Posted: Oct 13, 2023
Philadelphia, Pa. - A late fourth quarter rushing touchdown by the Penn Quakers put them ahead for the first time all night, as the hosts slipped past St. Thomas Aquinas College, 19-15 on Friday at historic Franklin Field.
STAC falls to 2-2 overall and 1-2 in the CSFL South Division, while Penn improves to 2-2 and 1-1.
STAC HIGHLIGHTS AND GAME NOTES
- Nyir Jones led the way with seven receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown catch.
- Quarterback Ryan Kenny garnered 13 rushing attempts for 10 total yards.
- Kenny also completed 24 of 32 passes, for 204 yards, while throwing two TD passes.
- Jayden Vargas registered six tackles in the contest.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Second Quarter
- Bo Maroney's 24-yard field goal try sailed through the uprights to put STAC ahead 3-0 early in the second stanza.
- Adrian Montemayor got his chance to tie up the game on a 27-yard field goal, making it 3-3.
Third Quarter
- Jayden Bennermon's 7-yard touchdown reception from Ryan Kenny (Bo Maroney Kick Blocked) put the Spartans back ahead 9-3 just three and half minutes into the second half.
- A forced fumble on Ryan Kenny, which was recovered in the endzone by the STAC quarterback, allowed Penn to pick up two points via a safety to cut the deficit to 9-5.
- Just before the end of the quarter, Nyir Jones' 31-yard TD catch from Ryan Kenny (2-Point Conversion By Ryan Kenny Failed) expanded the maroon and gold lead to 15-5.
Fourth Quarter
- Ty Scherer's 18-yard touchdown strike to Andy Falletta (Adrian Montemayor Kick Good) once again narrowed the lead, this time to 15-12 with just over eight minutes to play.
- Penn would take its first lead of the night with 3:47 remaining in the game, as Ty Scherer would make his way into the end zone on a 6-yard run (Adrian Montemayor Kick Good) to make it 19-15.
- STAC would have one final chance to retake the lead, but three rushing attempts for little to no gain, along with a Ryan Kenny incomplete pass would close out the Spartans rally hopes. Penn would run the ball twice and then take two knees to run out the clock for the four-point victory.
UP NEXT
St. Thomas Aquinas visits Army West Point on Friday, October 20, with kickoff between the Spartans and Black Knights set for 7:00 p.m. at Shea Stadium in West Point, N.Y.