On a crisp Friday night at historic Franklin Field, the Red (1-7, 0-4 CSFL) finally got the ending it had fought for all season. After weeks of near-misses, heartbreaks and fourth-quarter battles, Cornell sprint football saved its best for last, delivering a 31-14 victory over the University of Pennsylvania (2-6, 0-3 CSFL) that felt like both a breakthrough and a celebration.
The Nov. 14 win snapped an 11-game skid against the Quakers and sent the Red into the offseason with momentum, pride and the kind of joy only a long-earned triumph can bring.
“With it being a big rivalry game for us, we just really wanted to win for the seniors, and obviously win because it was the Ivy League championship,” said junior quarterback Stefano Luis.
From September to November, Cornell weathered injuries, close losses and a schedule packed with nationally competitive opponents. But even at 0-7 entering Friday night, the group never splintered. The seniors kept the team steady, the underclassmen rose into larger roles and the defense — young, fast, and relentless — developed a distinct identity. In a season defined by grit, the Red finally saw that perseverance turn into payoff.
“We were all banged up from the season. Some of us were playing with minor injuries, and we just had to go out there, be mentally tough, and push through that and really try to get the win,” Luis said.
The game itself carried the energy of a turning point. Penn struck first with a 36-yard touchdown late in the opening quarter, but Cornell answered the challenge. Luis continued his season-long consistency, engineering a pair of second-quarter scoring drives: a 15-yard touchdown strike to junior tight end Andrew Lay, followed by a nine-yard keeper from freshman wide receiver Kyle Melkonian to give Cornell a 14-7 halftime lead. It was the start of a 24-point run that would define the night.
“The first touchdown to Andrew Lay was our biggest momentum shift,” Luis said. “After that, we knew we were in and it was easier to score. Everyone came to pitch in after that touchdown.”
Special teams, a strength all season, became the engine of separation. With under a minute left in the second quarter, junior linebacker Derek Marrero burst through the line for a punt block, flipping the teams’ momentum and field position.
Moments later, the defense delivered again. Early in the third quarter, senior linebacker Alexei DiDonato stormed off the edge for another block, this time recovered in the end zone by junior wide receiver Dan O’Malley to make it 21-7 and ignite the Cornell sideline.
“You could hear the crowd start yelling, and then you look over and one of our guys has the ball on defense. That's really when the adrenaline kicks in,” Luis said.
Penn briefly cut the lead to 21-14, but senior kicker Sumner Roberts drilled a 28-yard field goal with 22 seconds left in the third to steady the Red. Finally, senior running back Anthony Rambino capped a nine-play drive with a one-yard touchdown run, the first of his career. Rambino finished with 95 yards on 18 carries, powering a 315-yard offensive performance that showed balance, creativity and control.
“Once we were able to open up the pass game, it also opened up the run game,” Luis said. “It was then like a one-two combo.”
Luis added 140 passing yards to close the year with 1,411, the second-highest single-season total in program history. Lay hauled in five passes for 40 yards and his team-leading fifth touchdown of the season. Melkonian chipped in 61 rushing yards, a touchdown and a 29-yard completion to help steer the offense. Roberts hit all four extra point attempts and the field goal, finishing the year tied with Lay for the team lead in points (30).
“I came 35 yards short of breaking the single-season passing yard record. It feels great to have my name in the record books, but I couldn't have done it without my offense,” Luis said.
Defensively, Cornell dominated from start to finish. The Red held Penn to just 36 rushing yards, notched four sacks and intercepted four passes, one each from freshman defensive back Dylan Leaird, freshman defensive back Carter Aime, O’Malley (on a wild scramble after a fumble sequence) and junior linebacker Thomas Shegogue, who has now recorded interceptions in back-to-back matchups against the Quakers. Sophomore defensive lineman Benjamin Roerden anchored the front with 10 tackles and a sack, while the linebacking corps flew sideline to sideline all night.
“Every game we played this season, we had beaten ourselves,” Luis said. “It was nice to have the last game to finally clear up all of those mistakes from before and play together as one team.”
O’Malley, Marrero and Shegogue combined for five takeaways, and the Red’s special teams added 10 points, a fitting showcase for a unit that consistently sparked momentum all season.
As the final seconds ticked down, Cornell’s sideline began celebrating not just a win, but a year of growth, resilience and belief. The squad’s 12 seniors walked off the field knowing their last collegiate game ended exactly the way they hoped: with pride, energy and a victory that reflects the heart they’ve poured into the program.
“It was so nice going out there and being able to beat our rival,” Luis said. “We haven't done that since 2012. That made the win more meaningful. I’d say it saved our season ending with bang; this will create a good start to the offseason.”
Cornell closes the season 1-7, but with a finale that felt like a beginning more than an ending — the kind of win that can carry into winter workouts, spring installs and the next generation of Red sprint football.
“The offseason is all about developing — getting bigger, faster, stronger, and building the bond as a team. All of these steps put together are vital for August,” Luis said. “We had a phenomenal freshman class this year, and we really need depth. Coaches being able to bring in a stronger freshman class for next season will be a great addition to sprint football here at Cornell.”
A long season ended with smiles, celebrations and a well-earned win, and for a senior class that spent four years leading with effort and integrity, Friday night was the perfect curtain call.
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.
