ITHACA, N.Y.— For the first time since 2019, the Cornell sprint football team is victorious as the Big Red outlasted St. Thomas Aquinas at home Sunday, 30-27.

Cornell's ground game proved to be the difference maker in the Big Red's first win since Sept. 14, 2019. Cornell picked up 245 yards on 41 rushing attempts for two touchdowns, while Xavier Martinez threw for a total of 186 yards on 16 completions and another two touchdowns. 

The Big Red struck first when Jacob Wynkoop carried through the line for a two-yard touchdown with 32 seconds left in the first quarter before Jackson Kennedy split the uprights on a 19-yard kick minutes later. St. Thomas Aquinas' Dennis Riordan (318 yards, 26 completions) threw for two touchdowns to put the Spartans up 14-10 at the half. 

Coming out of the break, the Big Red fell behind as STAC connected on two more passing touchdowns to extend its lead to 27-10 before the Big Red answered back to the tune of 20 unanswered points in the fourth quarter. 

A 14-play drive was capped to open the fourth quarter, ending with an eight-yard Xavier Martinez touchdown pass to Evan Nicholas. The following two STAC drives would result in punts, and Cornell made the most of the Spartans' late turnovers and scored on both of the following drives, the first with a two-yard rush by Nate Roy and the second via a five-yard completion to Luke Verzella in the end zone. 

Jacob Wynkoop rushed for 9.8 yards a carry on 23 attempts for 226 yards, including a 65-yard pickup. Evan Nicholas and Luke Verzella split receptions for the Big Red, with Nicholas coming up with five receptions on 89 yards while Verzella picked up 61 yards on 5 receptions.

Billy Turner was a force on defense, coming up with a momentum-shifting interception the third quarter as well as eighth tackles. Kai Mulligan followed with six tackles, all solo. 

The win marks the first at home since Oct. 26, 2018. The Big Red will look to do the same when it hosts Army for its final home game of the season on Friday, Nov. 5.