Box Score Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y. –  The Big Red sprint football team held a 20-0 lead at halftime and held on for a tight 22-15 victory against visiting Princeton at Schoellopf Field on Friday night.
 
In the early going, the contest looked to be all Cornell (3-0, 2-0 CSFL) as the first half was dominated by the home team. But Princeton (0-3, 0-2), which has not won since 2005 and has not won a Collegiate Sprint Football League game since 1999, showed the feisty spirit of a team hungry for a win in the second half.
 
The Tigers got on the board with a beautifully arced 29-yard pass from Joseph Bush to John Wolfe with 3:45 left in the third quarter, and the comeback was just getting started. Multiple Big Red turnovers in the second half – including an interception in the end zone – gave the Tigers a chance.
 
Down 22-7 after the ball was snapped over the punter's head and out of the end zone for a safety, Princeton stayed strong and nearly completed the comeback despite having little time to work with.
 
With 2:30 to go and Cornell in possession of the ball, things looked bleak for the Tigers. But a huge sack forced a fumble, and Princeton recovered at midfield. With 1:44 showing on the fourth quarter clock, the Tigers heaved a 25-yard pass from Bush to Nicolas Lulli and then completed the two-point conversion from Bush to Wolfe to make it a 22-15 game with less than two minutes to go.
 
The onside kick attempt, however, was recovered by the Big Red, and the home team ran the ball twice and kneeled to wind down the clock.
 
The victory was the 13th consecutive win for Cornell against Princeton, and the team has started the season 3-0 for the first time since 2010. In the early going of the game, there looked to be no doubt about the result.
 
The Big Red took a 3-0 lead late in the first quarter when kicker John Rodriguez launched a 48-yarder that just made it over the crossbar.
 
After a Princeton punt ended the first quarter, the Big Red struck quickly, completing a 41-yard pass from Miller to Joseph Martin on the first play of their drive. That set the team up at the 1-yard-line, and Miller scored on a sneak from there.
 
Already ahead 10-0, Cornell extended its lead seven minutes later thanks to a 10-play drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown rush by Benjamin Herrara. The big plays on the drive were a 12-yard pass to Abe Mellinger, a 12-yard rush by Miller and a 13-yard carry from fullback Nick Perez that brought the team down to the Princeton 1. Herrara scored on the next play.
 
With its last score of the half, the Big Red was stalled at the 8-yard-line and had to attempt a field goal. Rodriguez's attempt was true, and that made it a 20-0 score for the home team at the break. The Big Red ended the evening without being forced to punt once.
 
Miller finished the contest with 13 completions for 191 yards and a rushing touchdown. Herrara was probably the team's most productive player on offense, gaining 113 rushing yards and scoring a touchdown.
 
Martin led the way for the receiving corps, picking up three catches for 52 yards, with Abe Mellinger's three for 49 not far behind.
 
On the defensive side, Derek Saddler had eight total tackles to lead the way, including one tackle for a loss. Noah Shepherd had the Big Red's only interception and a seven-yard return. Kyle Higgins broke up two passes.
 
Cornell hits the road for its next game, traveling to Army for a 7 p.m. showdown in West Point.