Penn runs past Brown, 24-7

Penn's offense ran roughshod over Brown's previously highly regarded defense Saturday for a 24-7 win in a meeting of Ivy League unbeatens at Franklin Field.

"This was obviously a huge game for us," Quakers coach Al Bagnoli said. "And it's the type of game that gives you control of your own destiny."

After jumping out to the program's first 6-1 start since 2004, it seems as if Penn (6-1, 4-0 Ivy League) indeed has a hold on its destiny.

Coming in, Brown (4-3, 3-1) was ranked third in the Ivy League in defense, yielding 301 yards per game. The Quakers shattered that.

Penn amassed 450 total yards, including 321 rushing yards. Quarterback Billy Ragone accounted for 151 rushing yards on 11 carries. He scored one touchdown - a 54-yard run, the longest of his career.

The Quakers pulled away in the second quarter with three touchdowns. After Ragone's long run, Luke DeLuca and Brandon Colavita each scored on 1-yard rushes to help Penn take a 21-7 lead into halftime.

Ragone completed 10 of 17 passes for 92 yards and no interceptions. Jeff Jack finished with 57 rushing yards on 11 carries, and Colavita added 83 yards on 16 carries.

The Quakers entered the game with the top defense in the league, surrendering only 267.8 yards per game. Brown finished with 345 yards, though 58 came in the fourth quarter with the game already decided.

Brown's touchdown came on an 85-yard kickoff return by Mark Kachmer that tied the game, 7-7, with 13:07 to play in the first half.

"We got a lot of guys taking it personally, who want to go out every week and put their best game out there," said Penn defensive end Brian Levine, who had five tackles.

Bagnoli pegged Brown and Harvard as Penn's two toughest league opponents this season. After playing at Princeton on Saturday, the Quakers return to Franklin Field on Nov. 13 to host Harvard.

With Penn the lone undefeated Ivy team, Bagnoli was asked whether the Quakers have the makings of a championship team. "It's way too early to call it," Bagnoli said. "But what we do have - and nobody else in our league now has it - is control of our own destiny."