ITHACA, N.Y. – Cornell sprint football will look to conclude 2014 on a positive note when it welcomes Mansfield to Schoellkopf Field for Senior Day on Friday. The Big Red came up just short against Post a week ago, as Joseph Lynch punched in a two-yard touchdown with 36-seconds left to allow the Eagles to escape with the 17-14 victory. Cornell will look to snap the two-game skid against Mansfield with opening kick scheduled for 7 p.m.
 
Cornell Big Red (2-4) vs. Mansfield Mountaineers (1-5)
Friday, Oct. 31, 2014 | 7:00 PM | Ithaca, N.Y. – Schoellkopf Field
All-Time Series: Cornell Leads, 10-0
Last Meeting (2013): Cornell Win, 26-24
Live Stats | Live Video (ILDN)
 
SCOUTING CORNELL
 
Big Red Headlines
Cornell dropped a heartbreaker last Friday against Post at Schoellkopf Field. The Big Red led the majority of the game, before Greg Volpe connected with Jay'Len Mahan on a 91-yard catch and run, jumping the Eagles into the 10-7 lead. Cornell battled back in the fourth quarter with Pannullo engineering a nine-play 77-yard scoring drive capped with a five-yard scoring strike to Trevor Marrero to reestablish the lead. The Eagles got the last laugh. After regaining possession with just under three-minute to go, Volpe led Post on an eight-play 42-yard drive with Joseph Lynch pounding in a touchdown from two-yards out with 36-seconds remaining.
 
About Head Coach Terry Cullen
Cullen is a Cornell legend and has been a patriarch of the sprint football program at the University for over five decades. He enters his 51^st season with the program in 2014, after joining his father; former sprint football head coach Bob Cullen, in 1964. He has amassed a 172-143-7 career record with the program, leading the team to two undefeated seasons and six league titles. Cullen shared coaching responsibilities with his father through the 1995 season, before serving as the sole head coach from 1996-2007. His position became officially known as The Terry Cullen Head Coach of Sprint Football in 2001.
 
About Co-Head Coach Bart Guccia
Guccia enters his tenth season as a member of the sprint football coaching staff and his seventh as co-head coach in 2014. A bright offensive mind, Guccia has brought a balanced offensive attack to the Big Red since his installment as co-head coach. The offense looked in mid-season form in the team's home opener, as the Big Red moved the ball at will through the air and on the ground in route to the three touchdown victory. He is responsible for the majority of on-field coaching and gameday decisions. The Big Red is 38-29 since he joined the program in 2005.
 
Last Meeting vs. Mansfield
Cornell concluded the 2013 season with a successful trip to Mansfield, scoring a thrilling 26-24 victory over the Mountaineers. The game featured one tie and seven lead changes, the final change coming when Cornell quarterback Brendan Miller connected with Michael Crawford on a nine-yard scoring strike with just :09 remaining on the clock. Miller went 11-of-17 for 92-yards through the air, while adding 51 and two additional scores on the ground. Pannullo added 64-yards through the air and another 44 on the ground in the victory.
 
Winning Streak
The Big Red has never lost to Mansfield in the team's 10 all-time matchups. The teams first met in 2008, playing two games each season from 2008-2011. Cornell has averaged 31.1 points in the matchups, while it has allowed 15.8 points on average. Cornell is 5-0 all-time against the Mountaineers at Schoellkopf Field.
 
Captain Quartet
The Big Red has four captains who will bring a wealth of leadership to the team in key areas this fall. The four senior captains are First Team All-CSFL defensive back Chris Sitko, Second Team All-CSFL defensive lineman Eric Stazi, and Second Team All-CSFL offensive linemen Greg Zalevsky and Bennett Winters.
 
Strength in the Trenches
Traditionally, the team that wins the battle at the line of scrimmage has the best chance of winning the game. The team returns two all-league players on the offensive line in Zalevsky and Winters. The defensive front seven looks fearsome as Stazi and Carfi return to anchor the defensive line, while all-league linebackers D'Ambrosio and Park provide support behind them. The offensive line has paved the way for the Cornell runners this season, as the Big Red ranks third in the league averaging 160.7-yards per game on the ground.
 
Best in the Backfield
Junior running back Benjamin Herrera is establishing himself as one of the best backs in the CSFL this season. He leads the Big Red with 399 rushing yards and has added 131-yards on 20 receptions. He has accounted for three touchdowns on the ground and two through the air. He currently ranks sixth in the league in rushing, while he is tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns.
 
Progression of Pannullo
Sophomore quarterback Rob Pannullo is progressing nicely in his first season as the primary signal-caller for the Big Red offense. After a couple bumps in the road against Penn and Army, he has rebounded nicely in his last three starts. He followed his career performance against Navy with another solid showing against Post. He went 14-of-26 for 184-yards and two touchdowns through the air, while he added 79-yards on 19-attempts on the ground.
 
Offensive Outburst
The Big Red has put up 99 points over its three most recent games. While the lopsided margin against Princeton was somewhat expected, the 30 points against the CSFL's leading defense in Navy is a sign that the team could be a real force to be reckoned with for next season as players have gained considerable experience in their roles. The 30 points scored on Navy were the most allowed by the Midshipmen since Army hung 32 in the season finale to the 2010 season.
 
Senior Day
Cornell sprint football will celebrate Senior Day when it welcomes Mansfield on Friday. The Big Red will honor 18 seniors that have dedicated considerable time and effort to the 75-year old program.
 
SCOUTING MANSFIELD
 
Mountaineer Headlines
Mansfield enters Friday's season finale with a record of 1-5. Although the record has been disappointing, the Mountaineers are a much better squad than it would indicate. The team lost its first three contests by a combined 16 points. In the team's most recent contest it dominated Princeton 67-0, rolling up 53 second half points and 510 yards of total offense.
 
About Head Coach Graham Johnsen
Johnsen is in his second season as the Mountaineers head coach after being named the 24^th full-time head coach in the 120-year history of Mansfield football. His overall record at the helm is 2-11. Before being named the head coach in the spring of 2012, Johnsen served two separate terms as an assistant coach at Mansfield at various positions including special teams, wide receivers, running backs, and kicking coach. He also coordinated the program's strength and conditioning program. Prior to his first stint on the coaching staff at Mansfield, he was the special teams and recruiting coordinator at Fairfield. Johnsen spent his playing career at Southern Mississippi where he helped the squad to two Conference USA Championships and a victory over Pittsburgh in the Liberty Bowl in 1997.
 
Aerial Attack
Mansfield boasts a potent offense that ranks third in the CSFL with an average of 26.5 points per game. That total is engineered primarily through a complex passing game that ranks second in the conference in yards per game (259.8) and touchdowns (13). Senior signal caller Mike Maniscalco directs the aerial attack, leading the league with 1549 yards through the air this season. Sophomore Kurt Logan is Maniscalco's primary target. He leads the league with 34-receptions for 504-yards and six touchdowns. Sophomore Eddie Larcom and junior Joe Bucek both are reliable secondary options as both players have surpassed 300-yards receiving this season.
 
Sinister Secondary
While its offense takes to air, the primary focus of the Mansfield defense is to ground other teams passing attacks. The Mountaineers boast the strongest secondary in the league, which allows just 124.3-yards per game through the air and has recorded a CSFL leading 11 interceptions. Kyle Post leads the squad and is tied for the league lead with three interceptions. Richard Robinson, Jonathan Badman and Spencer Underdown are all tied for second on the squad with two interceptions apiece.
 
Scintillating Special Teams
Manfield boasts a dangerous return unit. The Mountaineers lead the league in both punt return and kick return yardage. Both units have returned a touchdown this season.