Last Gasp Field Goal Attempt for Penn Falls Short in 28 – 27 Loss to Columbia
PHILADELPHIA, PA 10/16/26 –
Just past midnight the University of Pennsylvania football team scrambled to get game-winning field goal attempt. The clock was winding down. Penn, with no timeouts, got the field goal unit on the field. The kick was up, the clock showed zeroes, the 51-yard attempt was short. The Columbia Lions take home a 28 – 27 win on Franklin Field. It was the first league win for Columbia while Penn is seeking that first victory.
“At the end of the day we have to stop the self inflicted wounds,” said Penn Coach Rick Santos. “Too many turnovers. We didn’t get big stops when we needed to.”
“Tip your cap to them, they made made the right plays when it mattered the most.”
The skies were as dark at the beginning of the game as they were at the end. The start of the game was delayed by ninety minutes due to weather. There was a heavy rain in the first quarter that wild reappear every so often. The teams threw haymakers at each other on offense. Big plays led to scores. The Quakers held a 24 – 21 lead at halftime. In the second half the defenses rose up.
The Red and Blue got a 28-yard field goal from Mason Walters for the only third period scoring.
Columbia got the final points of the game on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Chase Goodwin to Bryce Coleman with 6:41 remaining in the fourth quarter to cap a 9-play, 69-yard drive, taking 4:08.
Columbia could have taken further control of the game in their previous possession. A 38-yard completion from Goodwin to Coleman set the ball at the Penn 3-yard line. After a penalty set the ball back to the 8-yard line. Goodwin’s pass was deflected by Derek McCrum and intercepted by defensive lineman Duncan McPherson.
“A lot of that goes to my teammate McCrum, tip the ball and just go up there and get it,” said McPherson about the play. “We practice that drill in practice.
But the Red and Blue went three and out giving the ball back to the Lions who made the most of their chance with the ball.
Penn would get the ball back at their 5-yard line with 3:23 to play. The drive would get the ball to midfield. A pass from quarterback Karson Siqueiros-Laskey into the wind was picked off by Calvin Goss with 1:52 on the clock. The Lions did not get a first down and punted. The Quakers took over with 52 second left at their own 19-yard line. Five plays later the ball was at the Columbia 36 via a completion to Mason Page as the clock clicked down.
Penn had no timeouts using all of them to get the ball back. They sent the field goal team out with the clock running hoping to get the winning score. But the kick was short. Columbia Coach Jon Poppe felt the kick against the wind was a factor in the miss. Santos felt that miscommunication on the Penn sideline was more of a factor.
“We’ve got the get to the ball and spike it,” said Santos.
What the Numbers Say
Siqueiros-Laskey threw for 374 yards and 2 touchdowns. But he also threw 4 costly interceptions. Lee was his favorite target getting 10 catches for 158 yards, both a career-high.
Penn held a 24 – 7 lead in the first half.
For Columbia Coleman and Goodwin connected 6 times for 90 yards and 3 touchdowns. Goodwin threw for 237 yards and 3 scoring tosses all to Coleman. But he was intercepted twice.
Up Next
Another short week for the Red and Blue. Yale comes to Franklin Field next Friday night.
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: glenn@phillycollegesports.com
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