Brooks breaks Sacred Heart

Penn defeated Sacred Heart 38-24 on Saturday at Franklin Field. Senior running back Karekin Brooks rushed for 178 yards and scored four touchdowns.

Running back Karekin Brooks leaps into the end zone against Sacred Heart.
Junior running back Karekin Brooks had 28 rushes for 178 yards and four touchdowns. 

Just call him Al Bundy.

On Saturday, senior running back and co-captain Karekin Brooks scored four touchdowns in Penn’s 38-24 victory over Sacred Heart at Franklin Field—three on the ground and one through the air. 

The first came at the tail end of the Quakers’ eight-play, 75-yard opening drive. His one-yard run gave the Red & Blue a 7-0 lead.

A shanked, 15-yard punt by the Pioneers gave the Quakers the ball at the Sacred Heart 35-yard line. Eight plays later, Brooks entered the end zone for the second time, from one yard out. Penn was up 14-0 after the first quarter.

A 43-yard field goal by junior kicker David Perkins in the second quarter upped the Red & Blue’s advantage to 17-0. Sacred Heart scored its first points of the game, a 30-yard field goal, on the ensuing drive to make it a 17-3 game.

Brooks’ third TD of the game came on a 17-yard reception from senior quarterback Nick Robinson. The Quakers covered 75 yards on the scoring drive in only 1:33 to take a 24-3 lead. 

Sacred Heart scored on a 29-yard touchdown pass before halftime. Penn led 24-10 at the break.

Senior defensive back Sam Philippi stands on the field with his helmet off.
Senior defensive back Sam Philippi had seven tackles (three solo), one pass breakup, and one interception.

 The Pioneers cut the lead to seven in the third quarter after the Quakers fumbled a snap near their own goal line. Sacred Heart recovered the ball in the end zone for the touchdown.

In the fourth, Robinson threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to sophomore wide receiver Rory Starkey, Jr., which gave Penn some breathing room at 31-17. 

On the next drive, Sacred Heart got within seven again via a 74-yard touchdown pass that cut Penn’s lead to 31-24.

Penn then embarked on a 13-play, 75-yard drive, which took 4:19 and culminated in Brooks’ fourth score, a two-yard run that made it a 38-24 contest.

Senior defensive back Sam Philippi picked off a pass with 2:25 left in the game to seal the win.

On top of his four touchdowns, Brooks had 28 rushes for 178 yards and two receptions for 24 yards.

Robinson was 21-43 for 267 yards and two touchdowns. Starkey caught eight passes for 129 yards and a score. Sophomore outside linebacker Adam Conyer had a team-high nine tackles (seven solo) and also had an interception.

In New York City this Saturday, the 2-2 Quakers clash with Columbia.