SARATOGA, N.Y. – The Cornell and Navy sprint football teams participated in another classic battle where the Midshipmen were able to hold off a late fourth quarter comeback attempt by the Big Red to take the 31-25 victory at the Allegiance Bowl this afternoon in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

           

Cornell quarterback Zak Dentes went 22-for-41 on the day and threw for 273 yards and a touchdown. Dentest also led the Big Red with 44 rushing yards and picked up two touchdowns on the ground. Dentes was able to spread the ball around the field extremely well, with three receivers having at least five catches. Josh Friedman caught a game-high six receptions for 121 yards, while Upal Sarker caught the lone touchdown pass from Dentes.

           

Defensively, John Parke led the Big Red with nine tackles. Clay Hemminger and Matt Malleo added six apiece, while Nicho Indovina had an interception and a team-high two tackles for a loss.

           

The game did not start out very promising for the Big Red. After the first minute, Navy's D.J. Green showed why he is the reigning CSFL MVP. Green connected with Tommy Tellson for the early lead and the Dave Reifenberg extra point gave the Midshipmen the early 7-0 advantage.

           

It turned into a defensive dual in the first half after the first touchdown. Cornell fumbled the ball on its first possession, but after not being able to capitalize on the turnover, Navy and Cornell each traded punts on each teams' next two possessions. 

           

With Navy deep in its own territory, Green felt the pressure of the defensive line and threw the ball right into Cornell's Nicho Indovino's hands at the 29-yard line for the interception. On the third play of the drive, Dentes connected with Sarker with a 29-yard touchdown pass. Mitch Ottinger kicked it through the uprights to tie the game at 7-7 with 1:24 remaining in the first quarter.

           

Cornell followed that drive with a 24-yard field goal by Ottinger to take a 10-7 lead with sic minutes remaining before the half. Navy was unable to score on its final possession of the quarter after missing a field goal attempt and the Big Red took the lead into the intermission.

 

Navy retaliated quickly coming out of halftime. After forcing a quick three-and-out from Cornell, the Midshipmen marched down the field to score a touchdown and the extra point to go up, 14-10. 

 

On the next drive, Dentes led a 60-yard drive that was capped by a quarterback sneak into the endzone. Navy blocked the extra point, but Cornell still led 16-14 midway through the third quarter.

           

On the next two Navy possessions, the Midshipmen kicked a field goal to retake the lead and then scored insurance points with a Alfonso Meidus five-yard run to go up, 24-16 as the third quarter ended.

           

The fourth quarter started with the Big Red gaining momentum. Prys Carlvoth intercepted Navy's second pass of the day, giving Cornell great field position at the Navy 30-yard line. Dentes again led the charge into the endzone with a one-yard run. Unfortunately, Cornell was unable to convert the two-point conversion, and Navy still held the lead 24-22 with just over 13 minutes to play in the game.

           

On the ensuing drive, Navy used an eight-play, 59-yard scoring drive that was finished off by a 13-yard run from Stephen Benson. Stephen Phillips converted the PAT to put the Midshipmen up, 31-22.

           

The Big Red's next drive went 66 yards and culminated with a 25-yard field goal by Ottinger to bring Cornell within six points with a little more than five minutes left.

 

Cornell took a risk by kicking the onside kick, which was successful and the Big Red made it all the way down to the Navy 13-yard line before Dentes was intercepted by Mike Nolan to end the game.

 

Navy remains undefeated on the season with the victory at 4-0 (2-0 CSFL), while Cornell drops to 1-2 (0-1). 

           

Cornell travels to Princeton, N.J. on Friday, Oct. 10 to take on Princeton at 7 p.m.