Box Score HILLBURN, N.Y. — The Cornell sprint football team defeats St. Thomas Aquinas (STAC) on the road 24-23 in comeback fashion to move the Big Red's record to 2-3 on the season.
The Big Red got points early as they ended its first drive with a field goal by Stephen Cisz. The Spartans then had a field goal of their own to tie the game in the first quarter. St. Thomas Aquinas was then able to score a touchdown before the end of the first half allowing them to go into halftime with a 10-3 lead.
In the third quarter, the Spartans extended their lead with an early touchdown making the score 17-3. Evan Nicholas answered with a pass to Colin Boyle in the end-zone for a touchdown after the Big Red defense stood tall on a STAC 4th and 1. After a flag on the extra point, Cornell decided to go for a two-point try and Nicholas kept the ball himself, making the score 11-17 with a little over four minutes left in the third quarter.
The Big Red defense then came in clutch as they forced and recovered a fumble at the Spartans 19-yard line helping Cornell in its comeback. Nicholas kept the ball for all three rushes of the drive and on the third, he found his way to the end-zone which earned Cornell the lead for the first time since the first drive of the game with a score of 18-17.
In the fourth quarter, the Spartans started off strong regaining the lead after a touchdown, but Cornell blocked the extra point making the score 18-23 in favor of STAC. After a Cornell three and out, STAC got the ball off of a punt, but as they marched down the field, Big Red's Ian Applegate had an interception off of a Ryan Kenny pass. Cornell's offense rode that momentum to the end-zone as Nicholas scored another rushing touchdown. The Big Red then went for two, but were unable to successfully complete the conversion making the score 24-23 in favor of Cornell with less than two minutes left.
The Spartans started off their drive knowing that a field goal would win them the game. Kenny dropped back to throw and the pass was picked off by Applegate with one minute of play left in the game which would end up being the final blow.
With that, Cornell defeats STAC 24-23 in Hillburn, N.Y., breaks its three game losing streak and moves its record to 2-3 on the season. The Big Red will be back in action on Friday, Nov. 1 at 7:00 p.m. in West Point, N.Y. to face off against Army.
FIRST QUARTER
SECOND QUARTER
THIRD QUARTER
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Another Spartans touchdown extended STAC's lead to 3-17.
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Cornell's Evan Nicholas passed the ball to Colin Boyle in the end-zone for a touchdown, making the score 9-17.
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After a penalty against STAC on the extra point, Nicholas ran the ball into the end-zone for a successful two-point try for Cornell making the score 11-17.
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On the Spartans next drive, Cornell was able to force a fumble and recover the ball at the STAC 19-yard line. This led to Nicholas rushing the ball three times and finding his way into the end-zone to give Cornell the lead 18-17.
FOURTH QUARTER
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Spartans pass for a touchdown. The extra point is blocked by Cornell and the score becomes 18-23 with STAC in the lead.
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An interception for Cornell's Ian Applegate led to a Big Red rushing touchdown by Nicholas. The Big Red went for two but were unsuccessful making the score 24-23 in favor of Cornell.
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Applegate then made yet another interception in the final two minutes of play, securing a 24-23 victory for the Big Red.
