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Ryan Glover leads Penn to comeback win over Sacred Heart, 31-27

The quarterback hit Christian Pearson on a late touchdown pass as the Quakers rallied after losing a large lead.

Penn quarterback Ryan Glover
Penn quarterback Ryan GloverRead moreYONG KIM / Staff Photographer

FAIRFIELD, Conn. — Ryan Glover hit Christian Pearson on a late touchdown pass as Penn rallied after losing a large lead to beat Sacred Heart, 31-27, on Saturday afternoon.

Glover was perfect in the first half, completing all eight of his pass attempts for 103 yards and a touchdown as Penn mounted a 17-0 halftime advantage and led, 24-0, early in the third.

Taheeb Sonekan recorded two field goal blocks in the first half, tying an NCAA FCS record as the Quakers held on to the lead.

But Sacred Heart battled back, scoring 27 unanswered points to go ahead, 27-24, after Aaron Donalson picked up a Penn fumble and returned the ball 21 yards for a score with 9 minutes, 54 seconds left in the game.

Glover, who finished with 162 yards and two touchdowns, drove the Quakers (3-1, 0-1 Ivy League) 87 yards for the winning score with 1:19 remaining.

On the winning drive, Karekin Brooks rushed for more than a dozen yards on a couple of carries before Glover hit Pearson for 18 yards to get the Quakers to their 45-yard line. Brooks went around right end for 23 yards to get the ball into Sacred Heart territory. Steve Farrell hauled in a 10-yard reception to get to the Pioneers' 18. Abe Willows ran for 8 yards before Glover found Pearson on a seam route for the winning touchdown.

Karekin Brooks, who totaled 191 yards, opened the scoring with a 12-yard scamper early in the first quarter. Jack Soslow added a 51-yard field goal and Glover hit Pearson on the 20-yard touchdown toss to take a 17-0 lead.  Kevin Duke threw for 189 yards and a score for Sacred Heart (3-2).

Penn will return to Ivy League play at 1 p.m. next Saturday, when the Quakers host Columbia at Franklin Field.