ITHACA, N.Y. — Under the bright sun, with not a cloud to disrupt the scene, the Penn Quakers and Cornell Big Red clashed on the football field for what turned out to be the most thrilling installment of their storied rivalry. The contest, part of the 29th Trustees’ Cup, saw the Quakers deliver a record-breaking performance, defeating the Big Red with an astounding score of 67-49.
This marks the highest number of points by the Quakers since the Ivy League's formation in 1956, which made the day even sweeter for Penn as they celebrated their eighth consecutive victory over Cornell. The Quakers now stand at 4-4 overall and 2-3 within the Ancient Eight.
“It’s definitely sweeter when you’re playing against your rivals,” said senior defensive back Shiloh Means, who was clearly involved in the day’s excitement. The presence of familiar faces from the opposing team seemed to heighten the stakes and intensity of the game for the players, adding to the spirited atmosphere.
From the get-go, Cornell looked to impose their tempo. After making quick work of Penn's defense with two explosive plays resulting in 43 yards, quarterback Jameson Wang easily wove through for their first touchdown of the afternoon. The Big Red stormed onto the scoreboard, demonstrating early on their intent to battle fiercely.
But the Quakers weren't willing to back down without a fight. On their very first offensive play, junior quarterback Liam O’Brien found wide receiver Bisi Owens, who showcased his strength by dragging his defender for 61 yards. Penn's drive culminated with O’Brien connecting with wide receiver Julien Stokes for their opening touchdown — and Stokes’ first of the season.
After Cornell countered with another touchdown, Penn’s defense was briefly caught off guard as they faced the unexpected. The Big Red executed a daring fake punt, resulting in running back Robert Tucker III dashing 74 yards untouched to the end zone. Penn found themselves trailing, 21-7, but coach Ray Priore noted the resilience displayed by his players. “They just shrugged it off and moved onto the next play,” he said, reflecting on their determination to keep pushing forward.
Last year, fans witnessed Malachi Hosley’s jaw-dropping performance where he ran for 261 yards against Cornell. This year, Hosley again showcased his talent, rushing for 192 yards and scoring two touchdowns, including pivotal conversions on necessary scoring drives for the Quakers. It was evident his contribution was invaluable as the game progressed.
O’Brien, feeling the energy of the matchup, synced perfectly with his teammates. He found junior wide receiver Jared Richardson for what would be his first score of the game, contributing to Richardson’s standout performance, where he netted a remarkable total of 141 receiving yards alongside three touchdowns. This trio of touchdowns not only marked Richardson’s career-high but also placed him among the elite scorers historically for the program.
“It’s just teamwork,” Richardson expressed. “Liam believed in me, the coaches believed in me. Everyone else did their part, and we just had playmakers making plays — hard to do, but we did it!” He had every reason to be proud of his contribution as the whole team clicked on all cylinders.
Although the first half was riddled with defensive lapses, the Quakers finally grasped the necessary momentum when senior defensive back Julian Talley intercepted Wang’s pass mid-field. This pivotal play gifted Penn with favorable field positioning, which led to their subsequent moves on the field and contributing to the field goal, narrowing Cornell’s lead.
Despite entering halftime with the score being as close as it was, Quakers came back for the second half with renewed vigor. O’Brien, now fully settled, orchestrated the offense effectively and threw six touchdown passes — setting the record for the most touchdown passes by any Penn player in game history.
The first half may have seen Penn trailing, but the adjustments and mindset changes performed at halftime resulted in explosive results. After overcoming the earlier blunders, points began to accumulate rapidly with O’Brien and his offensive unit leading the charge, keeping fans at the edge of their seats.
The collective performance from the Quakers not only dazzled the home crowd but served as indication of the potential and talent the team possesses. With defensive lapses addressed, and the offense firing all cylinders, Penn showed how potent they can be when everything aligns.
Remarkably, the 67 points landed them not just victory but extraordinary records. O'Brien ended his day breaking multiple records, cementing his status as one of the most remarkable quarterbacks to wear the Quaker jersey. His on-point throwing and team connection demonstrated the power of teamwork.
With the big “W” under their belt, Penn’s next step is to build off this momentum heading toward their upcoming games, eager to put together consistent performances inspired by their record-breaking day against their rivals.
Now, as the dust settles from this energetic and dynamic battle on the gridiron, the Quakers can proudly wear the title of victors, having showcased their strength against Cornell. What’s next? A chance to build on this momentum and power forward through the rest of the season, as the players, coaches, and fans alike savor this signature win.