Penn tames Tigers, 44-13

Ends Princeton’s hopes for Ivy League crown.

By: Ken Weingartner
   PRINCETON — Dominating all phases of the game, the University of Pennsylvania football team routed Princeton 44-13 Saturday before 19,758 fans at Princeton Stadium.
   The defeat ended the Tigers (5-3, 3-2) hopes for at least a share of the Ivy League title and set up a championship showdown next weekend between Penn (7-1, 5-0) and Harvard (6-2, 5-0).
   Michael Recchiuti scored on two 1-yard runs in the first half and Fred Plaza had a 30-yard interception return midway through the third quarter to help the Quakers take a 30-0 lead.
   Penn outgained Princeton 202-29 in the first half.
   The 31-point setback was the Tigers largest margin of defeat to Penn since a 47-9 loss in 1943. The Quakers, ranked No. 21 in NCAA Division I-AA, have won five in a row over Princeton.
   Penn’s run defense, which was the best in the country allowing just 50.9 yards per game, limited the Tigers to 32 yards on 32 attempts. Sophomore quarterback Matt Verbit, making his second straight start for injured David Splithoff, was 18 of 34 for 194 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted twice.
   Princeton failed to cross midfield until there was 14:28 remaining in the game, and picked up the majority of its yardage in the fourth quarter. Branden Benson had a 1-yard touchdown run and Blair Morrison had a 14-yard TD catch for the Tigers.
   Chisom Opara was Princeton’s top statistical player, catching five passes for 109 yards. Cameron Atkinson was limited to 30 yards on 15 carries.
   The Tigers travel to Yale next week and host Dartmouth in the season finale Nov. 23.