FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Penn pulls out 16-13 win over Mansfield on last minute field goal – MU's Mike Doyle connects with Cory Peterson for two touchdowns

Stats

MANSFIELD – Mike Doyle connected with Cory Peterson on a 18-yard scoring pass early in the fourth quarter to tie the game at 13-13 but Kai Peng's kicked 20-yard field goal with just over a minute to play and Penn held off a last minute Mansfield comeback to pull out a wild finish in 16-13 win in a CSFL contest Friday night at Franklin Field.

It was a huge improvement for a young Mansfield team that suffered a 52-6 loss to league-leading Army last week but still a disappointing loss after Mansfield failed to convert on a 1-and-goal from the Penn 2-yard line with less than eight minutes to play.

With the scored tied at 13-13 midway through the fourth quarter, Mansfield looked to take the lead when Da'Shawn Serrano recovered a fumbled Penn punt on the Penn 2-yard line. But a fumbled snap and sack gave Penn the ball back on their own 21-yard line and the Quakers drove 77-yards, all of it on the ground, to kick what would prove to be the winning field goal. The drive was helped by a personal foul penalty after the Mountaineers stopped a runner for no gain on a third-down from the MU 27.

After Jeremy Estremera returned the ensuing kickoff 32-yards, Mansfield had a 1st-and-10 from their own 35-yard line with 50 seconds remaining. Doyle hit Peterson for an 11-yard gain and following a 3-yard completion to Casey Huff found David Wallace for a 21-yard completion to Penn 30.  But after an incomplete pass, Doyle was sacked for an 11-yard loss and his pass into the endzone with two seconds remaining was batted away to seal the win for Penn.

Penn, which led the CSFL in rushing, used a strong running game to grind out an 82-yard 12-play scoring drive on the opening kickoff. Penn passed just twice in the drive with the sole completing a 15-yard TD catch by Mike Beamish from Keith Braccia.

Mansfield answered on its first possession driving 52-yards on 9-plays cumulating with a 33-yard touchdown catch by Corey Peterson from Mike Doyle on a 4th and 33. The Mountaineers had driven down to the Penn 1-yard line but a hold call followed by three sacks put the ball on the 33 before Doyle found Peterson for the touchdown. The extra point conversion was no good to giving Penn a 7-6 lead.

Penn's second touchdown was set up by a Mansfield fumble at the Mountaineer 19-yard line with Braccia capping off a three-play drive with a 1-yard plunge. The extra point was blocked by Mountaineer senior Cody Croasdale giving Penn a 13-6 advantage early in the second quarter.
Mansfield drove to the Penn 15 yard line with 10 seconds remaining in the first half, but a sack and ensuing fumble on the next play ended the scoring threat.

Doyle, making his first start of the season, completed 18-of-35 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns without throwing an interception. Freshman John Brockington rushed for a season-high 90-yards on 17 carries and freshman Casey Huff caught six passes for 74-yards.
Wallace recorded five catches for 44-yards while Peterson had three grabs for 66-yards.

Mansfield, which was held to 66-yards in total offense in a loss to CSFL leading Army last week, had 231 yards in total offense despite giving up nine sacks on the night.

Freshman Anthony Colon led the defense with a game-high 13 tackles including 10 solo and two sacks. Senior Justin DiMatteo and junior Jake Myers each had 10 tackles with Jared Shipos recording eight stops.

Mike Beamish lead Penn with 123 yards rushing on 26 carries as the Quakers ground out 201 rushing yards. Penn ran the ball on 50 of its 65 plays. All three of Penn's games this season have been decided in the last moments. The Quakers dropped a 42-34 opener in 6 overtimes to Cornell and then pulled out a 24-20 win over Franklin Pierce last week in the final nine seconds of the game.

Mansfield host Post University Saturday at Karl Van Norman Field.