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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 10:43 a.m., Saturday, October 25, 2008

CFB: Samson hits 3 field goals as Penn beats Yale

Associated Press

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Andrew Samson kicked three second-half field goals today as Penn beat Yale 9-7 to remain unbeaten in the Ivy League.

The game was a battle of stingy defenses as Penn (4-2, 3-0) limited the Yale offense to six first downs, 15 rushing yards and 92 total yards.

Paul Rice's third interception of the season and 25-yard return to the Penn 17 early in the first quarter led to Yale's only touchdown — John Sheffied's 7-yard run. The Bulldogs (3-3, 1-2) never again were in Quakers' territory in the first half.

Penn couldn't capitalize on good field position throughout the first half. The Quakers made their deepest penetration of the half on their final possession, advancing to the Bulldogs' 17 yard line. But Samson's 34-yard field goal attempt was wide, preserving Yale's 7-0 halftime lead.

Tyson Maugle's recovery of a fumble by Yale quarterback Brook Hart late in the third quarter gave Penn its best scoring opportunity of the game at the Bulldogs' 13 yard line. The Yale defense held, and the Quakers had to settle for Samson's 22-yard field goal.

Rice's fumble on Yale's botched fake punt attempt gave the Quakers good field position again at the Bulldogs' 33 yard line late in the third quarter. Penn couldn't get past the 1 yard line and had to settle for Samson's 27-yard field goal that cut the deficit to 7-6.

After the Penn defense forced Yale to turn the ball over on downs, the Quakers answered with a 41-yard drive, the longest of the day, to the Bulldogs' 8 yard line. When the Yale defense held again, Samson hit a 31-yard field goal to give Penn a 9-7 lead with 4:35 to play.

The Bulldogs advanced to the Penn 32 in a bid to retake the lead, but the Quakers sacked Hart for a 12-yard loss to force Yale out of field goal range.