Boxscore

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – In what was expected to be a defensive battle, the Cornell and Navy sprint football teams did not disappoint, with Navy holding off a late Big Red comeback bid to earn the 18-13 victory. The game marked the fourth time in the last five games that the contest was decided by one score.

Both team's defenses dominated as neither offense could put together a solid drive, but it was some big stops late in the game that won it for the Midshipmen.

Navy, whose strength on offense is courtesy of the running game, could only manage 28 yards on the ground on 35 carries against Cornell. The Big Red registered 12 tackles for a loss, including three each from its All-CSFL linebackers John Parke and Clay Hemminger. Nick Indovina had the play of the game for the defense, scoring Cornell's only touchdown after returning and interception 57 yards.

Offensively, quarterback Elliot Corey threw for 115 yards and ran for 41 more, while running back D.J. Sciavetta also rushed for 41 yards.

Alex Perilstein made a name for himself on special teams with two field goals, including a 49-yard bomb through the uprights. He also averaged over 40 yards per punt and over 50 yards per kickoff.

Navy got on the board first as time expired in the first quarter. The Big Red defense seemed to have the Midshipmen under control after a booming punt from Alex Perilstein, but on a third-and-six from the Navy 33-yard line, but quarterback Tyler Terronez found an open JoJo Catrini who ran into the endzone. After a failed extra point attempt, Navy led 6-0.

Both teams were unable to get any significant drives in the second quarter with both defenses dominating, and the score at halftime remained 6-0.

The defensive battle continued until Navy got its second strike on the Big Red in the third quarter. After a pass interference call against the Big Red, Terronez found Eric Montgomery for a 20-yard touchdown reception. This time Navy completed the extra point and led, 13-0.

After a Navy safety, which increased the team's lead to 15-0, the Midshipmen received the ball at the end of third quarter. With Terronez trying to lead the team down the field and make an insurmountable lead for the Big Red, Indovina picked off a pass and returned it 57 yards for the touchdown. After the Perilstein extra point, Cornell was back in the game, down by eight points, 15-7, heading into the fourth quarter.

Cornell inched within five points at the start of the final quarter when Perilstein showed that not only does he have an accurate leg, but one of the strongest in the CSFL. From 49-yards out, the first-year kicker placed the ball between the goal posts to make it a 15-10 game.

On Navy's next possessions, the Midshipmen had a first down at the Cornell one-yard line, but a pair of incomplete passes forced a third-and-goal at the one. John Parke and Bryan Murray combined to stop running back Nate Stewart to force a 20-yard field goal attempt. The Navy attempt was good and the Midshipmen went up, 18-10.

Cornell marched back down the field on its next possession, with Corey throwing for 36 yards and rushing for another 16 on the drive before the Big Red settled for another field goal attempt. Perilstein second kick of the game, this time for 38-yards, was good and the Navy lead was cut to 18-13.

The Cornell defense forced a quick three-and-out, and the ball was back in the possession of the Big Red. Cornell was able to manage a first down, but from there the offense stalled and on fourth-and-ten from the Cornell-42, Corey could not complete the pass to Upal Sarker for the first down.

With less than two minutes remaining in the game, Navy was able to run out the clock to secure the 18-13 victory.

Cornell returns home next weekend to take on Princeton at Schoellkopf Field on Friday, Oct. 9 at 7:00 p.m.