For a team still hunting its first win, Saturday night felt like a chance to turn the corner. But instead, sprint football ran into a storm of Chestnut Hill College offense. Despite flashes of promise and a pair of late touchdowns, the Red fell at home, 34-12.
The loss dropped the Red to 0-3,0-3 CSFL, while the Griffins improved to 2-1,2-1 CSFL. Cornell came into the matchup seeking its first win after a 16-6 defeat to Molloy on Sept. 26, but once again struggled to convert scoring opportunities into sustained momentum.
Chestnut Hill wasted little time asserting itself in the first quarter. The Griffins opened with back-to-back drives that resulted in a 10-yard touchdown by Xavier Limehouse. The Red defense responded early in the second quarter with a key stop deep in its own territory. But Chestnut Hill quickly recovered, which resulted in a 6-yard touchdown again by Limehouse. The first half finished with Cornell trailing 20-0.
Still, Cornell refused to fold. In the fourth quarter, junior quarterback Stefano Luis led multiple gritty drives downfield, connecting with freshman wide receiver Enmanuel Garcia, senior running back Julian Dahl and senior wide receiver Leo Madera Castellanos. In a 10-play, 65-yard battle, with 6:05 still left on the clock, junior tight end Andrew Lay punched it in for his first touchdown of the season.
“We were fast and explosive as a group,” said sophomore linebacker Nick Gregory, a transfer from the University of Virginia. “The effort was definitely there. We were very physical. I don’t think physicality was an issue this week. It was just overall production that wasn’t there.”
Even while down by four scores, 34-6, the Red kept fighting. In a flurry of plays with only 1:40 left on the clock in the fourth quarter, Luis led the Red downfield with quick passes and steady composure. Luis then found Lay open in the corner for a 24-yard touchdown. Though the score narrowed the margin, the clock wasn’t on Cornell’s side, and Chestnut Hill held on for the 34-12 win.
The Red’s defense began to find its rhythm late in the third and fourth quarters. Senior linebacker Alexei DiDonato and junior defensive back Kruz Meier delivered several big stops to slow down the Griffins’ run game. Junior linebacker Thomas Shegogue picked up a sack on third down, forcing one of Chestnut Hill’s few punts of the night.
“On defense, we were stout and strong,” Gregory said. “We played physical and made some key plays and stops. Ultimately, they scored more points than us, but it was a good showing of how tough we are and what we can build on moving forward.”
While the Red showed resilience, the Griffins continued to capitalize on its mistakes. A muffed punt gave Chestnut Hill a favorable field position, which allowed the Griffins to extend their lead with another rushing touchdown towards the beginning of the fourth quarter, effectively sealing the game.
Luis finished 24-47 passing for 285 yards, throwing for two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Lay led all receivers with seven catches for 97 yards and two touchdowns, while Garcia added four receptions for 73 yards. Senior running back Anthony Rambino contributed 17 attempts for 48 rushing yards, while Dahl made four catches for 43 yards.
“I think this was our offense’s best week in terms of on-field production and driving down the field,” Gregory said. “It’s a testament to the work they’ve been putting in at practice. I think we’re really coming together as a team.”
On the defensive side, freshman linebacker Jason Milo, sophomore defensive linemen Benjamin Roerden and Shegogue anchored the Red’s front seven, tallying 21 tackles and multiple sacks. Junior defensive linemen Brandon Tauscher also proved to be a steady presence, contributing six tackles and helping to contain the Griffins’ rushing attack in the second half.
Looking ahead, Gregory said the team plans to use its upcoming bye week to regroup.
“We have a week off to get some guys healthy, and our team morale is at an all-time high,” Gregory said. “Our coaches believe in us, and we know we can win football games. Having that extra time to prepare for Army is going to be great for us.”
The Red will now look forward to a matchup with Army that brings deep history. The programs have faced off for decades in one of the Collegiate Sprint Football League’s longest rivalries. The Army has traditionally been one of the conference’s powerhouses, often setting the standard for speed and discipline, while Cornell has long been known for its grit and late-season upsets. The Red will look to channel that underdog energy and secure its first win of the year.
The Red will stay home next week to face Army West Point at 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, at Schoellkopf Field. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+.
Sureya Lopez is a Sun Contributor and can be reached at syl62@cornell.edu.
Hannah Renner is a Sun Contributor and can be reached at hmr58@cornell.edu.
Sureya Lopez is a member of the Class of 2029 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a staff writer for the sports department and can be reached at slopez@cornellsun.com.
