ITHACA, N.Y. -- St. Thomas Aquinas used the big play to erase a first-half Cornell lead and squeaked by the Big Red 18-17 in a spirited game on Friday evening at Schoellkopf Field. The Spartans improved to 2-5 (2-2 CSFL), while Cornell fell to 0-7 (0-4 CSFL).

Cornell led 14-6 after the first play of the second quarter, capping a 12-play, 76-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown run by Kruz Meier - his second score of the night after the Big Red had tied it 6-6 on Thomas Shegogue's blocked-punt return for a touchdown in the first. But STAC seized control late in the half, first on a 76-yard strike from Tynez Harp to Aaron Cruz with 5:01 left, then on a 24-yard interception return for a touchdown by Ibrahim Conteh in the final minute to go ahead 18-14.

Cornell's defense kept the Spartans off the board the rest of the way - blocking a PAT, recording three fumble recoveries and getting a sack from Ben Roerden — and the offense answered with a 14-play, 73-yard drive in the fourth quarter that Sumner Roberts finished with a 36-yard field goal to cut it to 18-17 with 9:52 remaining. 

The Big Red got the ball back twice in the final two minutes, including after a blocked 37-yard STAC field-goal try, but the last drive stalled on downs at the Cornell 26.

Meier carried 22 times for 71 yards and two touchdowns to pace Cornell, while quarterback Stefano Luis threw for 97 yards and led a balanced, 239-yard offensive effort. Linebacker Alexei DiDonato forced two fumbles and recovered one, and Dylan Leaird blocked a PAT as Cornell's special teams produced 10 points.

Next Up
• Cornell completes the 2025 season when it visits Penn on Friday, Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. at Franklin Field.
• The contest will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
• Cornell holds a 57-47 edge in the all-time series dating back to the first meeting between the programs in 1938.
• The Quakers have won 11 consecutive matchups between the schools, including a 41-0 victory in Ithaca last season.