BY ROCK HOFFMAN
College Football Editor
It's hard to believe that after this week the season will be a quarter over for most teams. Two teams that are only just beginning are Penn and Princeton as the Ivy League always starts on a two-week delay.
The Quakers, who are coming off an 8-2 season, will visit Colgate (0-2) on Saturday afternoon.
“They understand what the standard is and they’re taking ownership,” said Quakers head coach Ray Priore about his team that has 37 seniors. “When they get to the team before you do then you understand that they understand what they’re doing. Now, you just got to take it on the field.”
Penn’s Ancient Eight rival – Princeton, whose one-point loss to Penn in last season's finale cost the Tigers a share of the Ivy title, is on the road at San Diego (0-2).
Villanova (2-0) dodged the weather on Saturday night on the way to a 42-19 win over Colgate. The game was delayed at the start by lightning and again midway through the first quarter but that didn't stop Wildcats' quarterback Connor Watkins from running for two touchdowns and throwing for a pair as well. This week, Villanova is on the road and stepping up in weight class as they play at UCF (2-0).
"They're big, fast, and physical," said Villanova head Mark Ferrante. "They play a high-tempo offense, they're aggressive and big on defense. We're going have to go down there and perform really well to be 1-0 this week.”
After Marcus Yarns raced 66 yards for a touchdown, Delaware (1-1, 1-0 CAA) trailed Penn State 14-7 late in the first quarter, but the Nittany Lions (2-0) scored the final 49 points of the contest to win 63-7. The Blue Hens host St. Francis (PA) on Saturday.
Malachi Langley, a wide receiver from Lincoln University, is off to a great start in 2023. Saturday, in the Lions 48-32 win at Post University, he had seven receptions for 197 yards and three touchdowns. In two games, he has 12 catches for 332 yards and five touchdowns. This week, Lincoln is at Fayetteville State University, the defending CIAA conference champion.
Temple lost at Rutgers 36-7. E.J. Warner threw a touchdown pass to Dante Wright early in the 4th quarter to make it 13-7 but the Scarlett Knights (2-0, 1-0 Big Ten) ran off 23 unanswered points. The Owls (1-1) host Norfolk State on Saturday.
Four of the area's Division III teams will match up on Saturday. Arise Ceide’s 4-yard touchdown run lifted Eastern (1-1, 1-0 MAC) to a 30-23 win over Alvernia. It’s the first win in program history as a reward they play No. 24 Delaware Valley (1-1, 1-0 MAC) at Franklin Field at 1. The Aggies were 41-10 winners over Albright. Under the lights Rowan (1-1) hosts Ursinus. The Profs won 49-28 at McDaniel while the Bears improved to 2-0 with a 30-14 win over Kean.
TCNJ (1-0) had their game at Franklin and Marshall postponed until September 21st. At noon on Saturday, the Lions entertain 25th-ranked Muhlenberg.
Widener (2-0, 1-0 MAC) the Pride opened Middle Atlantic play with a 30-20 win over FDU-Florham. This Saturday, they go to Reading to meet Alvernia (0-2).
A tough road trip saw West Chester fall at nationally ranked Slippery Rock, 49-24. Saturday, the Golden Rams (1-1) will enjoy some home cooking for the first time this season when they host Gannon (0-2).
Delaware State suffered a 57-0 loss at Army. The Hornets will look for their first win of 2023 when they go to Virginia and take on the University of Richmond Spiders (0-2).
Email Rock Hoffman at rock@footballstories.com