Panciello Earns Weekly Honors for Quakers Historic Win

University of Pennsylvania junior linebacker Donald Panciello earned weekly honors after his performance against No. 4 Villanova. Panciello has been named the National Defensive Player of the Week from College Sports Madness on Sunday. He has also been named a candidate for various other Ivy League and national honors to be announced early this week.

Panciello made some big plays in helping his team to a historic win over No. 4 Villanova on Thursday. With seven minutes left in the game and the score at 17-7, the Wildcats had a 1^st-and- goal that could have brought them back within four points. The Quakers linebacker picked up a fumble and sprinted 90 yards to seal the first victory over Villanova after a 104-year drought to the cross-city rivals. 

There have only been two times in the history of the Quakers football program that they have defeated a top 5 team.Thursday was the first time in the history of the program that Penn got a win over a Top-5 team on the road as they upset No. 4 Villanova 24-13. 

New Head Coach Ray Priore led his team to their first win of the season and their first win over Villanova since 1911. The last time Penn (1-1) defeated a Top- 5 team was in 2002 and 1940 was the game before that, but this game the Quakers ready to play jumping to a 14-0 lead at the end of the first half. They led by as many as 17, before the Wildcats finally got on the board with a touchdown from Garry Underwood.

Junior Quarterback Alek Torgersen finished the game 14-of-22, passing for 171 yards including two touchdown passes to sophomore WR Justin Watson. Watson caught five passes for 87 yards in the first half and had to miss the second half due to injury. Sophomore RB Tre Solomon also contributed with a gain of 51 yards on 15 carries in the first half.

Penn football has a nine-day break before they face Ivy rival Dartmouth on Saturday for their season home opener at Franklin Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., and the game will be available on the Ivy League Digital Network.