Penn’s starting quarterback vs. Yale will be a game-time decision, says Rick Santos
The first-year head coach also addressed the team’s blunder in a loss to Columbia last weekend, describing this season as “foundational” for the young Quakers.
When Penn hosts Yale on Friday night at Franklin Field, who will start under center for the Quakers remains a mystery.
Penn freshman quarterback Miles Teodecki is healthy and cleared to play, but head coach Rick Santos says it’ll be a “game-time decision.”
“We’re going to find out when we get to game day,” he added, “Both [junior quarterback Karson Siqueiros-Lasky] and Miles are going to take reps right now.”
Siqueiros-Lasky added: “It’s just a game of being prepared. Prepare like you’re the starter, regardless if you’re going to start or not.”
Last Friday against Columbia, Siqueiros-Lasky finished with 374 yards and two touchdowns. He also threw four interceptions. Penn gave up a 17-point lead, and miscommunication on the final play resulted in a 28-27 loss.
In the final seconds, Penn got into field goal range, but was out of timeouts. Instead of spiking the ball to set up a clean kick, the field goal unit scrambled onto the field and rushed Mason Walters’ 51-yard field goal attempt, which fell short.
The play picked up national views.
“Of course we saw it,” Santos said of the clip going viral. “We see everything. Yeah, we addressed it.
“Listen, we’re in this thing together. Moments like that are not what we want to be defined for, and we will not be defined as that going forward. We are a heck of a football program. … We’re going to win championships here. And this is a foundational year.”
Santos previously described himself as an “offensive-minded coach,” but Penn’s offense has struggled. Through five games, Penn has seven touchdowns and completed 112 of 196 passing attempts. The Quakers have scored in the endzone on 13 of 21 trips.
The emphasis this week? “To take care of the football,” Santos said. “That’s the number one thing. It’s turnovers.”
» READ MORE: Penn squanders 17-point lead, game-winning field goal attempt falls just short in 28-27 defeat to Columbia
Penn will face a strong offensive unit in Yale, which is coming off a 41-23 loss to over Rhode Island. Against conference teams, Yale leads the league with 457.8 offensive yards per game. Penn averages 342.4 offensive yards, ranking sixth.
“[Yale has] really been the best team, probably, arguably, in the last 10 years,” Santos said, “They are dynamic.”
But Penn has the best passing defense in the league, holding opponents to 136.6 yards per game, and is second in the league in rushing defense.
“I trust our defense,” Siqueiros-Lasky said. “I think we’re right there, honestly.”
Penn is still looking for its first Ivy League win, and while Santos said Yale is a big matchup, “it’s just the next one.”
His offense is finding a way to keep control of the ball, but for Santos, Friday will be another opportunity for his young group to grow.
“The great thing about having adversity,” Santos said, “you get to live it, and you get to test your values in real time, and the guys are staying together right now.”
