PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - LaTrenton Randle became the third player in Mansfield sprint football program history to reach 1,000 career receiving yards on Friday (Sep. 27) as the Mansfield Mountaineer sprint football team (0-2) faced the University of Pennsylvania Quakers (2-0), but the host used their second half surge to claim the victory, 24-13.

The Quakers held the 10-7 advantage at halftime and used their early scores in the second half to silence the Mounties, 24-13.

Marcus Quaker threw for 222 passing yards on the night, including a 91-yard touchdown.

Cahsid Raymond was on receiving end of the 91-yard touchdown, totaling 164 receiving yards, 67 rushing yards, 53 passing yards, and two total touchdowns.

Randle posted his third career 100+ yard game, eclipsing 108 yards on the game. Jackson Taylor led the defense with 15 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a pass breakup.

After three punts to start the Friday night lights matchup between the two Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) members, the Quakers drove down the field with seven straight rushes. Pounding 40 yards during the drive, a tackle for loss by Ian Mapp stopped the crucial fourth down attempt to keep the game scoreless.

On the following drive, Raymond opened up the scoring with a 39-yard rushing touchdown after his 45-yard catch set up the Mountaineer triple threat athlete to give Mansfield the 7-0 lead after the first quarter.

A special teams blunder led to a punt return recovered by the host, who took advantage of the turnover with a goal to go situation. Three quick rushes led to the Quakers tying up the contest, 7-7, after their three-yard score.

Midway through the second quarter, the Mounties converted a fourth down behind Quaker's 21-yard dart to Randle to position themselves inside the redzone. 

Another fourth down attempt saw creativeness by Coach John Evans' team as the freshman quarterback tossed what was initially seen as an 18-yard touchdown pass, but a step out of bounds turned over the chance to take the lead.

Following two three and outs, Penn used the final drive of the first half to gain the lead heading into the locker rooms. A pass interference on third down advanced the host down the field, and a 31-yard grab sealed the drive to allow the Quakers to kick a short field goal, to grab the 10-7 advantage.

Mansfield held the 167-130 yardage edge going into the second half, but 50 yards of penalties played in favor of the host.

To begin the second half, Penn stamped a seven play, 61-yard drive to take the 17-7 edge with a 25-yard pass into the corner of the endzone for the early score.

The host grabbed their second touchdown in two drives, reaching over their first half total just eight minutes into the third quarter, to hold the 24-7 advantage.

When it looked like Penn had the Mounties silenced, a 91-yard heave from Quaker to Raymond gave Mansfield a much-needed momentum change. A blocked PAT kept the host ahead, 24-13.

On the next Mountaineer drive, a 48-yard sling from Raymond was caught by Randle to set up Mansfield in Penn territory. The team's third down rate affected the drive, not converting one yet to this point as the host held their 11 point margin heading into the final quarter.

Cooper Levine and Connor Strause were credited with the share of the first sack this season for the Mounties, stuffing the Quakers' first drive in the fourth quarter.

A 12-yard pass to Randle placed the senior over the 1,000 yards mark, helping push the Mounties into Quaker territory for a late surge. 

Penn grabbed a late interception to seal the deal and improve to 2-0 as the Quakers earned the 24-13 victory.

As a team, Mansfield posted 402 total yards to Penn's 288, but were unsuccessful on every third down attempt and redzone chance, while racking up 98 penalty yards on the night.

UP NEXT:  
Mansfield will return to Karl Van Norman Field for the 2024 Homecoming game against Saint Thomas Aquinas College on Saturday, October 5th. This CSFL North opener will begin at 5 p.m.