Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y. – Cornell took a lead with 4:50 left in the first quarter against Post at Schoellkopf field Friday night. Things looked good for the Big Red. But instead of holding the lead for the required 50 minutes, Cornell only stayed on top for 49.

The Eagles scored a game-winning touchdown on a seven-yard run by Rashawn Hendricks with just 36 seconds left in the game, capping a 19-point fourth quarter to upend the Big Red 25-20.

Cornell (1-1, 1-1 CSFL) commanded for most of the evening and held a 13-6 halftime lead on a wet Ithaca night. The teams went scoreless in the third quarter, but Post (1-0, 1-0) got hot for the last 15 minutes while the Big Red got sloppy.

Continuing a drive from the third quarter, the Eagles scored on the first play of the last frame thanks to a one-yard scamper by Hendricks. Cornell's next drive ended in a fumble, and Post had just 29 yards to go for its second touchdown of the quarter. Quarterback Erich Broadrick hit receiver Tony Simpson for an 18-yard score and a 19-13 lead.

But Cornell struck back immediately, getting a 55-yard touchdown pass on a quick slant by Abe Mellinger. Quarterback Tim Bruhn found the receiver well-covered, but Bruhn hit Mellinger right in the chest, and Mellinger slipped off one tackle before breaking free for the big score.

Cornell's celebration of a 20-19 lead was short-lived. Post drove down the field on its next possession and looked primed to take the lead, but kicker Francisco Sastre missed a 36-yard field goal. The Big Red didn't help itself out, however, going three-and-out on its next drive to set up the Eagles' game-winning, clock-bleeding drive.

After Post's final touchdown, Cornell had a chance with 33 seconds on the clock to re-take the lead for good, but Bruhn's desperation heave with three seconds left landed in the arms of an Eagles defensive back.

With starting quarterback Brendan Miller not playing, the Big Red was unable to make up for his absence with a stout rushing game. Instead, Cornell ran the ball 37 times for only 49 yards. Turnovers also hurt Cornell, as it had two interceptions and two lost fumbles to its name by the end of the night.

The first half was much more promising.

With time ticking away in the second quarter, the Big Red got a big break. Post attempted to drive down the field in the waning seconds, but a pass was deflected at the line by linebacker Kyle Higgins and landed in the arms of John Kelder.

Kelder's interception set up the Big Red just 20 yards from the end zone, and two plays later Bruhn connected with Mellinger for a nine-yard touchdown pass. That scoring play put Cornell up 13-6 at halftime. Mellinger now has four touchdowns in his first two games at Cornell.

Both offenses were sloppy in the early going, with fumbles occurring on each of the first three drives in the game. Wet conditions made the ball slippery, and the passing game was not working for either team.

Cornell was able to get into field goal range three times in the first half, and John Rodriguez hit field goals of 39 and 36 yards to give the Red a 6-0 lead.

But Post stormed back, driving 45 yards on six plays to score the game's first touchdown on a two-yard run by Rashawn Hendricks. The Eagles' kicker missed the extra-point attempt, and the game was tied at 6-6.

On defense, Cornell had a solid night. Kelder led the team with 10 total tackles, 1.5 for loss, one interception and a blocked kick. Colin Lounsberry added seven tackles and forced a fumble.

Cornell gets a chance to return to the win column when it plays host to Princeton at 7 p.m. on Friday.