Sept. 23, 2000

Box Score

Audio from Postgame Press Conference:
* Coach Tavani
* K. Allen
* C. Ritchie

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Gavin Hoffman passed for 300 yards and three touchdowns and reserve tailback Mike Verille scored three times as Pennsylvania held off Lafayette 45-28 Saturday afternoon.

Hoffman completed 24 of 34 passes, and his 4-yard toss to Doug O'Neill with 3:16 left clinched the Quaker victory.

Verille, playing in place of injured starter Kris Ryan, ran for 99 yards on 26 carries for the Quakers (1-1).

Penn led 24-7 at halftime, and took a 38-7 edge when Hoffman connected with John Holahan on an 8-yard touchdown pass with 4:36 left in the third quarter.

Chad Ritchie, who earlier ran 11 yards for a Lafayette touchdown, then hit Stewart Kupfer on a 14-yard strike to bring the Leopards (1-2) to within 38-21 with 14:08 left to play.

An interception by Kenya Allen set up Lafayette's final touchdown, a Ritchie-to-Kupfer 2-yard play midway through the fourth quarter.

Hoffman then guided the Quakers on a 12-play, 80-yard drive for the game's deciding score.

Lafayette returns home to host Harvard on Saturday, Sept. 30, at 1:30 p.m.