ITHACA, N.Y. – The Cornell sprint football team plays for the CSFL North Title Friday night when it takes on Army West Point in West Point, New York.
 
GAME: Cornell vs. Army West Point
GAME TIME: Friday, Nov. 26, at 7:00 p.m.
GAME SITE: West Point, N.Y.
SERIES RECORD: Army leads 60-18
LAST MEETING: Army won 55-0, Oct. 27, 2017 (ITHACA, N.Y.)
2018 RECORDS: Cornell (4-1, 2-0 North); Army (5-0, 2-0 North)
LIVE STATS: https://goarmywestpoint.com/sidearmstats/sfootball/summary
 

ABOUT THE BIG RED

• The Big Red enters Friday's matchup with a mark of 4-1, with wins over Caldwell, Chestnut Hill, St. Thomas Aquinas and Post and its lone loss of the season coming to Penn.
• The Big Red had 11 members from last year's squad named to all-league teams. Andrew-Gerard Baddoo, Dominic LaBell and Karriem Royster (all-purpose) were tabbed to the first team. Will Griffen, Craig Hannon, Conrad McCarthy, Alfonso Nazzaro and Jack Nicolettiwere named to the second team. Christopher Andolina, Ian Rawn, Karriem Royster(defense) and Amanze Udebuiwa received honorable mention recognition.
• Of the 11 who received honors, four are on the roster this season: Griffen, McCarthy, Nazzarro and Udebiuwa.

 

KING IN THE NORTH

• Friday's matchup will decide the winner of the CSFL North, as both teams enter with divisional record of 2-0. The winner will go onto play Navy, which claimed the south division, in the CSFL Championship game.
• This marks the second year that the CSFL has been split into two divisions. Army won the north last year.

 

LAST TIME OUT

• The Big Red blanked Post 34-0 last Friday night in its final home game of the season.
• Will Griffen had a standout performance with three touchdowns. The junior running back had two rushing touchdowns and reeled in a 13-yard pass from Connor Ostrander for his third and final touchdown of the game. Defensively, Griffen added an interception.
• Defensively, the Big Red was led by Conrad McCarthy eight total tackles, three of which were sacks. As a team, Cornell combined for a total of 10 tackles for a loss.
• The Big Red's defense pitched its first shutout since Oct. 10, 2014 when it blanked Princeton 55-0 and was the first time the Big Red had shutout an opponent at home since Oct. 9, 2009 when it beat Princeton 44-0.

 

WEARING MORE THAN ONE 'C'

• The Big Red announced its three captains for the 2018 season: Brooks Panhans, Ostrander and Alfonso Nazzaro.
• Panhans served in several different roles for the Big Red's offensive and special teams units last season. The Plano, Texas, native saw reps at quarterback, running back, receiver and as a kick returner.
• Ostrander threw for 819 yards and five touchdowns on 83 of 142 passing last season. He also rushed for six touchdowns.
• Nazzaro, a two-time all-league selection, is one of the most experienced starters returning on the squad. Last season he compiled 55 total tackles, including three tackles for a loss.

 

ABOUT HEAD COACH TERRY CULLEN

• Terry Cullen, The Terry Cullen Head Coach of Sprint Football, has been a coach with the sprint football program at Cornell since 1964, when he joined the staff with his father, former head coach Bob Cullen.
• In his 53-year tenure, Cullen has an overall record of 240-218-11, and his record as a head coach is 183-155-7. Cullen has had two undefeated seasons (1982 and 2006) and won six league championships.
• His title was endowed in 2001 and, in 2008, he requested to relinquish some of his everyday coaching duties to then co-head coach Bart Guccia.

 

ABOUT ASSOCIATE HEAD COACH BOB GNEO

• Cullen and associate head coach Bob Gneo are leading the team in tandem for the second season together.
• Prior to his promotion to his current title, Gneo spent a season on the Big Red's coaching staff working specifically with Cornell's defensive backs.
• In his first season sharing primary coaching responsibilities with Cullen, Gneo helped direct the Big Red to a 4-3 record.

 

ABOUT ARMY WEST POINT

• The Black Knights are the only remaining unbeaten team in the league, with an overall mark of 5-0.
• The defending CSFL champs are outscoring their opponents by an average of 36.2 points, with its closest call coming in the form of a 17-14 decision over Navy. In their last three games, the Black Knights have pitched two shutouts and have only allowed six points.
• Keegan West has seen the most action at quarterback, having played in all five games. The senior quarterback has thrown for 1,348 yards and 18 touchdowns on 116-170 passing. West's top two targets this season have been Nitai Chun (27 receptions) and Tom Williamson (25 receptions). Eight of Williamson's 25 receptions on the season were good for touchdowns.

 

THE SERIES WITH ARMY WEST POINT

• Friday's matchup will mark the 79th all-time meeting between the two schools, with the first coming in 1957. Army leads the series 60-18 and has been victorious in the last seven meetings.
• The last time the Big Red won was on Oct. 8, 2010 when it used a 17-point second quartet to propel itself past the Black Knights 20-10.

 

UP NEXT

• Friday's matchup marks the final game of the 2018 regular season. Though, if Cornell wins it will advance to the CSFL Championship Game on Nov. 10 in Sparkill, New York.