Box Score (PDF)

MANSFIELD, Pa. — The Cornell sprint football team improved to 12-0 all-time against Mansfield when it opened the season with a 33-7 win over the Mounties on Saturday.
The Big Red capitalized on a Mansfield penalty on a punt that gave Cornell possession back early in the first quarter. Junior quarterback Rob Pannullo completed passes to senior wide receiver Marlon Rainville and senior running back Benjamin Herrera before hitting senior wide receiver Trevor Marrero with a 25-yard touchdown pass to give the Big Red the early lead.
 
On the next drive, the Cornell defense suffocated the Mounties, forcing them to go three-and-out with a net loss of five yards. But before the quarter was over, Mansfield found the end zone and evened the score at seven.
 
The Big Red took advantage of a pair of turnovers to take a comfortable lead in the second quarter. The Mounties fumbled on their first drive of the frame and Cornell recovered on the Mansfield 3-yard line. Pannullo rushed on two plays, the second for a touchdown to put the Big Red up, 14-7. On the next drive, senior Jino Park intercepted Austin Bennett's pass and returned it an impressive 69 yards to score and put his team in front, 20-7.
 
Mansfield threatened to rally when Ricky Robinson picked off Pannullo and returned the interception to the Cornell 38-yard line. But the Big Red defense allowed just three yards on the ensuing drive and forced the Mounties to punt. With 24 seconds remaining in the first half, Mansfield advanced to fourth-and-goal but missed a field goal attempt.
 
Neither team scored in the third quarter, but Cornell found the end zone on their first drive of the fourth frame when Pannullo again connected with Marrero, this time with a 17-yard pass. The Big Red attempted a two-point conversion but couldn't capitalize, leaving the score at 26-7.
 
Freshman quarterback Connor Ostrander stepped in for Pannullo late in the fourth quarter and was in the game for Cornell's final scoring drive, a 20-yard run from senior running back Benjamin Pham.
 
Pannullo threw for 116 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown. Rainville caught six passes for 33 yards. Park led the defense with seven tackles while junior linebacker Daniel Ferguson added a sack.  
 
The Big Red is back in action next Saturday when they travel to Franklin Pierce for a 1 p.m. start.