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Manheim High School graduate and Michigan Wolverine Deyvid Palepale had his Saturday night turn from near sadness and disappointment at a potential loss to unranked Western Michigan into, instant utter jubiliation. Down 12–7 with nine seconds remaining, #16 Michigan threw a Hail Mary into the endzone with what appeared to be no time left. But after review the Wolverines got another chance and went down in the history books and completed a 47-yard desperation throw that was caught for a touchdown by sophomore JJ Buchanan.
Villanova nearly didn’t escape another last-second loss after last week’s similar ending against William and Mary. Against Bucknell — the Wildcats took advantage of two Pat McQuaide to Braden Reed scores — but then had to stave off a late rally by the Bison. After trading late field goals — Bucknell missed a 29-yard attempt that would have given them the lead with two minutes left in the game.
The Cherry and White took the field for the beginning of another season and the second of the K.C. Keeler era with a 38–14 Temple win over Rhode Island. In the first game ever in Temple Football history with two scores returned for towndowns — the Owls gashed Rhode Island on the groud for an astonounding 227 yards including 158 and two touchdowns from Keveun Mason. Quarterback Jaxon Smolik completed his first touchdown for the program in the first half.
We’ll have to wait a few more weeks for another season of history to begin for the University of Pennsylvania at Franklin Field nearly 100 years since the program went a perfect 15–0. But even that didn’t stop the Philly region from making history once again. Not far from the locations of the Battle of the Cloud and the Battle of Paoli two hundred and fifty years ago — another cannon was unleashed when UMass commit Amari Cannon ran for 222 yards and two scores, added sixty receiving yards and another score.
All just more evidence — when it comes to the first weekend of perennial matchups in America — history and Philly are almost always present.
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Categorized:College More PHL News Unique Columns
