Princeton at Penn, Mr. C's Official Game Thread

[Mr. C]

It is a cool, windy day at historic Franklin Field as we await the start of an Ivy League first-place showdown between surprising Princeton and defending champion Penn.

[Mr. C]

Penn wins the coin toss and will defer their choice until the second half. Princeton will be on offense first.

[Mr. C]

Can Quinn Epperly turn in another huge performance today? He broke Richie Williams' of ASU's record for consecutive completions last week against Cornell with 29 straight to start the game. This writer was at both the game where Williams set the record with 28 and Epperly's record-breaking performance.

After the kick and a holding penalty sets Princeton to the 10, a false start on the Tigers moves the ball back to the 5. Epperly threw high and of the hands of Connor Kelly on the first pass of the day and two short completions leave the Tigers at fourth and 7.

[Mr. C]

Princeton's punt dies at the Tiger 46, where Penn will take over with Billy Ragone under center. Ragone has been banged up and was questionable coming in.

Spencer Kulcsar runs for 2 on 1st down and then goes to the 40 on 2nd down. 3rd and 3.

[Mr. C]

Ragone's first pass over the middle to Ryan Mitchell is broken up by Matt Arends and the punt is downed at the Tiger one.

[Mr. C]

After the officials consult, it is moved out to the 3 with 12:23 left in the first period

[Mr. C]

A dive play to Atwater is stopped at the 4.

[Mr. C]

Bootleg pass from Epperly to Kelly goes out of bounds to the 10 after the catch.

[Mr. C]

Strong pressure on Epperly on 3rd down and Penn breaks up the pass. Punt time.

[Mr. C]

False start for Princeton moves the punt play back to the 5.

[Mr. C]

Fair catch for Penn in this field position game at the Princeton 39. Much better start today for Penn than last week at Brown.

[Mr. C]

!st down pass from Ragone bounces off the shoulder pads of Mitchell near the 15.

[Mr. C]

Audible for Ragone, draw play to Kulcsar is stacked by Caraun Reid at the 38. 3rd and 9.

[Mr. C]

Square in from Ragone to Mitchell is complete for the 1st down at the Princeton 17.

[Mr. C]

Kulcsar runs on a sweep to the 13, but it is wiped out on a hold on Mitchell to move it back to 1st and 10 at the 27.

[Mr. C]

Ryan O'Malley catches a pass inside at the 4, but he fumbles and Princeton recovers at the 4.

[Mr. C]

Will Powers goes inside to the 6. Another run for Powers is stopped at the 6. 3rd and 8.

[Mr. C]

Epperly is under pressure, scrambles out of the end zone and throws low and incomplete to Atwater.

[Mr. C]

Holding in the end zone by RT Mike Ramos results in a Penn safety.

[Mr. C]

Penn 2, Princeton 0
8:37 first period

[Mr. C]

The free kick is returned to the Princeton 45 by Penn, but the Quakers are whistled for a false start on 1st down.

Long count and another false start on the next play for Penn. 1st and 20 from the Penn 45.

[Mr. C]

Kyle Wilcox springs outside on a run for 15 to the Princeton 40. 2nd and 5.

[Mr. C]

Jet sweep for Wilcox to the Princeton 36. 3rd and 1.

[Mr. C]

Second effort by Wilcox allows him to squirt free to the 34. 1st and 10.

[Mr. C]

Ragone is pressured after strong coverage downfield and throws the ball away smartly.

[Mr. C]

Slant to Connor Scott is well defended and broken up, but the officials say the defender hit Scott too soon. Pass interference and Penn moves to the Princeton 27 for the 1st down.

[Mr. C]

Penn is so tough at Franklin Field.

Wilcox straight ahead to the 36 after Reid gets another stop.

Penetration and Wilcox is stacked for a loss to the 37. 3rd and 10.

[Mr. C]

Ragone is sacked by Elijah Mitchell at the Princeton 32. Penn will punt.

[Mr. C]

One of Princeton's blockers runs into the punt returner inside the 10 and that allows Penn to down the ball at the Tiger 1. 4:46 left in the first period.

[Mr. C]

A short run and then an Epperly completion near the sideline gives Princeton a first down finally at the 22. Matt Costello with another catch to the 30. 2nd and 2.

Epperly on the run and missed Kelly on a pass as Austin Taps applies pressure.

Epperly QB draw to the 32 for a first down, but Penn's offsides penalty moves it to the 35.

[Mr. C]

Not much inside for John Esposito on a run to the 36. 2nd and 9.

[Mr. C]

Epperly goes deep and Matt Arends appears to intercept, but Connor Kelly comes up with a share of the ball and is awarded the catch at the Penn 36.

A run loses 2 and a penalty on Princeton is declined. 2nd and 12 from the Penn 33.

Al Bagnoli is going nuts on the sidelines about something.

A pass to the 30 makes it 3rd and long.

[Mr. C]

Sam Chwarzynski intercepts a Epperly pass Lescano tipped and returns it through traffic for the Penn TD. The kick is blocked, but some how knucles barely over the crossbar.

Penn 9, Princeton 0, 1:37 left in the first period.

[Mr. C]

Sam Chwarzynski return for the TD was 61 yards.

And Princeton makes a quick call to the bullpen, replacing Quinn Epperly with former starter Connor Michaelson.

Princeton is on the move to the Tiger 44 as the first period ends.

Penn 9, Princeton 0

[Mr. C]

Jimmy Wagner sacks Michaelson for a 5-yard loss to start the second period and then Brian Mills is stopped for a loss by LB Dan Davis for another loss of 5. 3rd and long.

[Mr. C]

Roman Wilson drops a first down pass in Penn territory and is lucky it wasn't called a fumble. Punt for Princeton.

[Mr. C]

The punt by Tyler Roth is shanked into the wind to the Penn 46.

[Mr. C]

Penn is honoring its championship teams from 1983, 1993 and 2003 on the field during this break. Wonder if former QB Mark DeRosa, the MLB player, is down there for the 1993 team.

[Mr. C]

After Ryan Becker comes in at QB for Penn, Kulcsar takes the ball on his second run to the 3. Wilcox follows with a TD burst and it is Penn 16, Princeton 0 with 12:16 left in the second period.

[Mr. C]

Princeton takes over at the Tiger 29 after the kickoff and Epperly is back in.

Epperly keeps outside to the 38 and passes to Kelly at the Princeton 49.

[Mr. C]

My fingers are frozen up here in the open air press box.

Princeton runs to the Penn 47. 2nd and 6.

[Mr. C]

Roman Wilson on the reverse dances instead of runs and is thrown for a loss to the Tiger 49. 3rd and 10. Time out Penn.

[Mr. C]

Pass interference on Penn is going to bail out Princeton. 1st down on the Penn 35 for the Tigers. Matt Costello drew the penalty by getting open.

[Mr. C]

Roman Wilson with the catch to the 29 and Atwater breaks a tackle after a catch and runs to the 13.

[Mr. C]

Throwback screen to Roman Wilson is well defended at the 10.

[Mr. C]

A Penn player is down on the field. CB Anthony Gaffney walks off on his own power.

[Mr. C]

Fake reverse and a sprint pass from Epperly for a 10-yard TD.

Penn 16, Princeton 6.

[Mr. C]

Princeton going for two. Epperly lofts a pass as he is hit to the back of the end zone and Wilson comes down with it.

Penn 16, Princeton 8, 9:14 left in the first half.

[Mr. C]

After that burst of momentum, Princeton's Tyler Roth kicks off out of bounds. Penn will start at its 35 with Becker at QB.

[Mr. C]

A run by Kulcsar and Becker completion moves the ball to the Penn 48.

[Mr. C]

Becker's rollout is incomplete

Becker fumbles a handoff and Princeton recovers at the Penn 45.

[Mr. C]

Musical QBs and Michaelson is back in for Princeton. He completes a pass to the Penn 38. 2nd and 3.

[Mr. C]

Bad swing pass to Bostick is low and incomplete.

Wilson on the jet sweep to the 36 and Matt Arends is hurrt on the tackle. 4th and short.

[Mr. C]

Arends runs off. Fourth and inches. Princeton will go for it.

[Mr. C]

Epperly with a wildcat run to the 34, 1st and 10.

[Mr. C]

Wilson again with the jet sweep to the 26.

[Mr. C]

Austin Taps hits Epperly on the blindside just as he releases a pass.

Epperly keeps to the 26. 4th and 2.

[Mr. C]

Taps hits Epperly again, but Epperly gets the ball off to Wilson for the 1st down at the 15.

[Mr. C]

Taps was shaken up on the play.

[Mr. C]

Fade route for an apparent TD is ruled incomplete. 2nd and 10.

[Mr. C]

Atwater keeps his balance on the sweep and gets to the 10.

[Mr. C]

3rd down, route adjustment by Kelly, but the ball is incomplete in the back corner of the end zone. Princeton fans wanted pass interference.

[Mr. C]

27-yard field goal by Nolan Bieck for Princeton makes it Penn 16, Princeton 11. 4:47 left in the first half.

[Mr. C]

Penn, which has done little offensively but for Kulcsar's one run, starts at the 22.

The Quakers get a first down from Wilcox at the 38.

[Mr. C]

Ragone is back at QB for this drive. He gets good protection, but no one is open on 1st down.

Ragone to Ty Taylor on a post is complete at the Princeton 38.

[Mr. C]

Kulcsar runs off-tackle to the 36.

Pass over the middle to Kulcsar at the 31. 3rd and 5.

[Mr. C]

Elijah Mitchell with the interception and a pick-six.

Princeton 17, Penn 16. 1:24 left in the half.

[Mr. C]

Two-point try, Epperly's throwback pass is broken up.

[Mr. C]

Billy Ragone with a nice 34-yard TD throw to Ryan Mitchell gives Penn a 23-17 lead with 12 seconds left in the half.

5 play drive for the Quakers.

[Mr. C]

Second half begins with Penn on the 28. Ragone hands to Kulcsar for 7 yards.

[Mr. C]

Kulcsar with a burst to the 43.

[Mr. C]

Ragone is called for intentional grounding. I hate when a QB is called for that on a pass out of bounds.

[Mr. C]

3rd and long for Penn at the 34 after a short run.

Ragone underneath to Scott and well short of a first down.

[Mr. C]

Poor Penn punt give Princeton the ball at the Tiger 38. 12:12 left in the third period.

[Mr. C]

Epperly swings a pass to Wilson to the Tiger 47.

[Mr. C]

Brian Mills is hit for a loss by David Park. Epperly wildcats it to the Penn 46.

[Mr. C]

Epperly's wobbly pass to Kelly is incomplete on 1st down.

[Mr. C]

Jet sweep to Bostick and an option pass is incomplete. 3rd and 10.

[Mr. C]

Epperly to Costello and the catch and run is just enough for a 1st down at the Penn 34.

[Mr. C]

Epperly to Bostick at the 28. 2nd and 4.

Atwater runs to the 25. 3rd and short.

[Mr. C]

Epperly wildcats it to the 19. 1st down. Jet tempo is working well here.

[Mr. C]

Hitch pass to Nelson is stuffed at the 20. 2nd and 11.

[Mr. C]

Epperly to Wilson on the bubble screen for nothing.

[Mr. C]

Epperly on the move hits Kelly at the 7. 1st and goal.

[Mr. C]

Great bootleg fake by Epperly, but he misses a man in the end zone. 2nd and goal from the 7.

[Mr. C]

Epperly on the wildcat dives for the pylon and is called short at the one. 3rd down.

[Mr. C]

Epperly smashes in to tie the score at 23 with 6:52 left in the third period.

PAT is good.

Princeton 24, Penn 23

[Mr. C]

Handoff to Wilcox is fumbled and Princeton recovers at the 29. Princeton is called for a celebration penalty after the play. 15 yards back to the Penn 44.

[Mr. C]

Seth DeValve with a fingertip catch to take the ball to the Penn 25.

A pair of runs net zero. 3rd and 1.

[Mr. C]

Epperly with the wildcat for the first down at the 24.

A pass on 2nd down to Kelly is broken up. 3rd and 8.

[Mr. C]

Epperly trips on a wildcat run and on fourth down a pass is broken up and almost intercepted by Mike Laning. Penn ball at the 20.

[Mr. C]

Kulcsar runs out of bounds at the 26. 2nd and 4.

[Mr. C]

Another near interception on a tipped pass for Elijah Mitchell.

Ragone to Kulcsar is complete on third down and 4. Punt time for Penn.

[Mr. C]

Princeton takes over from the Tiger 38 with 3:03 left in the third period.

[Mr. C]

On third down, Epperly completes a pass to Wilson out of bounds. Time for a Tiger punt.

[Mr. C]

Princeton is making it tougher on the Penn offense. After a run and an incomplete pass, it is 3rd and 10, but Connor Scott makes a 1st-down catch at the 31.

[Mr. C]

Kulcsar runs to the 34. 2nd and 7 and Ragone throws an incompletion.

[Mr. C]

Ragone forces a pass to Scott and Anthony Gaffney intercepts at the Penn 46. Bad mistake with 22 seconds left in the third period.

[Mr. C]

Epperly runs to the 44 on the final play of the third period


Princeton 24, Penn 23 after three periods

[Mr. C]

Time for the toast toss at Franklin Field

[Mr. C]

Princeton is back to jet tempo in the spread and has moved to the Penn 25.

[Mr. C]

Epperly to DeValve inside the one.

[Mr. C]

Epperly is hit behind the line, but his strength helps him power in for the TD.

Princeton 31, Penn 23, 13:10 remaining in the fourth period.

[Mr. C]

Penn will start on offense again at the Quaker 30, needing to put together a drive.

[Mr. C]

Ragone has a pass batted down. 2nd and 10.

[Mr. C]

Jet sweep to Wilcox busts loose to the Penn 41.

[Mr. C]

Wilcox picks a nice little hole to the outside and races to the Princeton 43. Very nice run.

[Mr. C]

Ragone hurries a pass after a nice play fake and misses an open Connor Scott inside the Princeton 30. Princeton declines an illegal motion penalty, 2nd and 10.

[Mr. C]

Deep sideline pass to Scott is incomplete at the Tiger 20. 3rd and 10.

Scott is bumped on an incompletion and Princeton is flagged for pass interference. John Hill was the culprit.

[Mr. C]

Had my browser die on me there for awhile. Penn marched down to the 10 and a third down pass from Ragone to O'Malley was just incomplete as Ragone was hit on his release.

4th and goal from the 10 with 9:42 left and Penn will try a Connor Loftus field goal.

It is good from 28 yards.

Princeton 31, Penn 26, 9:37 remaining.

[Mr. C]

Max Lescano almost breaks a kick return for Princeton, with Loftus making the saving tackle at the Tiger 37.

[Mr. C]

A bubble screen to Bostick is blown up at the 37, but Princeton is flagged for illegal formation. The 5-yard penalty makes it 1st and 15 from the 32.

[Mr. C]

Atwater with a sweep to the 38. 2nd and 9.

[Mr. C]

Bubble screen to Costello to the Princeton 45.

[Mr. C]

3rd and 2, Epperly lines up outside and is handed the ball by Michaelson, completing a 1st down pass at the Penn 47.

Mills runs to the 42

2nd and 5, play fake pass to Costello and Kenny Thomas gets away with some contact to break up the play as Costello had a step on him.

[Mr. C]

Pass to DeValve goes to the 31. 1st down.

[Mr. C]

Nice play fake, but the pass from Epperly is dropped. Princeton fans wanted pass interference.

[Mr. C]

Pitch out to Will Powers goes to the 28, 3rd and long.

Comeback route to Wilson on the sideline is complete for a 1st down at the Penn 20.

[Mr. C]

Atwater runs inside on a counter to the 16. 2nd and 6.

Atwater again to the 14. 3rd and 4.

[Mr. C]

Epperly is hit as he releases the ball on a play-action pass, but has enough strength to get the ball to Kelly for the 14-yard TD play.

Princeton 38, Penn 26.

4:45 left.

[Mr. C]

Caraun Reid with a pass deflection of a Billy Ragone pass. 2nd down and 10 from the Penn 31.

[Mr. C]

False start on Penn. 2nd and 15 from the 26.

[Mr. C]

Caraun Reid shows why he is the best defensive player in FCS with a bull rush for a sack at the 16.

[Mr. C]

Short pass play gets it to the 22 and Penn with punt with four minutes left on 4th and 19.

[Mr. C]

Fair catch will give Princeton the ball at the 44.

[Mr. C]

Princeton will try to grind this out now.

Atwater runs to the Tiger 48 and Penn calls its first time out of the half with 3:42 remaining.

[Mr. C]

Fake by Epperly, who keeps it to the Penn 45 for the 1st down. One more will finish it off.

[Mr. C]

Atwater smashes to the 41. Under three minutes left.

[Mr. C]

2nd and 6, Atwater rushes to the 40, Penn calls time out with 2:16 left.

[Mr. C]

Atwater runs for a loss to the 41 and Penn calls its final time out.

[Mr. C]

Penn gets the ball back at its own 11 with less than two minutes to play.

A pair of incompletions makes it 3rd and 10 from the 11 with 1:47 left.

[Mr. C]

Ragone is under pressure and fires incomplete. 4th and 10.

[Mr. C]

Ragone's final pass is intercepted by Mike Zeuli.

Victory formation for Princeton.

[Mr. C]

Final from Franklin Field

Princeton 38, Penn 26

[Mr. C]

Princeton can clinch a a share of the Ivy League title next week with a win over Yale and can win outright if Penn also beats Harvard

[Mr. C]

Princeton's team comes over to the stands to acknowledge the great support it had from a loud and boisterous crowd at Franklin Field today. Very entertaining championship game with Princeton knocking off the defending Ivy League champs.

[Go...gate]

First win by Princeton over Penn since 2006.