CALDWELL, N.J. -- Caldwell scored 20 points over the game's final seven minutes and pulled away for a 40-20 victory over Cornell on Saturday afternoon in sprint football action at Monsignor Owens Park. Caldwell improved to 5-1 (3-0 CSFL), while the Big Red slipped to 1-5 (0-3 CSFL).

Cornell trailed 12-0 in the first quarter but rallied back to tie the game at 20-20 with nine minutes to play after a 32-yard field goal by Spencer Katz. Three consecutive scores, including an interception return for a score, put the game on ice for the home team.

Caldwell controlled the ball with its 337 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground in a contrast of styles with the Big Red. Devon Turner led the home team with 150 yards on 23 carries and a score, while Jason Jeannot and Donovan Swasey also found the end zone. Quarterback Frank DeMaio rushed for 39 yards and two scores and threw for 64 yards in the loss.

Xavier Martinez completed 14-of-27 passes for 268 yards. finding his favorite targets Colton Kotecki (six receptions, 135 yards, one touchdown) and Colin Boyle (four receptions, 87 yards) a combined 10 times. Luke Verzella also caught a touchdown. Katz connected on field goals of 19 and 32 yards and Marco Nykodym tallied 11 tackles with a blocked kick and a pass breakup.

Caldwell got out to a 12-0 lead, but the Big Red got on the board late in the first on an 85-yard bomb from Martinez to Kotecki to get the Big Red on the board just 19 seconds after Caldwell went up two scores. Katz's 19-yard field goal in the latter part of the second quarter cut Cornell's deficit to 12-10 at the break.

The Big Red took the lead in the third quarter when Martinez hit Verzella for a 25-yard score to cap a six-play, 55-yard drive midway through the third to make it 17-12.

The Cougars regained the lead and converted on a two-point conversion to head into the fourth with a 20-17 edge.

Cornell struck first in the final quarter as Katz drilled a 32-yarder with 9:00 remaining to even the score at 20-20, but Caldwell responded. Five consecutive runs by the Cougars, helped by a Big Red penalty, saw Caldwell regain the edge at 27-20 on a 22-yard run by Jeannot. 

The Big Red got just outside of Caldwell's red zone before Kyle Readus stepped in front of a pass and went 78 yards the other way to make the edge 33-20 with just over three minutes remaining. Two plays later, Readus again intercepted a pass and Caldwell ran it in four plays later to cap the scoring.

Cornell will close the 2022 season when it visits Saint Thomas Aquinas on Friday, Nov. 4 at 7 p.m. in Sparkill, N.Y.