It started out well.
Junior defensive back Conor O’Brien made a highlight-worthy interception on the third play of Saturday’s Homecoming game against Harvard at Franklin Field. But on the next play, from their own 20, sophomore quarterback Ryan Glover’s pass was intercepted. Five plays later, the Crimson were in the end zone, up 7-0. Penn ultimately fell 29-7.
The Quakers had their chances. Trailing 10-0 nearing the end of the first quarter, the Red & Blue went on an 11-play, 59-yard drive that put them at first-and-goal. Glover connected with senior wide receiver Mike Akai on a 32-yard gain to set Penn up at the 1-yard line, but on four tries, they could not punch it in.
Shortly before halftime, Harvard went on a 9-play, 74-yard drive, which culminated with a 9-yard touchdown pass. The extra point was unsuccessful and Red & Blue entered the intermission down 16-0.
Penn received the ball to start the third, but the offense could not find its rhythm. The two teams traded three-and-outs in the quarter, until Glover was intercepted halfway through the period. The Crimson scored on the ensuing drive and increased their lead to 22-0, after missing the two-point conversion.
On the first play of the next series, junior quarterback Nick Robinson fumbled at the Quakers 10-yard line and Harvard recovered. A 10-yard TD run made it 29-0 after three.
Five minutes into the fourth, the Red & Blue finally put points on the scoreboard. Starting at their own 21, Glover found senior wide receiver Steve Farrell for 20 yards, rushed for 2 yards, found Farrell again for 31 yards, connected with junior running back Abe Willows for 3 yards, and hit junior wide receiver Kolton Huber for a 23-yard score.
The Quakers had won the last three games versus Harvard, the longest streak in almost a decade.
Glover was 9-16 for 150 yards passing with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. Willows carried the ball 8 times for 24 yards and had 3 receptions for 24 yards. Huber had 2 receptions for 33 yards and a touchdown. Senior defensive lineman Cooper Gardner had 9 tackles (4 solo) and 1 and a half tackles for loss.
With one game left against archrival Princeton, Penn is 6-3 overall and 3-3 in the Ivy League.
