The lights of Schoellkopf Field glared against a steady drizzle Friday night, but even the weather couldn’t slow down Army West Point’s offense. From the opening whistle, the Black Knights’ precision and power set the tone, leaving the Red fighting to keep pace in a 49-9 defeat.
The Red (0-4, 0-4 CSFL) entered the matchup searching for its first win of the season, while Army (4-0, 4-0 CSFL) looked to extend its unbeaten run. Despite showing flashes of control with long drives and gritty defense, Cornell couldn’t contain an Army attack, resulting in scores on its first four possessions.
Army struck first through the opening quarter as quarterback Kyle West found Carson McFadden on a quick slant for a 19-yard touchdown. Just minutes later, West connected again, this time on a 1-yard strike, before adding two more scores through the air in the second quarter. The Black Knights’ balanced offense combined efficient passing with relentless rushing to build a commanding 28-3 halftime lead.
Cornell’s first points came early in the second quarter when senior kicker Sumner Roberts nailed a 21-yard field goal to cap a patient, clock-draining drive that spanned nearly nine minutes. The Red entered the second half determined to carry that rhythm forward.
“Going into the week, we knew it was going to be a physical game,” said junior quarterback Stefano Luis. “If you go in there scared of contact, you’re not going to make the throws and you’re not going to succeed. I felt like I went in there with a pretty positive mindset.”
In the third quarter, Luis led another methodical march downfield. After a pair of completions to junior tight end Andrew Lay and freshman wide receiver Emmanuel Garcia, Luis hit Lay on a quick 2-yard slant in the end zone for Cornell’s first touchdown of the night. The connection marked Lay’s third score in as many games and trimmed the deficit to 42-9.
“It just feels good to always break a negative record,” Luis said. “We hadn’t scored a point on Army in nine years, so getting that touchdown shows that our program and our coaching staff are moving in the right direction.”
Luis finished 18-33, passing for 163 yards and one touchdown. Senior running back Anthony Rambino paced the ground game with 42 rushing yards on nine carries, while Lay led the receiving corps with six catches for 52 yards and the lone touchdown. Garcia added three receptions for 35 yards, showing continued promise in his freshman campaign.
“Our run game was going really well,” Luis said. “Anthony Rambino did a great job running the ball, and our O-line was doing a great job blocking for him. At one point, it felt like Army had their backs up against the wall.”
Defensively, the Red’s front seven showed toughness against one of the league’s most physical teams. Junior defensive back Kruz Meier led the unit with nine tackles, including three for a loss, and broke up two passes. Sophomore defensive lineman Benjamin Roerden and senior linebacker Alexei DiDonato each recorded sacks, while freshman wide receiver Dylan Leaird added six stops in run support.
Despite holding possession for more than 39 minutes, nearly double Army’s time with the ball, the Red couldn’t overcome the Black Knights’ explosive drives. Army’s quick-strike offense repeatedly turned short passes into long gains, including a 20-yard touchdown run by Gabriel Bolivar and a 26-yard scoring catch by Collin Teschka in the third and fourth quarters.
“It takes us a while to get going, which is our biggest weakness right now,” Luis said. “We went three and out early, and that puts our defense in a tough position. But once we get going, our offense looks a lot smoother.”
Cornell’s effort and execution improved in stretches, but the difference in finishing drives proved decisive.
“Even though we lost, our team morale is still there,” Luis said. “We’ve come a long way, and I feel like we’re growing as a program. Hopefully we can finish strong and give the seniors a great end to their season.”
With the loss, Cornell turns its attention to the road, beginning a stretch of three away games in its final four contests. The Red will travel to Mansfield University at 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at Karl Van Norman Field in Mansfield, Pennsylvania. The game will be streamed live on GoMounties.com.
This will mark the 20th meeting between Cornell and Mansfield. The Red leads the all-time series, 14-5, though the Mountaineers have won five straight, including a 48-35 victory last fall. Cornell will look to rewrite that trend and capture its first win of the season.
“Personally, I’m focused on getting timing down with my receivers,” Luis added. “We’ll be watching film and really nailing down our offense so we don’t start games going three and out. I’m excited for the next four weeks.”
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.
