Running backs key to Penn's offense

Despite the quarterback's good size (6-foot-2, 230 pounds), Penn coach Al Bagnoli winces from the sidelines almost every time freshman Alek Torgersen takes off running.

"Alek runs straight ahead and doesn't have the elusiveness of a Billy Ragone," said Bagnoli, mentioning last year's quarterback. "He's a good runner but he's got to learn how to be a smart runner. He's taking a lot of hits head on. We've got to impress upon him when you have the chance to get out of bounds, get out of bounds. If you can slide, slide."

Bagnoli has been looking to get the Quakers running game working consistently - and having Torgersen run less - this season. Last week it worked as Penn (1-4, 1-1 Ivy League) opened league play with a season-high 276 yards rushing in a 31-7 rout of lowly Columbia.

Bagnoli wants his running backs carrying the load. Torgersen, who ran 12 times for 70 yards last week, sometimes looks to carry more often than Bagnoli would like him to.

Penn, which plays at Yale (4-1, 1-1) Saturday at 1:30 p.m., ran the ball well against the Lions despite playing without its top three running backs. One solution Bagnoli found was moving senior wide receiver Eric Fiore over to running back.

Fiore responded by picking up 42 yards on nine carries. This included a 12-yard touchdown that marked the first of his career.

This weekend the Quakers welcome back leading rusher Kyle Wilcox - out the last two weeks due to concussion symptoms - but Bagnoli says he'll leave Fiore at running back because he believes he can contribute to Penn's running back-by-committee approach.

"He's going to remain there because Kyle Wilcox is a good player but he's been injury prone," Bagnoli said of the 2013 honorable mention all-Ivy performer. "So we're not going to yank him and put him back later on. We're just going to leave him there and hedge our bet that we'll have one or two healthy guys there."

When: Saturday at 1:30 p.m.

Where: New Haven, Conn.

Records: Penn (1-4, 1-1 Ivy), Yale (4-1, 1-1)

Radio: WNTP-AM (990); TV: NBC Sports Network

Coaches: Penn, Al Bagnoli (23d season, 147-76, overall 233-95); Tony Reno (3d season, 11-14).

Series: Yale leads the series, 46-34-1. In the last meeting, Penn won, 28-17, on Oct. 26, 2013.

- John N. Mitchell

EndText