Cornell Falls to Penn 20-7

ITHACA, N.Y. -- Penn used three extended second half scoring drives to rally for a 20-7 victory over Cornell on Friday evening at Schoellkopf Field. The Quakers retained the Trustees' Cup and improved to 6-2 on the season (3-2 Ivy), while Cornell dropped its second straight to fall to 3-5 (2-3 Ivy).

The Quakers scored a pair of third quarter touchdowns on 10-play drives to erase a 7-3 Big Red halftime lead, but it was a 13-play, 54-yard drive that ate up more than half of the fourth quarter that sealed the win for the visitors. Jack Soslow capped the scoring with a 27-yard field goal with 5:20 remaining, his second scoring kick of the day, to all but clinch the win.

The Big Red defense fought valiantly despite the targeting ejections of Jelani Taylor and Lance Blass, the team's leading and third-leading tacklers on the season. Reis Seggebruch had nine tackles, Maxwell McCormick had seven and Mason Banbury had a pair of tackles for loss, including a sack, to pace the Big Red defense.

Dalton Banks completed 17-of-35 passes for 183 yards and a 13-yard touchdown pass to Lars Pedersen. Banks also ran for 46 yards. Harold Coles led the way on the ground with 55 yards on 15 carries, while Tommy McIntyre had four catches for 50 yards to pace the receivers.

Karekin Brooks had 71 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries, while backup Abe Willows posted 63 yards. Ryan Glover connected with Christian Pearson for a 19-yard score for the go-ahead touchdown. Defensively, Nick Miller had eight tackles, including 1.5 sacks, and Jacob Martin made a game-high 11 stops.

First Quarter

• Both teams had two full possessions without putting any points on the board.
• The Big Red defense earned a three-and-out to start the game strong, then promptly marched inside the 5, highlighted by a season-long 30-yard run by Dalton Banks.
• Cornell had five opportunities inside the 3, but turned it over on downs to keep it scoreless (8:43).
• The Quakers couldn't take advantage, punting after taking the ball near midfield from the shadow of its own end zone.
• After the Big Red punted, Penn started a march downfield that resulted in a field goal early in the second quarter to get the visitors on the board first.

Second Quarter

• Ryan Glover's 45-yard connection with Steve Farrell set up a 20-yard chip shot field goal for Soslow.
• The rest of the quarter was nearly all Big Red.
• Cornell used 16 plays to go 75 yards for the touchdown, eventually scoring on a screen pass on third-and-goal from the Penn 13 that Lars Pedersen broke.
• On the drive, Cornell converted four third-down and a fourth-down chance.
• Penn intercepted a heave into the end zone at the end of the half, as receiver Steve Farrell won a jump-ball to close the first 30 minutes.

Third Quarter

• After a three-and-out by the Big Red offense, Penn took the lead with a 10-play, 69-yard drive that resulted in Brooks scoring from 6-yards out.
• Cornell responded with an 11-play drive of its own, but it stalled out and Zach Mays missed a 39-yard field goal attempt to try and knot the game at 10-10.
• The Quakers took full advantage, eventually scoring 53 seconds into the fourth quarter.

Fourth Quarter

• Penn forced a quick punt not long after extending its lead to 17-7 on a diving touchdown reception from Ryan Glover to Christian Pearson.
• That led to a time-sucking, 54-yard drive over 7:47 that ended in Soslow's field goal to make it 20-7.
• Cornell tried to cut into the lead, and nearly did, but an apparent touchdown was called back for holding and a second near-miss was called incomplete.

Notes to Know

• The Big Red's five losses have come to teams with a cumulative 31-6 record.
• With nine tackles, senior Reis Seggebruch is now 34th on the school's career list - tied with former NFL defensive lineman Seth Payne.
• Junior Harold Coles moved into 28th on the school's career rushing list with 1,065 yards.
• Junior Tommy McIntyre had a career high in passes caught (four) and receiving yards (50).
• Senior Mason Banbury had a pair of tackles for loss, a career high.
• Penn now leads the Trustees' Cup series 17-7.
• It was the 125th all-time meeting between the programs (Penn leads 74-46-5).
• Cornell and Penn have now met in 99 consecutive seasons dating back to 1919, the second-longest uninterrupted series in the FCS.
• The Big Red, who entered the game as one of four NCAA football teams to not lose a fumble (Mississippi State - FBS, North Carolina Wesley - Division III, Randolph-Macon - Division III), did not put the ball on the ground for the seventh time in eight outings.