Receivers Ryan Cragun and Rory Starkey give Penn offense a duo it can count on
Penn’s senior receivers have picked up where they left off in 2019, giving new quarterback John Quinnelly experienced targets.
For many of Penn’s players, a season-opening 30-6 win over Bucknell last Saturday was their first time playing college football in front of a crowd.
But it was nothing new for receivers Ryan Cragun and Rory Starkey Jr. After COVID-19 wiped out the 2020 season, the senior receiver pair picked up Saturday where they left off in 2019, combining for 223 receiving yards with one touchdown apiece. Starkey’s score went for 70 yards.
“My personal goal is to play the best football I’ve ever played in my life,” Starkey said. “Whatever stats or whatever that entails … I’ll let that play out how it does. I just want to be the best football player all-around that I can be -- catching, blocking, executing my plays.”
Next up for the Quakers will be 0-3 Lafayette at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Easton.
“The most important thing is coming up with the win,” Cragun said. “Beyond that, we just want to improve from last game. Execute better, score more points than last week, just play better.”
» READ MORE: Quarterback John Quinnelly finally gets his chance to lead in Penn’s first game since 2019
The two receivers are key gears in an offense that allowed for senior John Quinnelly to succeed in his first collegiate game as starting quarterback. Quinnelly completed 15-of-22 passes for 273 yards and two touchdowns.
“I think the offensive line really showed they could give time for John to throw the ball,” Cragun said. “He does a good job of staying patient, making the right reads, and putting the ball where it needs to be. He’s done a great job so far.”
Like Penn’s, none of Lafayette’s quarterbacks had thrown a collegiate pass before the start of the season. The Leopards have rotated at least two quarterbacks in each of their three games. The carousel includes sophomores Aaron Angelos and Rent Montie, as well as freshman Ah-Shaun Davis, yet none has stood out.
Montie, the most experienced quarterback in Lafayette coach John Garrett’s offense, has recorded the most passing yards with 274, but he’s also thrown three interceptions in two games.
Angelos, a Philadelphia native and transfer from Washington State, started the Leopards’ first two games, but only threw for 195 yards.
Davis made his debut in the Leopards’ 19-13 loss to New Hampshire last week, completing 16-of-23 passes for 192 yards and an interception.
A young Leopards quarterbacks room gives an advantage to the Quakers’ defense, led by lineman Prince Emili, who had seven tackles and 1.5 sacks against Bucknell.
Lafayette senior running back Sewlyn Simpson, a Phoenixville native, is expected to play after missing last week’s game. Simpson, who led Lafayette in rushing in 2017 and 2019, recently passed the 1,000-yard milestone for his career.
Penn opens its home and Ivy League schedule Oct. 1 against Dartmouth.