ITHACA, N.Y. — A fourth-quarter comeback from the sprint football team fell short on Friday night against Franklin Pierce, as the Big Red ultimatlely fell, 24-17, in the 2016 season finale at Schoellkopf Field. Cornell finishes the Collegiate Sprint Football League season at 2-5 while Franklin Pierce ups its record to 4-3.

Franklin Pierce kicked off to start the game and its defense promptly forced Cornell into a fourth-and-out and the ensuing Ravens drive resulted in a 8:38 clock-eating, 17 play, 85 yard march down the field for a touchdown. Ahzir Turner was the engine on that Ravens drive, rushing for 79 of his 84 yards on that opening drive before Jose Melo found Alex Powell for a three yard touchdown pass. Freshman Marcus Weeks blocked the kick attempt to keep the game at 6-0.

After the teams traded a few fruitless drives, the Cornell defense forced a Franklin Pierce turnover on downs and gave the Big Red offense the ball at its own 17 yard line near the end of the first quarter. Sophomore quarterback Connor Ostrander started slinging the ball, connecting with senior running back Kevin Nathanson for 24 yards and junior receiver Ryman Seeley for 34 yards to get the ball down near the Ravens red zone. A few plays later, freshman Ben Finkelstein connected on a 30 yard field goal attempt to pull the Big Red within three with 10 minutes to go in the half.

The Ravens offense answered right back, returning the kickoff for 59 yards to the Cornell 28 before taking just two plays to find the end zone with another Melo touchdown pass. After a failed two point attempt, the Ravens led 12-3.

A few drives later, though, Cornell came back with an offensive punch of its own and put together an eight play, 65 yard scoring drive that ended with Ostrander connecting with Seeley for a 13 yard score.

Finkelstein's extra point attempt made it 12-10 but the Ravens would add another touchdown before the half to make it 18-10 at the Break.

After a penalty and turnover filled third quarter that saw neither team score, the Ravens added another touchdown when Andrew Jean intercepted Ostrander inside the 10 yard line and Kobie Smith punched it in on the very first snap.

With Franklin Pierce Leading 24-10, but nearly a full quarter of football left, the Big Red began to mount a comeback. Ostrander hit Seeley for another huge gain – this time 39 yards down to the Ravens seven – before Nathanson punched the ball in from four yards out. Finkelstein's extra point made it 24-17.

The Big Red defense did its job and held the Ravens on their next drive, and the offense took over at the Cornell 49 yard line with 6:15 remaining. Cornell burned time off the clock and seemed poised to score but penalties and the Ravens defense forced a turnover on downs and Melo took two knees to burn out the clock and sealed the 24-17 win for the Ravens.

Nathanson finished with 56 yard rushing and one touchdown to go with two catches for 19 yards while Ostrander went 9-of-20 through the air with one touchdown. Seeley finished with four catches for 96 yards and a score while freshman Will Griffen finished with two catches for 35 yards.

The Big Red defense got big games from senior linebacker Christopher D'Ambrosio, who had eight solo tackles, and senior Ryan Jackson, who had three tackles – including one for a loss – and two interceptions.