Recapping a Historic Opening Weekend for Philly College Football
Manheim High School graduate and Michigan Wolverine Deyvid Palepale had his Saturday night turn from near sadness and disappointment at a potential loss to unranked Western Michigan into instant utter jubilation.
Down 12–7 with nine seconds remaining, #16 Michigan threw a Hail Mary into the end zone with what appeared to be no time left. But after review, the Wolverines got another chance and went down in the history books, completing a 47-yard desperation throw that sophomore JJ Buchanan caught for a touchdown.
Villanova // W, 17-16 @ Bucknell
Villanova nearly didn’t escape another last-second loss after a similar ending last week against William and Mary. Against Bucknell, the Wildcats took advantage of two Pat McQuaide-to-Braden Reed scores, but then had to stave off a late rally by the Bison.
After trading late field goals , Bucknell missed a 29-yard attempt that would have given them the lead with two minutes left in the game.
Temple // W, 38-14 vs. Rhode Island
The Cherry and White took the field to begin another season and the second of the K.C. Keeler era with a 38–14 Temple win over Rhode Island.
In the first game ever in Temple Football history with two scores returned for touchdowns , the Owls gashed Rhode Island on the ground for an astonishing 227 yards, including 158 and two touchdowns from Keveun Mason. Quarterback Jaxon Smolik completed his first touchdown for the program in the first half.
UPenn
We’ll have to wait a few more weeks for another season of history to begin for the University of Pennsylvania at Franklin Field, nearly 100 years since the program went a perfect 15–0. But even that didn’t stop the Philly region from making history once again.
Not far from the locations of the Battle of the Cloud and the Battle of Paoli two hundred and fifty years ago , another cannon was unleashed when UMass commit Amari Cannon ran for 222 yards and two scores, added sixty receiving yards, and another score.
All just more evidence that, when it comes to the first weekend of perennial matchups in America, history and Philly are almost always present.
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