Penn looking to bounce back against Sacred Heart

Under the best scenario, Penn coach Ray Priore can look at last Saturday's loss at Dartmouth and think the Quakers just met the wrong opponent at the wrong time.

The Big Green took away most of the things that Penn likes to do in a dominating 37-14 victory.

"It was a long ride up and a long, long, long ride back," Priore said of the trip to Hanover, N.H. "Dartmouth is a real good football team. They were big, strong and physical. They controlled the line of scrimmage. At the end of the day, I just thought our kids never got into any rhythm or any gear."

Penn simply came up with a dud against Dartmouth.

A team that had had 17 sacks over the first two games got none against the Big Green.

A team that had scored 30 or more points in each of its first two games was held to 14 points.

"Where we showed really good poise in the first two games and were going in the right direction, this obviously was a step not in the right direction for our team," Priore said.

"… If you play well and lose, you just say you got beat by a team that is better.  When you don't perform to your capabilities, I think our kids understand the difference."

Of course, the more ominous thought is that Dartmouth simply figured Penn out and established a blueprint for other teams to follow against the Quakers.

Last season, Penn started 2-0, but then a loss to Dartmouth sent the Quakers spinning into a four-game losing streak.

The first test of whether history repeats itself will come Saturday when Penn (2-1) goes back on the road to play at Sacred Heart (3-1) of the Northeast Conference. It is the final of the Quakers' three non-Ivy League games.

"A lot of things that happened in our games were controlled by what we did not do to get back on track," Priore said. "Sacred Heart is a good football team. As they often would say, the challenge isn't as much what they do, but how we respond to coming off a defeat."

Priore said he wants his players to take one attitude on the Dartmouth game.

"Winning is good, but really, really despise losing," he said. "Hate losing. If you hate to lose, you'll become a great winner.

"We got our kids up there more into that hate column. They've responded well in practice. I think when you have good leadership from our seniors and captains … they grabbed all the guys together in the weight room on Sunday and had a little fellowship. They were talked to well and our kids understand the expectations.

"There's no 'add water and stir' in football. You have to work hard during the week and prepare in a right way."

Penn at Sacred Heart

Saturday at 3 p.m.

Records: Penn (2-1); Sacred Heart (3-1)

Coaches: Ray Priore, 22-11, in fourth season at Penn; Mark Nofri, 40-33, in seventh season at Sacred Heart.

TV/radio:  WNTP-AM 990.

History:  First meeting.