Box Score ANNAPOLIS, Md. – A 21-point second quarter by defending CSFL champion Navy proved to be too much to overcome as the Midshipmen held off the Big Red 35-14 on Friday evening at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Navy improved to 5-1 (4-1 CSFL), while the Big Red fell to 3-3 (3-3 CSFL).
Cornell quarterback Ron Pannullo completed 15-of-31 passes for 152 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a team-best 68 yards. His scoring passes went to
Kevin Nathanson, who hauled in eight passes for 99 yards, and
Trevor Marrero.
John Zelek had 11 tackles and Chris D'Ambrosio was credited with 10 and a fumble recovery.
Evan Zittel made nine stops with two for a loss and forced a fumble.
Navy's offense piled up a balanced 468 yards of offense (248 rushing, 220 passing), and Eric Wellmon scored twice in the first 22 minutes to give the home team a lead it would never relinquish. The Big Red momentarily got back into the contest late in the second and midway through the third, but couldn't get within two touchdowns to put pressure on the Midshipmen.
Cornell trailed 21-0 late in the second quarter before looking like it might take the momentum into the half after an 11-play, 79-yard scoring drive ended with Pannullo finding
Trevor Marrero for a 17-yard touchdown with 42 seconds left to get back to 21-7. But Navy wasn't done before the half.
A 28-yard kickoff return, a 44-yard pass play, a pass interference call and Navy quarterback Nick Deterding found Matthew Hite from 2 yards out just 35 seconds later and seven seconds before the half to make it 28-7 at the break.
Midway through the third, Cornell got back within 28-14 when Pannullo hit
Kevin Nathanson from 26 yards out and
Michael Zazzara tacked on the PAT, but the Big Red would get no closer.
Deterding ended the day 14-of-25 passing for 220 yards and two scores and also ran for 114 yards and a touchdown. Eric Wellmon posted a game-high 122 rushing yards and two scores, while Matthew Hite had six catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Kendall Mackey had a pair of interceptions and Alex Oldham had a pair of sacks and forced a fumble.
Cornell closes its season on Saturday, Oct. 31 at noon when it travels to Waterbury, Conn. to face Post University.
