For three quarters, the Red looked like a team rewriting its story. Every possession felt controlled, every tackle sharp. But as the fourth quarter clock wound down, that rhythm unraveled, and what began as Cornell’s most complete performance of the season turned into another painful loss against Caldwell University.
The Red (0-6, 0-3 CSFL) entered Saturday’s matchup seeking redemption after a gritty showing at Mansfield University the previous week. From the start, Cornell executed with precision, mixing run-heavy drives with controlled tempo that kept Caldwell (4-3, 1-1 CSFL) guessing. Through three quarters, it worked. But a late surge from the Cougars flipped the script, erasing a 10-point deficit and handing Cornell a heartbreaking 20-13 defeat.
Cornell’s defense, the steady heartbeat of the afternoon, set the tone early. Senior defensive back Ismaa’il Eaddy intercepted a pass on Caldwell’s opening drive, while junior defensive lineman Brandon Tauscher later pounced on a fumble to stall another Cougar march. The Red’s secondary played with confidence, as junior defensive back Elliot Kim added a key interception late in the second quarter.
“We were pretty confident going into the game,” said freshman wide receiver and safety Miles Mariani. “We had a good week of practice and understood the game plan really well. On defense, we knew what their strengths were and how our schemes were going to shut that down. Our main focus was not allowing any more big plays over the top.”
On offense, Cornell leaned on one of its most consistent weapons, junior defensive back Kruz Meier. Meier churned out tough yards behind a physical offensive line, helping the Red dominate possession. With 6:58 left in the second quarter, senior kicker Sumner Roberts connected from 32 yards to give Cornell a 3-0 lead at halftime, a testament to the Red’s patience and control.
The Red extended its lead midway through the third quarter when Meier broke through the line and powered into the end zone from two yards out, capping a five-play drive that pushed the score to 10-0. Cornell’s sideline roared, and the energy was palpable.
“What was going really well was our defense completely took away their quarterback's running ability,” Mariani said. “We had two quarterback spies on him, and I think he finished with only one rushing yard. That worked really well.”
But the fourth quarter told a different story. Caldwell quarterback Cael Zebrowski ignited a furious comeback, throwing three touchdown passes in the final 12 minutes. The first came just 31 seconds into the quarter on a 59-yard strike to Josh Smith, trimming Cornell’s lead to 10-6. Three minutes later, Zebrowski found Arjun Petgrave for a 22-yard score, giving the Cougars their first advantage of the afternoon at 12-10.
Cornell refused to fold. Luis guided a composed 15-play, 53-yard drive highlighted by key completions to Meier and junior tight end Andrew Lay. This effort set up Roberts’ second field goal of the day, another from 32 yards, to reclaim the lead at 13-12 with just 2:21 remaining.
But the Cougars responded immediately. Zebrowski marched Caldwell 67 yards in 12 plays, capping the drive with an 11-yard touchdown to Petgrave with only 26 seconds left. A two-point conversion extended the lead to 20-13, sealing the Red’s fate in the final seconds.
“We could have put them away,” Mariani admitted. “The defense gave us short fields after turnovers, but we came up short a couple of times on offense. That was probably the biggest downside of the game.”
Despite the loss, Cornell’s performance reflected growth and grit. The Red controlled possession for over 39 minutes, outpacing Caldwell’s offense in total plays and keeping the defense fresh deep into the fourth quarter. Meier led the charge with 33 carries for 118 yards and one touchdown, while junior quarterback Stefano Luis went 18-28 for 157 yards and senior running back Julian Dahl added three receptions for 61 yards.
On defense, sophomore defensive linemen Benjamin Roerden, freshman defensive back Dylan Leaird and senior linebacker Alexei DiDonato were key in slowing Caldwell’s run game and containing short passes. Roerden notched six tackles, while DiDonato and Leaird each recorded tackles for a loss as Cornell forced three turnovers on the day.
“We haven't had a lot of turnovers this year, but this game we had two interceptions and one fumble recovery,” Mariani said. “Coming straight out of halftime, we got a fumble recovery on their side of the field, which led to a touchdown. That was probably our biggest play of the game. Our defensive scheme from Coach Kelly was super effective; that was our biggest takeaway, how well it worked against our offense.”
While the ending was cruel, the performance was Cornell’s most complete of the season, a game defined by sustained drives, turnovers created and glimpses of a breakthrough.
“Personally I know I can improve my depth at safety and not key in too much on the quarterback,” Mariani said. “Its about continuing to focus and get better every week. I think the team consensus is that we're way better than a winless team. The emphasis moving forward is attention to detail and staying focused. With that, wins will come.”
Cornell will look to channel that momentum when it returns home for Senior Night against St. Thomas Aquinas College at 6 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 7, at Schoellkopf Field. The matchup will stream live on ESPN+, as the Red aims to close its home schedule with the win it’s been fighting toward all season.
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.
