The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Yale at Penn
When: Today, 1 p.m.
Where: Franklin Field, Philadelphia
Records: Yale 4-1 (1-1 Ivy), Penn 2-3 (0-2 Ivy)
TV: CSN Philly
Online audio/video/ radio: Ivy League Network/AM 960 or AM 1300
1. Elementary, Mr. Watson: Penn's top offensive threat is Justin Watson, who has caught seven touchdown passes this season after catching eight all of last year. Watson burned Yale for 10 catches for 166 yards and three TDs last season.
"They want to get him the ball as much as possible," Yale safety Jason Alessi said. "They'll put him in the slot, they'll put him out wide. They try to mess with you. If they can get him with a linebacker, they throw it to him every time. We have a bunch of different packages that are gonna allow us to play, not only against him, but the entire offense."
2. Oh, so close!: Penn is two plays away from being unbeaten in the Ivy League. Three week's ago, Dartmouth's wildcat quarterback leaped into the end zone as time expired to give the Big Green a 16-13 win. Last Saturday in New York, Columbia answered Penn's late 41-yard field goal with a scoring pass to end the game in overtime.
3. Common foes: Both Yale and Penn have faced Lehigh and Dartmouth, and had similar results. Yale blitzed Lehigh 56-28; Penn won a 65-47 shootout. Yale lost to Dartmouth by a single point, the Quakers by three.
4. Injury updates: Most of Yale's defensive backfield was decimated by injury in Saturday's 32-0 win over Holy Cross. Senior captain Spencer Rymiszewski was an unhealthy scratch and, as of Tuesday, was doubtful for practice. Meanwhile, senior defensive tackle Copache Tyler also didn't play at all against Holy Cross, and coach Tony Reno wasn't sure of his status for the Penn game.
5. History lesson: Yale leads the all-time series against Penn 46-37-1, though the Quakers have won 19 of the last 25. Yale's last win was in 2007 at Franklin Field. Last year, Penn thumped the Bulldogs 42-7 at the Yale Bowl.