ITHACA, N.Y. – Cornell sprint football is set to kick-off its 75^th year of organized play on Saturday, as it welcomes Franklin Pierce for a noon kick at Schoellkopf Field. Head coach Terry Cullen enters his 51^st season with the Big Red program, while Bart Guccia enters his seventh season as co-head coach of the team. The Big Red will look to rise to the top of the CSFL in 2014, returning a roster brimming with talent and promise from a season ago.
 
Cornell Big Red (0-0 CSFL) vs. Franklin Pierce University (0-0 CSFL)
Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014 | 12:00 PM | Schoellkopf Field – Ithaca, N.Y.
All-Time Series: Tied, 1-1
Last Meeting (2013): Lost, 13-6
Live Stats | Live Streaming Video
 
SCOUTING CORNELL
 
Big Red Headlines
Cornell finished in sixth place in the Collegiate Sprint Football League (CSFL) standings a season ago, posting a 2-5 record in 2013. The Big Red started slow, dropping its first four contests of the season. The team found its rhythm down the back half of its schedule, routing Princeton 50-19 and continuing its domination of Mansfield with a 26-24 victory over the Mountaineers in the season finale. Cornell will look to translate a strong finish a season ago into a strong start in 2014.
 
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 170-139-7 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. He is responsible for the majority of on-field coaching and gameday decisions. The Big Red is 36-25 since he joined the program in 2005.
 
Last Meeting vs. Franklin Pierce
The Big Red is 1-1 all-time against the Ravens; however, the team dropped the matchup last season 13-6. Cornell struck first in the contest with a 22-yard field goal from John Rodriguez to put the Big Red up 3-0. The margin persisted until the closing minutes of the opening half, when an errant throw from quarterback Brendan Miller was intercepted, setting the Ravens up with excellent field position. Franklin Pierce cashed in on the turnover, scoring with 18 seconds remaining in the half on a 10-yard touchdown pass. The Big Red cut the deficit to 7-6 midway through the third quarter on a 45-yard field goal from Rodriguez; however, that was as close as it would get. Franklin Pierce quarterback Ryan O'Kelly found DJ MacDonald in the back of the endzone to salt the game away with just over three minutes remaining.
 
All-CSFL Returners
While the results did not play in Cornell's favor in 2013, the Big Red had 15 players earn All-CSFL honors at seasons end. The team looks to be well stocked with top-talent in 2014, as nine of the 15 return this season.
 
The team looks especially tough on defense, returning six all-league players. Senior defensive back Chris Sitko earned First Team All-CSFL honors last season, after recording 37 tackles and two interceptions. Two Second Team All-CSFL players return on the defensive side of the ball in senior defensive lineman Eric Stazi and sophomore defensive back Ryan Jackson. The team also returns three defenders who earned Honorable Mention in senior defensive back Jared Meichner, junior linebacker Jino Park, and sophomore linebacker Christoper D'Ambrosio.
 
The Big Red returns three all-league players to the offense in 2014. Senior offensive linemen Greg Zalevsky and Bennett Winters joined junior tailback Benjamin Herrera as Second Team All-CSFL selections in 2013.
 
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. If tradition is any indication, the Big Red should have a great chance to do well in 2014. 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 will provide support behind them.
 
Who's Under Center?
For the last three seasons there was no doubt who would be taking the snaps under center, as the Big Red boasted one of the top quarterbacks in the CSFL in Brendan Miller. With the graduation of Miller, the Big Red must find a new signal caller for the 2014 season. The QB position looks to be a two horse race between sophomore Rob Pannullo and freshman Karriem Royster. Pannullo had an immediate impact on the offense a season ago, playing at both wide receiver and quarterback. While it will be tough to replace Miller, both players bring a high level of athleticism to the quarterback position.
 
Best in the Backfield
A strong backfield is an inexperienced quarterback's best friend. No matter who is under center, it will be reassuring to know that they will have a stable of dependable backs behind them. Junior Benjamin Herrera leads the way, as he rushed for a team leading 322 yards and was second on the team with 201 reception yards in 2013 in route to Second Team All-CSFL honors. He is joined in the backfield by sophomore Kevin Nathanson who collected 230 all-purpose yards last season.
 
SCOUTING FRANKLIN PIERCE
 
Ravens Headlines
The Ravens return a young, but extremely talented, roster from last season's inaugural CSFL squad. Franklin Pierce posted a 5-2 record in 2013 to finish third in the league standings. The Ravens return all 14 players who earned All-CSFL recognition a season ago, headlined by First Team All-CSFL players: defensive back Mike Abrams, running back D.J. MacDonald, offensive lineman Josh Tilton, and linebacker James Willette.
 
About Head Coach Peter Ewald
Ewald enters his third season as head coach of the Ravens sprint football program in 2014. After building the program from scratch during its inaugural year in 2012, Franklin Pierce took a major step forward in 2013, as Ewald led the team to a 5-2 record. With a roster comprised almost entirely of underclassmen, Franklin Pierce had no trouble making the jump into full league play. He has a 6-6 record through two seasons as head coach of the Ravens.
 
Ewald has been a member of the coaching ranks for 23 years, making his coaching debut at Marist in 1991. He's made coaching stops at Bates College, Lebanon Valley College and Sacred Heart University, before getting involved in sprint football at Post University in 2010. He served as head coach of the Post program for two year, before signing on to build the new program at Franklin Pierce in 2012.
 
Sensational Signal Caller
Junior quarterback Ryan O'Kelly will be the leader of the Ravens offense after a fantastic season in 2013. He threw for 860-yards and 12 touchdowns, while he rushed for 202-yards and an additional three scores a season ago. He was named All-CSFL Second Team at the conclusion of the season.
 
Watch Those Receivers
Franklin Pierce returns all five of its top receiving threats from 2013. Leading the way are All-CSFL Second Team players Jahlil Dean and Mike Holdridge who each topped 200 yards last season and accounted for nine of the team's 13 touchdown receptions. Also look for All-CSFL First Team tailback DJ MacDonald to get involved out of the backfield, as he caught 12 passes with three going for scores a season ago.
 
Defensive Turnover
The Ravens defense will not see much turnover in 2014, as six players who earned All-CSFL recognition return on that side of the ball. However, the team will see another variety of turnover this season. Franklin Pierce forced 22 turnovers on the defensive side of the ball, which led the CSFL last season. All-CSFL Second Team senior defensive back Derek Reddy led the way with six interceptions in 2013.
 
UP NEXT
The Big Red will hit the road for the first time, traveling to Philadelphia to square off with Penn at Franklin Field. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 26.