PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The Navy sprint football team (6-0) improved to 6-0 on the season with a 36-21 road victory over Penn (1-5) at historic Franklin Field in Philadelphia, Pa. The defense registered a safety and picked off four Quaker passes, while the Midshipmen offense added three rushing touchdowns to go along with a pair of passing TDs in a total team effort.
 
"We went out this week to play a perfect game," head coach Major Carter Reading, USMC said. "We made some mistakes and Penn was well coached. They had answers we weren't ready for. They played hard. We need to be better and that's what we're going to do for our last few weeks. Chasing perfection."
 
Defensively, the Midshipmen intercepted four Quaker passes, while adding 10 tackles for loss and registering a safety. Tucker Opdahl led the way with two interceptions, while Seamas Carrasco and Lexington Megerle also picked off passes. Jensen Boyt led the team with 3.5 tackles for loss, including dropping Penn for a loss on its first play from scrimmage in the end zone for a safety. Jake Wolinski, who led the team with 12 total tackles, joined Christian Conley and Tyler Meisenzahl with 1.5 tackles for loss apiece.
 
On the offensive side of the ball, the Mids tallied 359 total yards on 232 yards passing and 127 yards rushing. Luke O'Connell finished the game 19-for-29 for 232 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns. Biamungu Nkere and Ibi Denson were O'Connell's primary targets. Nkere hauled in a team-high seven receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown, while Denson caught six passes for a team-best 91 yards. Jake Berger caught four passes for 54 yards. Hunter Gennicks led the team with 68 yards rushing, while Broderick Freeman followed with 37 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. O'Connell added 18 yards on the ground with a score.
 
Navy was the first team to get on the scoreboard. After the Midshipmen went three and out to start the game, Aaron Harris booted a 55-yard punt that Navy was able to down at the one yardline. On the first defensive play of the game for the Mids, Boyt dropped the Quakers' running back for a loss in the end zone for a safety.
 
On the ensuing drive, Nkere capped an eight-play, 51-yard drive with a seven-yard touchdown reception from O'Connell. The Mids converted the two-point conversion to take a 10-0 lead with just over nine minutes to play in the first quarter.
 
In the second quarter, Penn cut the margin to just three as the Quakers ended an 11-play drive that spanned 50 yards with a two-yard TD pass. Navy responded with a touchdown after a blocked punt gave the Midshipmen a short field. Freeman scored his first touchdown of the game, punching the ball into the end zone from three yards out to take a 16-7 lead that the Mids would take into halftime.
 
The third quarter saw the home team cut the deficit to just two points, 16-14, with a nine-yard touchdown pass. The Midshipmen responded with a long drive that covered 73 yards in eight plays. O'Connell ended the drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Berger to take a 22-14 lead.
 
The Mids increased their advantage in the fourth quarter with a pair of touchdowns. Navy's opening drive of the final quarter of play began after an interception gave the Midshipmen a short field. O'Connell was able to plunge into the end zone from one-yard out. Gennicks converted the two-point conversion to push the lead to 30-14.
 
An interception by Carrasco ended a Penn drive and gave Navy the ball on the 34 yardline. The Midshipmen drove 66 yards for a touchdown as Freeman ran it in from two yards. Penn provided the final margin, as the home team scored with 40 seconds remaining. Navy secured the onside kick attempt and ended the game with a kneel down.
 
Up next, Navy returns to Annapolis for its final home game of the 2025 season as the Midshipmen welcome Caldwell to Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium on Friday, Nov. 7. The game is slated for 6:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on Navy Athletics YouTube and live stats will be available.