Penn’s defense shuts out Yale in the second half to pick up first Ivy League win

After two one-possession losses in Ivy League play, Penn picked up its first conference win, defeating Yale 24-21 at Franklin Field on Friday.

Penn freshman quarterback Miles Teodecki returned following a one-game absence. He completed 16-of-33 of his passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns. But the story for Penn was its defense, which came away with four interceptions and shut out Yale in the second half.

After missing a game-winning field goal due to a miscommunication last week against Columbia, Penn was on the other side of a special teams flub on Friday. Penn senior defensive back Devin Malloy came away with an interception on the Bulldogs’ (3-3, 1-2 Ivy) penultimate drive with the Quakers leading 24-21. However, Penn was unable to seal the game, punting it back to Yale with 44 seconds left. The Bulldogs moved the ball to set up a 44-yard field goal attempt, but a false start penalty moved the spot back five yards. Yale kicker Noah Pipers’ tying field goal fell just short. Penn rushed the field when the ball hit the ground.

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“Obviously, the way the game ended last week,” Penn coach Rick Santos said. “Quite frankly, for two straight days, things are being said in the media. We see it, and we stuck together. We had each other’s back. We used it as a galvanizing moment, and we talked about all week adversity being a gift. It it reveals your true character. We know we’re a heck of a football team.”

Penn (3-3) improved to 1-2 in Ivy play with the win.

Last week, Teodecki sat after sustaining a knee injury against Howard on Oct. 10. In Teodecki’s absence, backup Karson Siqueiros-Lasky’s four interceptions allowed Columbia to mount a 17-point comeback win.

“Leg felt ready to go,” Teodecki said. “We had a good week of practice. … The coaches made the decision, [and I was] ready for the moment. Just blessed to be healthy.”

With their starter back, Penn’s offense looked sharp early.

Teodecki — the highest-rated Penn recruit since 2000 — threw two touchdowns in the first quarter. The first capped a 8-play, 75-yard drive, highlighted by an impressive hurdle by freshman wide receiver Mason Page. Teodecki found his tight end Jack Donnelly on a 2-yard rollout pass to tie the game at 7-7.

After Yale punter Reese Keeney fumbled a low snap, setting up a short field for Penn, Teodecki found his other tight end, Dante Barone, on a play-action attempt for his second of the quarter to put the Quakers ahead, 14-7.

With Teodecki failing to recapture his early rhythm over the next two quarters, Santos looked to mix in the run — to no avail, but he stayed patient. That patience paid off in the fourth quarter. The Quakers put together a 9-play, 56-yard touchdown drive to take a 24-21 lead. The drive was capped off by a 13-yard rushing touchdown from senior running back Sean “Pup” Williams Jr.

“Obviously for the offensive line to step up in the way that they did,” Santos said, “and for Pup to get in there [for the touchdown]. You know, he didn’t take as many practice reps this week, and he’s just a gamer, and you know the moment wasn’t too big for him. So I’m just proud of the offense overall.”

Williams finished with 14 carries for 82 yards. .

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Penn’s defense struggled to cover the big play early. All three of the Bulldogs’ touchdowns came on plays of 29 yards or more. As Penn’s offense stalled, the defense’s four takeaways kept the Quakers in the game.

The first two interceptions were courtesy of pass deflections in Penn territory. In the second quarter, Penn defensive back Ezra Fearon made a diving grab for the first pick. Midway through the third quarter, defensive back Josh Narcisse deflected a pass in the back of the end zone into the hands of junior linebacker Derek McCrum.

Yale quarterback Dante Reno threw his third interception to Penn safety Brock Cornell, who logged his first career pick on Reno’s overthrow. The pick set up Penn kicker Mason Walters for a42-yard field goal to start the fourth quarter, trimming Yale’s lead to 21-17.

“We forced them into obvious passing situations,” Santos said. “And the defensive line did a really good job of wreaking havoc. And our guys on the back end, they were glued to their man all day.”

Reno passed for 211 yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions. The Bulldogs’ offense, which failed to score in the second half, was 7-for-15 on their third down attempts.

After a three-game home stand, Penn will go on the road to face Brown next Saturday (noon, ESPN+).