Cornell ran for 219 yards and stopped Dartmouth’s final possession Saturday to secure a 20-14 football victory in the rain at Schoellkopf Field, ending a three-game losing streak.
Caden Lesiewicz kicked a 44-yard field goal with 4:44 remaining to give the Big Red a six-point cushion. Dartmouth reached Cornell’s 45-yard line before an incomplete pass on fourth-and-16 ended its last chance with 1:54 left, according to Cornell Athletics’ recap.
Michael McColgan then gained 3 yards on third-and-1, allowing Cornell to run out the clock. Cornell improved to 4-5 overall and 2-4 in the Ivy League. Dartmouth fell to 4-5 and 3-3.
Cornell turns long drives into second-half lead
The Big Red’s first possession covered 72 yards in 11 plays but produced no points when Jordan Triplett was stopped on fourth-and-1 at the Dartmouth 3. Dartmouth answered with a 97-yard touchdown drive that lasted 14 plays and 8:53. Dylan Elder scored on a 1-yard run with a minute left in the first quarter.
Cornell cut the deficit to 7-3 on the final play of the first half. Starting at its own 18 with 1:22 remaining, Cornell moved 56 yards in 11 plays before Lesiewicz made a 43-yard field goal.
A Dartmouth punt left Cornell at its own 4 in the third quarter, but the Big Red drove 96 yards in 13 plays to take the lead. Brendan Lee contributed a 19-yard run before scoring from 6 yards out with 4:18 left in the quarter. The possession consumed 6:41 and put Cornell ahead 10-7.
McColgan found Samuel Musungu for a 21-yard touchdown on third-and-4 early in the fourth quarter. The score completed an eight-play, 74-yard drive and extended the lead to 17-7 with 13:19 remaining.
Dartmouth responded with a six-play, 75-yard possession. Grayson Saunier threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to KyDric Fisher with 11:30 left, bringing the visitors within 17-14.
Cornell kept the ball for the next 6:46, moving 48 yards in 12 plays before Lesiewicz’s second field goal. The defense then protected the lead on Dartmouth’s final drive.
McColgan leads offense as defense limits Dartmouth’s rushing
McColgan completed 20 of 26 passes for 191 yards and a touchdown while adding 51 rushing yards on 13 carries. Josiah Allen ran seven times for 44 yards, and Lee gained 43 yards and a touchdown on four attempts.
Lee also caught five passes for 57 yards. Musungu finished with seven receptions for 56 yards and the touchdown.
Cornell held Dartmouth to 87 rushing yards on 27 carries. Saeed Moghaddam Adames and Sam Greenspan each recorded a sack. Cooper Cameron led the Big Red with eight tackles, Anthony Atkins II made five, and Mason Grabowski contributed four tackles, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble.
Saunier completed 20 of 27 passes for 234 yards and a touchdown. Fisher caught six passes for 111 yards and a score.
Cornell finished with a 410-321 advantage in total offense and led 26-18 in first downs. The Big Red held possession for 32:29 and committed one penalty for 8 yards, compared with Dartmouth’s five for 40 yards. Neither team turned the ball over.
Cornell visits Columbia on Saturday, Nov. 21, at noon. ESPN+ will carry the game.
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