In the 116th meeting between Penn and Cornell, the Quakers are hoping to wrap up sole possession of the Ivy League title after knocking off preseason favorite Harvard last weekend. Cornell, on the other hand, has watched as its best chances at picking up a third win in 2009 all dissolved into losses. After a 2-0 start, the team (2-7, 1-5 Ivy) fizzled and is currently riding a seven-game losing streak. Cornell is assured last place in the Ivy League, but head coach Jim Knowles ‘87 does not see the team’s role against the Quakers (7-2, 6-0) as that of spoiler.

“It puts your own team down, it’s saying that we’re less than them and we’re trying to take something away from them,” Knowles said of the spoiler mentality. “It’s about us being the best that we can be, showing truly what this team can do, which we haven’t done in a long time.”

Indeed, a series of blown coverages, missed field goals and other misfortunes have befallen the Red during its seven-game skid, but much of the team’s problems have been with simply stopping the run. Penn has had quarterback issues of its own all year, but has effectively rotated running backs and ridden its defense — No. 2 in the FCS — to its current position.The wildcat: Senior Stephen Liuzza (12) runs the wildcat offense for the Red. Penn runs the wildcat offense as well.

“They do a pretty good job of mixing around the running game,” Knowles said. “They run it fairly effectively out of different play shapes. They always seem to have some kind of wildcat going. They’ve been able to make the big play when they’ve needed it. That’s what winning teams do.”

In the days leading up to the final kickoff of the year, the team elected seniors Chris Costello, linebacker, and Horatio Blackman, receiver, as team captains. The Red had been using an 18-person Leadership Council and alternating game captains in its first nine games of the season. Costello and Blackman were game captains for the first game of the season, a 33-9 win over Bucknell, so they are undefeated as captains.

“It’s a great honor,” Knowles said. “Cornell’s been electing captains since 1887 so it’ll stick with these guys throughout their life. It’s a big-time leadership position and they earned it. In this situation, it’s voted after the fact, so they earned it.”