Ray Priore Gets 50th Coaching Win At Penn
PHILADELPHIA, PA 10/12/2024 –
The University of Pennsylvania needed to get a victory after their disappointing loss to Dartmouth last week. Penn did get it turned around with a 31 – 21 win over the Bison of Bucknell at Franklin Field. Their 10th consecutive win in the series. The Quakers remain undefeated at home this season scoring the most points in a game this year. It would take effort on offense and defense to get redemption. Defense did it in the first half, and the offense picked it up in the second.
“I thought it was a good come back victory after last week,” said Penn Coach Ray Priore. “We finished the second half which was our battle cry all week long. I’m very proud of how we listened and fought hard.”
Second Half Offense for the Red and Blue
After halftime the Quakers led 10 – 7, but got things going in the third quarter scoring three times starting with their first possession. The passing game for Penn got the ball moving down the field. Eventually, it led to an opening for a 32-yard rushing touchdown by Malachi Hosley. The Quakers kept to the script later in the stanza as Hosley broke loose for a 13-yard scoring run. An opening was created and Penn ran through it.
“It helps a lot because the defense having to play the deep ball, it opens it up,” said Hosley. “The defense has to hesitate which helps us offensively.”
Flip the switch later in the quarter as the Quakers ran the ball until a pass play opened. With 1:09 to play on the third quarterback Aidan Sayin threw a 49-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jared Richardson for a 31 – 14 lead. The run helped the pass and the teammates were ready to celebrate.
“I was waiting on the sideline to do our little dance,” Hosley said.
The Defense Kept Penn in the Game Early
Bucknell drove the ball early, but Penn took the ball back stopping the run on a fourth and one 20 yards from the goal line. On the ensuing drive the Quakers scored on an 80-yard drive capped by a touchdown run by Jamal Bing, Jr., his first career touchdown.
Late in the second quarter the Bison lived in Quakers territory close the halftime, but missed twice on field goal attempts of 26 and 44 yards. Kicker Matt Schearer had three total chances but could not convert. Opportunities wasted for Bucknell. Excitement created for Penn. The defense turned the Bison away, and set a tone.
“Amazing was the energy today,” said Red and Blue defensive lineman Carter Janki. “Excitement to play together. Just missing those field goals, momentum that brought.”
Win Number 50 For Priore
Coach gets a milestone win. Something of which he was not aware. Significant? For the program, for the people, not for him personally.
“I had no idea that was happening,” said Priore when he was informed of the milestone victory. “It’s about these young men game in and game out. They understand the standard here at Penn is to be successful, but it’s only one game at a time.”
What the Numbers Say
Here is a rather significant number. Zero which is the number of times each team punted.
Hosley restarted his 100-yard rushing game streak gaining 146 on 22 carries. Bing, Jr. ran the ball 10 times for 68 yards. Sayin completed 15 of 20 passes for 190 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Penn gained 394 yards of offense on 56 plays. Linebacker John Lista had 11 tackles and a sack. Janki had the other sack for Penn and forced a fumble recovered by Sam Carlson.
Bucknell posted 429 offensive yards on 80 plays. Quarterback Ralph Rucker IV threw for 241 yards going 26 for 34 and ran for 48 net yards. His primary target was Josh Gary who caught 13 of the 15 passes sent in his direction for 137 yards. Nate Anderson snared 6 passes for 52 yards and one for a touchdown. Tariq Thomas scored twice and ran for 57 yards. Mason Taylor had the pick for the Bison.
Up Next
Penn concluded its non-conference schedule. It is Ivy League games the rest of the way. Columbia is next on the schedule. Columbia is in second place in the Ancient Eight at 1 – 0 along with Brown. Dartmouth is on top at 2 – 0 after winning in overtime over Yale. Penn stands at 0 – 1 along with Princeton. Yale is 0 – 2. Harvard and Cornell are 1 – 1 after Friday. Priore noted that Harvard, Princeton, and Yale were 0 – 1 to start the season which may be the first time ever in the league.
Priore has a single word to describe how he feels about going into Ivy play for the rest of the year.
“One,” Priore said. “And one means one game at a time. Our biggest thing right now is those folks up in New York City coming down this week to Franklin Field.”
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com
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