Brown Tops Ivies with Win Over Penn 39-8
Brown defeated the University of Pennsylvania 39-8 in its first Ivy Conference match, scoring 3 times on two converted tries and one unconverted in the first 7 minutes of the match and denying Penn any possession through the first 11 minutes of play.
However, Brown lost their way for the next 29 minutes. The team lost its shape, players lost balls in contact and decision making was questionable. With a good Homecoming crowd on a spectacular fall day, Brown was not performing to its capability and Penn seemed ready to pounce. A Penn penalty kick closed the first half scoring with Brown up by 16, but Penn had the wind at its back for the second half.
Penn with momentum were in the Brown half when Brown center Trevor Anesi'18 intercepted an errant Penn pass four minutes into the second half and ran in a try from 50 meters. With Brown up 24-3, the match was out of reach for the Quakers.
Penn did score a second half try, but additional Brown scores by hooker John Landers'17, a second try by Anesi, a two point conversion by Ogilvy and a penalty kick for 3 points by McHugh put a Brown exclamation point on the match. The Lander's try was particularly well played as center Connor McDermott'18 made nice break to move Brown to the halfway line and then #10 Alex Ogilvy'20, Landers and Nkanyiso Nzimande'20 all had touches of the ball before Landers crossed the line.
Match Scoring
'3 Brown Try (Connor McDermott) 5, Conversion (Peter McHugh) 2
'5 Brown Try (Alex Ogilvy) 5, Conversion (Peter McHugh) 2
'7 Brown Try (Nick Hoynes) 5
'48 Brown Try (Trevor Anesi) 5
'63 Brown Try (John Landers) 5
'71 Brown Try (Trevor Anesi) 5, Conversion (Alexander Ogilvy) 2
'76 Brown Penalty Kick (Pete McHugh) 3
Final Score: (Brown) 39 to 8 (Penn)
Pre-match Report
After a big win over Babson College, Brown looks to get the Ivy season rolling as they host Penn at Marvel Field. But it was Penn who leads the Ivies after Week 1 with a road win over the Big Red of Cornell.
Brown will bring a very physical side to the Ivies this season. Penn President David Harris remembering last year's contest, "they will come ready for another battle on Saturday." Last fall Brown won a tight well fought contest over Penn 29-24.
Harris continues, "the team is doing well, we're having a productive week at training following the victory at Cornell 22-10. A few of our contributors are returning from injury this week, so it'll be great to get back out on the pitch."
For Brown, they have a good core group of players returning. There are still some holes to fill replacing last year's seniors. Brown's Head Coach David Laflamme feels, "we are filling those gaps little by little with so new blood in the program." Coach continued, "we are trying to build each week and refine our systems. Penn should be a good test for us as I know they run hard off the scrum and in the backline. Trying to deny them space and keeping our composure for 80 minutes will be a measure of where we are at this point in the season."
The weather looks to be good Saturday. Brown University football is at home beginning at 2:00pm across the street so there should be a good crowd on hand for Brown to kick off the 2016 Ivy Season.
Penn Key Players to Watch
Leroy Sibanda, big man who works all over the pitch
Camillo Navarro our Freshman Chilean Half-Back