Author:
voy vey
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Date Posted: 10:13:08 11/17/25 Mon
Harvard had called timeout before the third down play, with 25 seconds left. Harvard had 1 TO left, Penn had none left.
Penn couldn't run a third down play and then used a spike to stop the clock, as that would've been their fourth down play.
There was no need to spike the ball as the third down play, because the clock was already stopped due to Harvard calling timeout. Even if they had done so, it would have left most of the 25 seconds still on the clock for Harvard to run their last possession.
Penn could have used a running play on 3rd down to center the ball for the FG, but then one of 2 things would have happened -- either:
* Penn would have had to rush their FG team onto the field with the clock running, risking the clock running out before they got set, or...
* Harvard would have used their last timeout to preserve 20+ seconds for their last possession.
I suppose there's a third option: Penn throws to the end zone on third down -- if a receiver is open, you throw to him; if not, throw the ball away. It takes time off the clock without having to rush the FG team into position. But there's a risk that you hurt your FG opportunity with a sack, intentional grounding call, or interception.
Ultimately, I think the bottom line in Penn's situation at the end of that game is: play better defense.
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