ITHACA, N.Y. -- Playing without record-setting All-America running back Chad Levitt, Cornell's Brad Kiesendahl made sure the ground game didn't miss a beat. Kiesendahl's big day allowed the Big Red to close the 1996 season on a high note with a 24-21 victory over Penn on Saturday afternoon at Schoellkopf Field. The home team finished the campaign with a 4-6 mark (4-3 Ivy), while Penn ends its year with a 5-5 record (3-4 Ivy).

Kiesendahl ran 32 times for 130 yards, toting the ball in the rushing game for all but four of Cornell's attempts - each of which were for quarterback Scott Carroll. With an injured Chad Levitt on the sideline just 58 yards away from Ed Marinaro's school and Ivy rushing record of 4,715, Kiesendahl was the workhorse back his senior teammate has shown to be. 

Carroll threw for 244 yards and three scores for the big Red offense, including two to Eric Krawczyk (five catches for 123 yards) and the other to Steve Busch. 

Chris Allen led the defense with 10 tackles, an interception and a pass breakup, while Seth Payne chipped in eight stops, including 3.0 for a loss and 1.5 sacks with a pass breakup. Tom Nunes had seven tackles, an interception and a forced fumble.

The two teams traded touchdowns in the first three quarters, with the differentiator a 28-yard field goal by John Rodin midway through the third. Penn had the ball four times in the fourth quarter looking for a tying or go-ahead score, but turned it over twice in Cornell territory.

The win gave the Big Red its third consecutive winning Ivy season and its first victory over the Quakers in six years. 

The fourth quarter MVP may have gone to Charles Watson. The punter was key in the field position battle and set up the defense for success. He averaged 39.3 yards on his seven punts.

Cornell never trailed after marching 77 yards on four plays that resulted in a 39-yard scoring pass from Carroll to Krawczyk 4:20 into the contest. Penn answered three minutes later to tie the game, a pattern that continued into the second half. Krawczyk's second touchdown of the reception came in the second quarter, this time on a 17-yard strike. The winning touchdown game with 5:37 remaining in the third, an 11-yard pass from Carroll to Busch to make it 24-14 just minutes after Rodin's go-ahead field goal.