The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Yale QB sets career records in victory over Penn
QB Rawlings sets career records in win over Penn
NEW HAVEN — When the final numbers were tabulated in a truly wild Saturday afternoon affair at the Yale Bowl, senior quarterback Kurt Rawlings set two of the most cherished records in Yale football history.
When Rawlings was informed that he became Yale’s career leader in passing touchdowns and total offense, his reaction was an indifferent yawn. Rawlings will let others crunch numbers and update statistical databases. The only numbers that mattered to him on Saturday were the ones on the scoreboard as Yale emerged with the 4641 victory over visiting Penn.
“I think the fact that the wins, if we can get [four more of ] those I would for sure be proud to look back,” Rawlings said. “Personally I don’t look back on my accomplishments, but the wins are something to be excited about.”
Rawlings quarterbacked Yale to the 2017 Ivy League title and the victory over the Quakers has the Bulldogs in contention for another Ivy League crown. Obviously there’s plenty of work to
do, especially after a loss earlier this season to undefeated Dartmouth.
Rawlings finished 23 of 31 passing for 388 yards and a pair of touchdowns to go with 67 rushing yards and two more scores as Yale improved to 51 and 21 in the Ivy League. All but five of his passing attempts were intended for either JP Shohfi or Reed Klubnik as the two seniors receivers combined for 20 catches and 349 receiving yards.
Who better to weigh in on Rawlings’ place in Yale football history than the two players on the receiving end of most of his passes?
“Just an incredible leader, so much passion on the field but I think him not concerned about the individual accolades is a testament to his love for the team and his love for football,” Shohfi said. “I think that is what makes him so great and what makes our team so great.”
On a day when Rawlings had 445 yards of total offense, Shohfi caught 11 passes for 162 yards, Klubnik finished with 189 yards on nine receptions and junior running back Zane Dudek rushed for 97 yards and three touchdowns, the game balls were presented to the offensive line who helped the Bulldogs finish with 551 yards of offense.
“I didn’t know how we were going to get it done but I knew we were going to get it done,” Yale coach Tony Reno said. “I am really excited the way we finished the game.”
Penn coach Ray Priore pinpointed Rawlings’ 33yard touchdown pass to Klubnik with two seconds left in the first half and Kyle Ellis’ interception in the fourth quarter to set up the second of Dudek’s three scoring runs as the backbreaking plays in an up and down affair featuring four players scoring at least two touchdowns and 1,072 rushing yards.
Even with those special moments, it took Klubnik jumping up to secure Penn’s onsides kick in the final minute for Yale to escape with the victory.
Penn (24, 03 in the Ivy League) took its only lead on Abe Willows’ 6yard scoring run and an extra point by Daniel Karrash with 47 seconds left in the third quarter.
Klubnik, who is now third in Yale history with 2,191 receiving yards and tied with Deon Randall for third place with 17 TD receptions, put the Bulldogs in front to stay with a 16yard touchdown catch early in the fourth quarter. Dudek added scoring runs of 8 and 6 yards as Yale kept Penn at arm’s length.
Penn quarterback Nick Robinson passes for 395 yards and three touchdowns with Ryan Cragun finishing with 208 yards on 13 receptions. Robinson was 7 of 8 for 142 yards on third downs as Penn was 8 of 13 on thirddown conversions including securing first downs five times on 3rd and 10 or longer. While Karekin Brooks, the leading rusher in the Ivy League coming into this week’s games, finished with 72 yards on the ground including a 2yard touchdown with 58 seconds remaining in the second quarter, Willows was the featured back down the stretch. Willows ended up with 63 rushing yards including touchdown runs of 6 and 1 yards and his 20yard scoring reception with 59 seconds left to play pulled Penn within a score.
Yale, which recovered an onsides kick as the Bulldogs scored two late touchdowns to stun Richmond last week, made sure history didn’t repeat when Klubnik came down with the onsides kick to wrap up the victory for Yale.