Penn squanders 17-point lead, game-winning field goal attempt falls just short in 28-27 defeat to Columbia

In what was an ugly performance on an ugly weather night at Franklin Field, Penn lost in dramatic fashion to Columbia, 28-27, in Ivy League play on Friday.

After kickoff was pushed back an hour and a half due to the potential for inclement weather, the Quakers (2-3, 0-2 Ivy) raced out to a 17-point advantage early in the second quarter behind a hot start from junior quarterback Karson Siqueiros-Lasky. However, the backup signal-caller, who was playing in place of injured starter Miles Teodecki, tossed four interceptions to allow the Lions (4-1, 1-1 Ivy) to mount a comeback.

» READ MORE: Penn’s quarterback situation remains up in the air following injury to starter Miles Teodecki

With just under seven minutes left in the fourth quarter, Columbia took its first lead of the game following a nine-play, 69-yard touchdown drive. Penn had three more chances to retake the lead. After stalling out on the first attempt, Siqueiros-Lasky threw his fourth interception to end the Quakers’ penultimate drive.

Still, Penn had one more chance. With 52 seconds remaining and no timeouts, Siqueiros-Lasky converted two chunk plays to set up a game-winning field goal attempt. Instead of hurrying to the line of scrimmage to spike the ball and set up the kick, the Quakers, after what looked like some initial confusion, opted to try and run the field goal unit onto the field as the clock ticked under five seconds. Kicker Mason Walters was late running onto the field but managed to get off a rushed 51-yard kick. The ball landed just short of the upright, and Columbia’s sideline rushed the field.

“It was a miscommunication,” said Penn coach Rick Santos of the chaotic final play. “We had the ability to just spike the ball and not run out and have a bazooka opportunity. Yeah, one of the guys on the sideline yelled it and it did not come from the coaching staff. So that is unfortunate.”

With the loss, Penn falls to 0-2 in Ivy League play.

“That’s gut-wrenching,” Santos said. “Played extremely hard. Proud of the resolve of our guys. We made a lot of strides in a lot of different areas. At the end of the day, we need to stop having self-inflicted wounds. Too many turnovers. We didn’t get key stops when we needed to.”

Here’s what we saw from Penn’s second league loss:

Last week, Teodecki suffered a knee injury in the second quarter that sidelined the freshman for the rest of the game. In his place, Siqueiros-Lasky, a junior, led the Quakers to an upset victory at Howard in relief. This week, Teodecki — the highest-rated Penn recruit since 2000 — tested his knee in practice, but Siqueiros-Lasky ultimately got the start.

“Miles was cleared, but we wanted to make sure that, you know, it’s a long season, and we wanted to make sure we protected him, and Karson earned the right [to start],” Santos said.

Everything was clicking for Siqueiros-Lasky early.

On the Quakers’ first drive, rolling to his right, he threaded the needle along the right sideline to freshman wideout Mason Page for a 28-yard gain. To finish the drive, sophomore halfback Tommy Lafayette took a direct snap into the endzone for a 6-yard score.

Siqueiros-Lasky kept his foot on the gas. He added two touchdowns through the air in the first half, one a 19-yard pass to Page and another on a 20-yard go-route to tight end Dante Barone. Then came the mistakes.

But Siqueiros-Lasky threw three interceptions in the second quarter, two of which set up touchdown drives for Columbia. Penn saw its 17-point advantage slip to three, as the teams went into halftime at 24-21.

Penn’s offense stalled in the second half, with its only points coming from a chip-shot field goal to start the third quarter. Siqueiros-Lasky completed 23 of 41 passes for 374 yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions.

Entering the game, Penn’s defense ranked No. 1 in the FCS, allowing just 225 yards per game. The unit couldn’t maintain that pace on Friday, allowing 362 total yards, but Penn’s defense did make things difficult for Lions quarterback Chase Goodwin.

Goodwin amassed 237 passing yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions.

In the first quarter, Penn sophomore defensive tackle Duncan McPherson burst through the line unblocked, hitting Goodwin as he heaved a ball towards the left sideline. Defensive back Ty Cortes split from his receiver, turning off him for an easy interception. The pick set up Walters for a 52-yard field goal.

McPherson continued to be a bright spot for Penn’s defense. In the third quarter, he sacked Goodwin for a 9-yard loss. Then, with Columbia on Penn’s 8-yard line to start the fourth quarter, McPherson came down with an interception of his own after Goodwin’s pass was batted in the air.

Defensive back Josh Narcisse led Penn in tackles with seven.

“I think we just have to respond and reload,” McPherson said. “That’s one of our statements we say every week. I think our defense is an amazing group. I don’t think our brand of football was put on tape today. I think we can do better, and I think we’re going to respond next week.”

Up Next

Penn will look to pick up its first win in conference play when they host Yale on Friday (7p.m., ESPN+).

Bulldogs senior defensive back Abu Kamara will make his homecoming, having starred at Interboro. Kamara, one of the best players in the Ivy League, has accounted for 18 tackles and one interception this season. Last time Yale came to Franklin Field in 2024, Delaware County showed out for Kamara.