’s attack, holding the Red Foxes to a mere nine points. It was arguably Penn’s best defensive performance this season, and the team will look to build off of it in the coming weeks.
Columbia, on the other hand, has struggled offensively. The team scored an average of nine points during its last three games and dropped three of its first four games. The Lions have already dropped one Ivy game this season as well, losing 17-10 to Princeton earlier in the season. With Penn having an advantageous matchup on deck, I expect the Quakers’ defense to shine this week and showcase its full strength.
