Heading into the fifth weekend of the football season, it seemed the football program was going into damage control. Up to this point in the season, head coach Dan Swanstrom had not yet been able to will his struggling team to a win, and with injuries piling up, it seemed the season was slipping away.
This was until the Red were able to secure a swift win over Bucknell on Oct. 18, which secured the team its first victory of the season. This win, which first represented an almost consolation victory, turned into momentum, leading to a win over Brown on Oct. 25 and then another win over Princeton on Nov. 1. Just as quickly as the Red started on a four-game losing streak, it has now found itself on a three-game winning streak.
The Red now looks to continue its luck with an away victory over Penn (5-2, 3-1 Ivy), which currently sits in second place within the Ivy League Standings.
While a win at Penn would extend the Red’s streak to four, it would also be the Red’s first victory over the Quakers in over three years. The last time these teams faced off was almost exactly one year ago, when the Quakers were able to secure victory over the Red in a high-scoring affair that saw over 100 points combined.
While former quarterback Jameson Wang ’25 threw five touchdowns that combined for over 400 passing yards, this would still not be enough. The Quakers’ quarterback Liam O’Brien secured six passing touchdowns for over 300 yards, leading his team to victory by a score of 67-49. O’Brien will be the Quakers quarterback heading into the upcoming matchup, giving the Red a perfect opportunity to retaliate.
If the Red defense continues to play as it has recently, Cornell may have a better chance of holding off Penn’s attacks.
Senior linebacker Ben Sahakian, who was an essential part of the Red’s most recent victory, was named Ivy League Defensive Player of the Week. Sahakian’s nomination makes him the third consecutive Red player to receive a player of the week honor. Sophomore linebacker Keith Williams Jr. was also selected to receive the defensive accolade for his performance against Bucknell. Freshman wide receiver Ryan Matulevich’s strong offensive play against Brown also resulted in him being named Ivy League Rookie of the Week.
The Quakers’ offensive output this season has been powered by wide receiver Jared Richardson. Richardson is the current Ivy League leader in receiving yards with 817 and receiving touchdowns with nine, statistically making him one of the best wide receivers within the league. O’Brien has also proved to be a force on the offensive end, currently leading the Ivy League in touchdowns, with nineteen in total. O’Brien has thrown fourteen passing touchdowns while also securing five rushing touchdowns.
The Red has the opportunity to secure revenge for a recent historical struggle against the Quakers, achieving its first road victory of the season.
The Red will battle Penn at 1 p.m. this Saturday in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. All the action will be available live on ESPN+.
Matthew Leonard is a member of the Class of 2028 in the School of Industrial and Labor Relations. He is the assistant sports editor of the 143rd Editorial Board. He can be reached at mleonard@cornellsun.com.
