Box Score Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y. – It only made sense that Corey Garcia ran the ball on the last play of Friday night's sprint football game.
 
In a game that saw no touchdowns, four field goals and a safety, the Navy rushing attack – led by 176 yards on 34 carries by Garcia – ground down the Big Red defense and gave the visitors an 11-3 victory on Schoellkopf Field.
 
Cornell (3-2, 2-2 CSFL) was only able to generate 61 yards of offense, including just five completions and three yards total on the ground against the undefeated Midshipmen (4-0, 2-0). The Big Red was held to its lowest point total since it managed three points against Penn on Sept. 19, 2008.
 
Despite all that, Cornell had possession down by eight with less than two minutes to play at its own 21-yard-line with a chance to drive the field for a miraculous, game-tying touchdown drive.
 
It wasn't to be. Quarterback Brendan Miller, who totaled 58 passing yards when the night was over, misfired on four consecutive passes to turn the ball back over to Navy on downs. Garcia rushed three times and the contest concluded.
 
With the loss, Cornell falls to at least third place in the Collegiate Sprint Football League with two games remaining and two undefeated teams – Army and Navy – ahead of it in the standings.
 
The first half Friday night was a defensive struggle for both teams. Cornell sacked Navy quarterback William Hampton four times, while the Midshipmen sacked Big Red signal caller Brendan Miller five times. Navy also forced two fumbles to Cornell's one, including a fumble by Abe Mellinger on the Big Red's first punt return of the night.
 
At the end of the half, Cornell had totaled just 25 yards of net offense – averaging 1.1 yards per play –  while Navy was only moderately better at 100. Navy held itself back plenty, though, committing six penalties for a total of 56 yards.
 
The Big Red got its only points of the first half on a 46-yard field goal by John Rodriguez that still had a few yards to spare as it sailed over the crossbar and tied the game at 3-3. Rodriguez has also hit field goals of 48 and 49 yards during the season.
 
Navy kicker Adrian Montecinos got his team on the board earlier with a 27-yard field goal.
 
The Midshipmen took a 5-3 lead late in the second quarter as they forced the Big Red to punt from its own 1-yard-line. With a smaller punting zone than usual, Chase Funderburk accidentally stepped out of the end zone when planting to kick, resulting in a safety and a two-point Navy lead.
 
The second half saw more of the same, with Cornell's offense completely stymied and the Navy offense not much better. Still, the Midshipmen were able to go on a 36-yard drive toward the end of the quarter that included two successful fourth-down conversions and ended with a 39-yard field goal by Montecinos to give the Midshipmen an 8-3 advantage.
 
In the fourth, Navy again killed the clock on the ground, racking up 50 consecutive yards on seven consecutive carries for Garcia at one point. That drive, like all of Navy's others, stalled before the end zone. But Montecinos trotted out and nailed his third field goal of the night to make Navy's lead 8 points after a drive that took 7:19 off the clock.
 
Cornell regained possession with two minutes showing and a hopeful crowd cheering it on, but Miller's four passes hit the turf and the Midshipmen began their celebration.
 
All told, the Big Red defense held up its end of the bargain. Five different players had a sack each, the team combined for nine tackles for loss and Riley Scott had his third interception of the season that nearly swung momentum back to Cornell early in the fourth quarter. John Kelder also had an interception on a ball that was tipped at the line by Michael Monahan, who led the team with 13 tackles.
 
Cornell still has two games left on the season, and both are at home. After a bye next week, the Big Red hosts Post University on Oct. 26 before ending its year with Mansfield on Nov. 2.