RINDGE, N.H. --- After being down at halftime, the Cornell sprint football team used a second half push to propel the Big Red over Franklin Pierce, 36-15 Saturday afternoon. Cornell is now 2-0, the team's best start to a season since 2012.
 
The Ravens got on the board first, scoring two field goals in the first quarter to take a 6-0 lead. Junior Christopher D'Ambrosio got the Big Red its first lead with 6:15 remaining in the second quarter when he returned a Franklin Pierce fumble 32 yards for a touchdown. Senior Michael Zazzara's extra-point kick put Cornell ahead 7-6.
 
The Ravens retaliated quickly though, needing just two plays to find the end zone again. Though the extra-point kick missed, Franklin Pierce added a field goal before the break to give the Ravens a 15-7 halftime lead.
 
The Big Red came out strong in the third quarter, forcing the Ravens to go three-and-out in the opening drive and capitalizing on the ensuing possession. Junior quarterback Rob Pannullo sparked the Cornell offense with a 27-yard rush to start the drive, before connecting with senior wide receiver Trevor Marrero for a 38-yard touchdown pass three plays later.
 
Pannullo added a 22-yard run and a two-point conversion pass to Marrero with 3:59 to go in the third quarter to give the Big Red a 21-15 lead.
 
The Ravens got within Cornell territory in the waning moments of the third, but senior linebacker Jessy Garcia sacked Franklin Pierce's quarterback Jack Mahoney before sophomore Karriem Royster picked off Mahoney's pass.
 
The teams traded a series of three-and-out drives to start the fourth quarter before the Big Red strung together a series of successful rushing plays to score. Senior running back Benjamin Herrera began the drive with a 4-yard run. Pannullo then ran for 45 yards to get Cornell back into Ravens territory. Junior running back Kevin Nathanson finished the drive with a 14-yard touchdown run, putting the Big Red ahead 30-15.
 
Freshman quarterback Connor Ostrander came in for Pannullo late in the fourth quarter and tallied his first career touchdown, a 6-yard run, to round out the scoring for Cornell.
 
D'Ambrosio led a defense that kept the Ravens off the board for the entire second half with six solo tackles and eight assisted, including two sacks. Offensively, Pannullo rushed for 155 yards and passed for 54.
 
The Big Red opens their home slate next weekend with a Saturday matinee at 1 p.m. on Oct. 3 against powerhouse Army West Point.