GAME INFORMATION
GAME #1: Cornell at Mansfield
GAMETIME: Saturday, Sept. 18 at 1:00 p.m.
SITE: Van Norman Field (Mansfield, Pa.)
2010 RECORDS: Cornell (0-0), Mansfield (0-0)
SERIES RECORD: Cornell leads, 4-0
LAST MEETING: Cornell defeated Mansfield, 31-14, on Oct. 30, 2009 at Ithaca, N.Y.
LIVE STATS: www.GoMounties.com
LIVE AUDIO: www.GoMounties.com
LIVE VIDEO: None

Cornell Sprint Football Season Preview

THE MATCH UP: Cornell and Mansfield will meet for the fifth time in program history, as the Big Red travels to Van Norman Field this Saturday, Sept. 18 at 1 p.m. Those unable to make the trip to Pennsylvania can follow the action through live stats, or via live audio, provided by Mansfield at www.GoMounties.com.

THE HEAD COACH: Coach Terry Cullen begins his 45th season at the helm of the big Red program with a 156-125-7 record (.554). Cullen has been a member of the coaching staff since 1964 and officially became the Terry Cullen Head Coach of Sprint Football in 2001.

THE CO-HEAD COACH: In August, 2008, it was announced that Bart Guccia would assume a majority of the on-field coaching and gameday decisions for the Big Red. Guccia is in his fifth year with the sprint football team and has posted an 9-5 record (.643) in his new role.

THE SERIES VS. MANSFIELD: Cornell has won all four games in the series with the Mountaineers, outscoring Mansfield during that span, 124-42.

SCOUTING THE MOUNTIES: Mansfield will look to improve on the 2-5 overall record it posted in its first full season as a member of the CSFL. Under the direction of head coach Dan Davis, the Mountaineers have made some impressive strides over their first two seasons, but will still field a lineup that is made up primarily of underclassmen. The defense has been the team's strength and the Mounties will benefit from the return of two All-CSFL selections from last year in junior Cody Croasdale and sophomore Paul Houseknecht who combined for 51 tackles including 10 for a loss. Mansfield also returns its top two quarterbacks from last season in sophomores Kode Plank and Spencer La Mountain, and its starting running back, junior Desmen Johnson. Plank was thrust into the starting lineup in his first collegiate game and finished the season passing for 571 yards and three touchdowns. La Mountain played more later in the season completing 10-38 for 94 yards. Johnson was the team's leading rusher with 182 yards and two touchdowns.

LAST TIME VS. MANSFIELD: On a chilly night in Ithaca, the sprint football senior class of 2010 took over and dominated in their final game for the Big Red, posting a 31-14 victory over Mansfield at Schoellkopf Field. The win gave Cornell another winning season at 4-3 and seniors Dan Rowoth, Upal Sarker and Chris Stanton ended their careers by having a hand in three of the Big Red's four touchdowns. Cornell came up just 28 rushing yards shy of breaking the school record for rushing yards in a season, but the team made a good run at the record, gaining 258 yards on the ground vs. the Mounties. Matthew Pierce led the team with a brilliant performance, rushing for 125 yards on just 12 carries (10.4 ypc). Rowoth tallied 66 yards and scored a touchdown, while quarterback Elliot Corey added 52 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Corey also completed 6-of-18 passes for 80 yards and threw for another score. Backup quarterback Tim Bruhn also saw significant action in the second half and completed 3-of-8 passes for 66 total yards, including a 19-yard touchdown pass to Stanton. Sarker led the Big Red receivers with five catches for 71 yards and a touchdown. Kicker Alex Perilstein also contributed seven points to the victory with a 42-yard field goal and four converted PATs. The Big Red defense was led by Tim Dooley with five tackles, while John Mackintosh and John Parke chipped in four tackles each. Cornell forced five Mansfield turnovers, as Chris Lamont, Jim Barger and Evan Levy all came up with interceptions, while Jeff Soffen and Colin Lounsberry both recovered fumbles.

UP NEXT: Cornell opens the home portion of its schedule next weekend as it welcomes Princeton to Schoellkopf Field on Friday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m.